Sanchez's Turnovers Cost New York Jets Win Against New Orleans Saints

NFL News - October 5th, 2009 - Written by Scott

The New York Jets could not overcome 4 turnovers against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday as they got handed their first loss of the season 24-10. The Jets did accomplish something that the three other Saints' opponents could not do. They held New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to just 190 yards and no touchdowns and the offense as a whole to just 343 yards. Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez accounted for four turnovers, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble, that proved to be the difference maker in this game.

"My mistakes killed us. They absolutely killed us," Sanchez said. "The defense played well enough to win. That whole game is 10-10 without three interceptions and a fumble. You turn the ball over like that in this league, and you can't win."

The Saints opened up the scoring with a 34 yard field goal from John Carney. Sanchez's costly mistakes began in the second quarter. The Jets had driven all the way down to the Saints 15 yard line when Sanchez was picked off by Darren Sharper and returned 99 yards for the Saints first touchdown to put them ahead 10-0. The second costly mistake would come later in the second after the Jets had stopped the Saints at their own 2 yard line. Sanchez was sacked by Will Smith and fumbled the ball into the end zone. The ball was recovered by the Saints for a touchdown and gave them a 17-0 lead. With 1:48 left to go in the half, New York would finally get on the board with a 38 yard field goal from Jay Freely.

In the third quarter, the Jets cut into the Saints lead after running back Reggie Bush fumbled at his own 34 yard line. Jets running back Thomas Jones would later score from 15 yards out to cut the Saints lead to 7. The Saints scored in the fourth on a 1 yard run from Pierre Thomas to give the Saints a 24-10 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.

The Jets defense played well against a Saints' offense that was averaging 40 points a game this season. The Saints did not score an offensive touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter on Thomas' 1 yard run. Turnovers by the Jets lead to their loss on Sunday and they will need to regroup before traveling to play at Miami on Monday night. The Saints (4-0) are off next week before hosting the undefeated New York Jets in Week 6.

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