Mark Sanchez: Broadway Mark?

Come on now, can any of you out there say with a straight face that you knew Mark Sanchez would be as solid as he’s been this season?

Even Jet fans were preparing themselves to remain patient with Sanchez for at least a season, which, needless to say, is not a quality, trait or virtue that comes naturally to New Yorkers.

But, Sanchez has thoroughly surprised everyone with his near flawless play during the Jets’ 3-0 start to the 2009 season.

Sanchez has thrown for 606 yards and four touchdowns.  But what’s even more shocking is that he’s had only two passes picked off in 83 attempts, which is something almost unheard-of for a rookie quarterback.

Sanchez has calmly dealt with the New York fans, media, and they immense pressure they combine to create, which, in fairness, is easier to do when you’re exceeding expectations rather than falling short of them.

Sanchez and the Jets will face their next big test this Sunday as they head to the Super Dome to take on the undefeated New Orleans Saints.

However, if they can escape the Super Dome with a victory, the Jets could very well travel to Foxborough in late November for their rematch with the Patriots as an undefeated football team.

In the six weeks following the Saints game, the Jets will take on Miami twice, Buffalo, Oakland, and Jacksonville (with a bye week mixed in), all of which have, let’s just say, not been overly impressive this season.

The one foreseeable downside to Sanchez’s fast start is that he’s now raised the bar.

Whereas four weeks ago, Jet fans were not expecting huge things from the rookie quarterback—at least not right away—they’re now expecting him to calmly pick apart NFL defenses week-in and week-out.

However, when Sanchez does hit a few speed bumps this season, which is bound to happen at some point, perhaps Jet fans will revert to the patients they were intending to display before Mark Sanchez become "Broadway Mark."