Around the League writer Marc Sessler has his takeaways from the game:
From Around the League:
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Lessons from Sunday's preseason games
» Mark Sanchez completed a pair of long passes out of the chute, connecting with Dustin Keller for 24 yards on the first play of the game and Patrick Turner for 30 on the next. Two plays, 54 yards. It took Sanchez 11 passes to compile 59 yards against the New York Giants last week. But the fast start was a mirage, leading to a lonely field goal.
» Hard not to be slightly annoyed by NBC's Cris Collinsworth gushing endlessly over Cam Newton -- he kept labeling him a "big, strong, good-looking kid." To Newton's credit, he continues to look the part. On third-and-8 on Carolina's opening drive, we saw "Ace Boogie" rumble effortlessly out of Aaron Maybin's grasp for nine yards and the first down. Not an earth-shattering play, but another example of the gifts that make Newton the most dangerous (and thrilling) quarterback in the game.
» Nice moment for Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who dropped Mark Sanchez for an 8-yard loss in the first quarter. It was Davis' first game back after missing all of last season following his third ACL surgery.
» The Jets have reloaded on defense. Lineman Kenrick Ellis is a matchup problem for offenses and Quinton Coples destroyed Newton on a big hit in the first half. Much less impressive was cornerback Kyle Wilson -- the former first-round pick -- who appeared lost in the secondary.
» Tim Tebow has a bad habit of staring down receivers (he narrowly missed an ugly pick on his first drive of the second half). Against Panthers reserves, Tebow finished a woeful 4-for-14 for 55 yards with an interception. The shine is off. Rex Ryan was seen shaking his head on the sideline at points. You have to wonder if the coach -- in some sort of offseason, mountain-top reverie -- thought he could return to this grind-it-out style of offense with any success. So far, none.
» We almost hate to mention it, but Wayne Hunter -- playing among no-namers -- allowed another ugly sack in the fourth quarter. Life for Hunter has become a wilderness. We will leave him be.
