Sanchez: Beat Brady and Earn Some Respect

Mark Sanchez did a great job going down to Houston and beating the Texans. His performance down south showed that he can play in the NFL. It proves that the Rex Ryan era as the Jets' head coach has begun, and he is expecting only the best out of his players.

This week's opponent is none other then the New England Patriots. Yes, the Patriots are coming off a short work week, but that is not going to stop Bill Belichick from having his team ready to go Sunday at the Meadowlands.

Division rivals are always some of the most intense games of the football season.   This could be a big statement early in the year made by Sanchez and the Jets.  The Patriots looked vulnerable in areas on Monday night, and if Sanchez is able to exploit them he could lead his team to victory.

This Jets defense will be put to a tough test against an outstanding New England offense. Tom Brady came through in the clutch when he was needed in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills.

Tight end Ben Watson caught both touchdown passes that ended up giving them the lead for good. Consistent Wes Welker was all over the field, and he ended up totalling double digit receptions on the night.

Let's not forget about Randy Moss and the game he had. Whenever a big catch was needed, Moss was called upon and answered. His presence on the field alone is going to be something the Jets make sure they take care of.

Ultimately, this game is going to fall in the hands of the young quarterback Mark Sanchez. The young man from USC has answered the call by starting for the New York Jets, and he has taken it in stride.

Sanchez may feel he still has a chip on his shoulder from the critics at Southern California. Even his coach, Pete Carroll, said he was not sure if Mark was ready for the transition to the next level.

The Jets have a new face of the franchise. They traded up in the draft to get this kid because he can play football. One way to get the respect he deserves would be to take down the Patriots at home this coming Sunday.

It is a tough task, but Sanchez has worked hard and diligently throughout the offseason. He has the weapons to win football games and potentially guide this team to the playoffs.

If Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are able to carry the load and provide a consistent running game, this team will be successful. Washington is a threat anywhere on the field. Jones is a power runner who, when he hits an open hole, is gone to the end-zone.

The right arm of Mark Sanchez delivered on almost every key third-down situation against the Texans. His weapons on the outside are Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey. Both of these guys have speed and athleticism.

They may not get the deep ball every play, but as long as they move the chains it is perfectly fine. He also has a tight end by the name of Dustin Keller who can catch the ball over the middle and block down.

Beating Tom Brady in Week two of the NFL season would be an achievement that not many quarterbacks can do. It is only Brady's second start since his knee injury, but he threw the ball well against the Bills and accumulated a ton of yards.

The Patriots are going to be ready to play: There is no doubt about it. With Mangini gone to Cleveland, there is still a whole lot in this rivalry.

New coach Rex Ryan has done his share of talking and now it is time for his team to answer the call. How the Jets perform against the AFC East favorite will give a strong indication to where their season is headed.

How Mark Sanchez plays on Sunday will have a lot to do with that. This is not college anymore, and let's hope Mark realizes that. He has an opportunity to earn respect from everyone if he goes out, has a great game, and wins in front of the home crowd.