Sanchez throws 3 TDs as Jets roll
AP Feed
Sep. 09, 2012 08:25 PM

One touchdown after another, the New York Jets eased all those preseason concerns about their low-scoring offense.

With a whole lot of Mark Sanchez, a sprinkling of Tim Tebow and a dominant first-half effort by the defense, New York manhandled the Buffalo Bills, routing their AFC East rivals 48-28 in the season opener Sunday.

Rex Ryan passed on a chance to say, ''We told you so'' to all of his team's critics and doubters. So did Sanchez, and Tebow, too.

''Vindication, chip on our shoulder, maybe that's not the right things,'' Ryan said. ''We were just excited to play.''

And, they looked it.

Sanchez threw three touchdown passes, including two to rookie Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley had a touchdown catch and a punt return for a score, and Antonio Cromartie took one of New York's three interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick to the end zone.

''It's a great win, there's no doubt about it,'' Sanchez said. ''But, we've got lots of work to do.''

That's from a team - labeled by some a ''circus'' for its penchant for making offseason headlines, namely acquiring Tebow - that had many wondering what to expect after the first-team offense failed to score a touchdown in the first three games of the preseason.

''It looked like we were making up for lost time there,'' Sanchez said.

Added Kerley: ''We knew what we could do. We just showed the world today.''

There were plenty of touchdowns in this one for the Jets, who set the franchise mark for most points in a season opener on Shonn Greene's late 1-yard scoring run.

''He definitely turned it on today,'' Kerley said of Sanchez. ''I think there's always a big target on Mark's back and I think he likes it. He's a guy we trust and know what he's capable each week, and he showed it today.''

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