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After starting the season with three straight feel-good, high-flying victories, the Jets have now suffered three straight demoralizing, kick-in-gut losses.

Having describing the previous two losses as "horrendous and embarrassing," they can now add "amazing, baffling and deflating" to their ever expanding list of adjectives following a 16-13 overtime defeat to Buffalo at the Meadowlands yesterday.

Amazing?

Yes. How else to describe the fact that rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw five interceptions (three leading to Buffalo points) and the Jets still managed to send the game into overtime and have a chance to pull out a victory? Of course, Sanchez derailed that chance with his fifth interception, which gave the hapless Bills the ball at their own 42 with 6:25 to go in OT. And try as they might, the Bills could not bungle this opportunity as they drove down to the Jets' 29 and Rian Lindell nailed a 47-yarder for the victory.

The Bills (2-4) were supposed to be the perfect bounce-back tonic for the Jets, who experienced a bitter defeat in a Monday night shootout at Miami a week ago. It was a game in which Sanchez had experienced his own confidence rejuvenation following a bad outing at New Orleans for his first NFL loss.

Instead, this was a sobering slap in the face for the Jets (3-3), who now realize that they won't escape the growing pains that come with starting a rookie at quarterback in the NFL. And Rex Ryan is strapped in for the wild ride on the Sanchez Express.

"I've played six games and we've lost three and two of them I would say you can blame on No.6," Sanchez said. "It feels pretty bad."

Sanchez's five interceptions were the most by a Jets quarterback since Chad Pennington had five against New England in 2003. At one point during the game, Sanchez had four interceptions and just six completions.

Ryan said he considered showing the rookie the bench, but decided against it.

"He gives us the best change to win," Ryan said. "He will remain our quarterback."

Hope Ryan has a strong stomach as he will take many loops, turns and dips with Sanchez at the helm.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/10/19/2009-10-19_smith_sanchez.html#ixzz0UNVKhOU1