Jets vs Broncos: Why Mark Sanchez, Jets Will Dominate Thursday Night Football

The New York Jets have had an up and down season and quarterback Mark Sanchez is a big part of the reason. Thursday night the Jets play against the 4-5 Denver Broncos, who should have no chance to beat a team like the Jets.

Sanchez has led the Jets to a 5-4 record, but not before dropping a 37-16 decision to the New England Patriots in Week 10, New York had won three straight. The third-year signal-caller had begun to play much better over that stretch and the signs that he might be straightening out his career were there.

Obviously Sunday against the Patriots that trend was reversed, as he completed 20 of 39 passes for 306 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. 

Tonight against the Broncos I expect Sanchez and New York's offense to turn things around. The Broncos are 18th in the NFL in total defense (360.7 yards per game), and I really don't expect them to put up much resistance against the Jets.

Meanwhile, Denver's Tim Tebow-centric running offense shouldn't be able to do the kind of damage to the Jets that it did against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. Rex Ryan and his defense are too smart and too savvy to be tricked by what is essentially a high school offense.

I expect the Jets to prevent the Broncos from controlling the clock as they did against the Chiefs by halting Denver's rushing attack. That will give Sanchez and the offense plenty of chances to make things happen. 

The game tonight may not be pretty, but I expect Sanchez to be effective while remaining fairly conservative with his throws. Without LaDainian Tomlinson in the lineup, the USC product loses one of his safety valves, but second-year running back Joe McKnight should be an adequate replacement on passing downs.

Sanchez was headed in the right direction before the New England game, I expect him to get back on that path tonight against the Broncos.