Jets Stampede Buffalo

As if repenting for past egregious sins, the Jets went North of the border and took care of business against the inferior Bills, 19-13.

However, the victory may have cost Gang Green the main purpose for playing out the schedule: The development of rookie QB Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez left the field early in the third quarter and did not return.

How much faith does the Jets coaching staff have in backup Kellen Clemens? The Jets handed the ball to a back on 18 of the 25 snaps that Clemens was in the game (not including two kneel-downs).

True, running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene were running all over Buffalo -- even fullback Tony Richardson got in the act with 36 yards on two carries -- but it was clear Rex Ryan and Co. was not going to allow Clemens to lose the game.

The rushing game had another sparkling day running for 249 and averaging nearly six yard a carry.

Sanchez was in the midst of a solid performance before he was forced to the locker room injuring his knee on a head-first dive for a first down.

The rookie completed seven of 14 passes for 104 yards and one TD. Those numbers would look considerably prettier had Braylon Edwards not dropped an 84-yard sure-touchdown pass late in the first quarter.

Edwards continues to display why he'll always have an NFL job, scoring the only New York touchdown in Canada by fighting off several tacklers on the way to the goal line.

But, the reputation of slippery hands continues to stick to the talented wideout.

Darrelle Revis had yet another All-Pro day, this time holding Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.

The win keeps alive the faint hope of a playoff appearance but even that wishful thinking would be quashed should Sanchez be forced to sit any length of time.

With the extra time to prepare the Jets should run all over Tampa Bay in Florida.

However, each of the following three match ups (Atlanta, at Indianapolis and Cincinnati) will be tough tests, and the Jets will have a difficult passing any of them.

The rough schedule will be bearable if Sanchez plays and shows signs of the future. If Sanchez is sidelined, then the whole team may as well be eating hot dogs.