Mark Sanchez vs. Tim Tebow: Where Does Jets' QB Controversy Stand after Week 10?

Mark Sanchez completed nine of his 22 passes for 124 yards and an interception against the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 10. His challenger for the New York Jets starting quarterback position, Tim Tebow, completed all of his passes.

Three of them for eight yards.

Nevertheless, the fact that the offensive reigns have not been handed to Tebow—despite Mark Sanchez’s 30th-ranked passer rating entering Sunday of Week 10—points to a more permanent backup role for the former Florida QB.

Sanchez’s passer rating exceeds that of only Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs), Brandon Weeden (Cleveland Browns) and John Skelton (Arizona Cardinals). All three of those teams have something in common with the Jets: a losing record.

New York is 3-6, good for 11th in the AFC. All but one of the NFC teams (the Carolina Panthers at 2-7) has a record that mirrors or surpasses the Jets’ current winning percentage. If head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano won’t prominently feature Tebow in a game that New York can’t score a point offensively, when is it going to happen?

It probably won't.

The Jets have already played their division-rival New England Patriots; there is little reason to wait until their second meeting with Bill Belichick and crew to spring a Tebow offense on them a la Ronnie Brown’s Wildcat in 2008. Sparano was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins at that time.

New York is not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the weaker AFC—but they're is tied for last in their division. Its final seven games are against teams with a current combined record of 25-38-1, so piecing together a run to the playoffs is not out of the question.

However, it will be very difficult to win games while averaging fewer than 16 points per game since Week 1. It’s well worth trying Tebow for extended time under center to surmise whether he can remedy New York’s offensive woes—but if the Jets haven’t done so by now, they’re probably not going to this season.

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