Sanchez Throws Three TD Passes as Jets Dump Bills
Fitzgerald Cecilio

New York Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez

East Rutherford, NJ

Mark Sanchez threw three touchdown heaves and the New York Jets erased all doubts about their offensive capabilities with a 48-28 beating of the Buffalo Bills in their season opener Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

In his fourth opener as starting quarterback, Sanchez completed 19 of 27 passes for 266 yards with one interception for a rating of 123.4. The victory gave coach Rex Ryan his third opening-game victory in his past four years with the Jets.

Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill received two of Sanchez's touchdown passes to finish with 59 yards on five receptions while fellow wideout Jeremy Kerley accounted for the other receiving score while adding a touchdown punt return.

Backup quarterback Tim Tebow made his anticipated start in the Jets' wildcat formation, gaining 11 yards on five carries but did not make a throw.

Entering the regular season, the Jets were hounded by questions about their offense, which produced only one touchdown in four preseason games.

Sanchez, however, silenced doubters when he found Kerley for a 12-yard touchdown pass to open the game.

He later gave the Jets a 14-0 lead with a 33-yard pass to Hill before Kerley delivered his second touchdown of the game after a 68-yard punt return for a 21-0 advantage.

The Bills stopped the Jets' assault with a 56-yard rush by running back CJ Spiller but kicker Nick Folk notched two field goals from 39 and 25 yards to give the Jets a 27-7 halftime lead.

In the third period, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick issued his third interception after his pass was picked off and returned by cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a 40-yard touchdown.

Sanchez then lifted the Jets to their biggest advantage in the game at 41-7 after delivering a 17-yard touchdown throw to Hill.

Fitzpatrick, who finished 18-of-32 for 195 yards, came back to life before the end of the third quarter, spotting receiver Scott Chandler for a five-yard touchdown pass to trim the Jets' lead to 41-14.

The Bills playmaker continued the momentum of his third-quarter touchdown with two more scores to open the final period that brought the Bills to within 41-28.

However, rusher Shonn Greene scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 49-yard drive.