EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan considered benching quarterback Mark Sanchez in the third quarter of Sunday's 10-6 loss to Miami.
Sanchez struggled for the third straight week, plagued by fumbles and ill-advised passes. But Ryan stuck with the second-year quarterback because "he still gave us the best chance to win."
Mark Brunell is Sanchez's backup.
"Late in the third quarter, I thought about it," Ryan said. "But he's not the only one to blame. If I thought if that was the case, we'd have done it.
"The kid's an excellent quarterback, he's just got to find a way to execute."
Two turnovers by Sanchez led to all of Miami's points in the first half. The Jets also had a half-dozen dropped passes, including one in the end zone by Santonio Holmes in the second period.
Sanchez finished 17 of 44 for 216 yards, was sacked six times and fumbled four times, losing one.
"How many times have I dropped the ball in the pocket?" said Sanchez, who emphasized that he and Ryan have a good relationship. "Today, I dropped it three times. It's just a matter of keeping two hands on the ball in the pocket. I didn't hang onto it and it shouldn't happen."
After a 9-2 start, the Jets have lost two straight. Sanchez also played poorly in a win over Cincinnati on Thanksgiving night.
"It starts with the quarterback on offense," he said. "The last few weeks, I haven't played like I did earlier in the season. I need to turn it around."
Sanchez didn't throw a pick in the first five games and has thrown 12 in the next eight -- at least one in every contest. Nolan Carroll's interception at the New York 42 helped set up Dan Carpenter's 47-yard field goal in the first quarter to make it 3-0.
Sanchez lost a fumble on the next series when sacked by Kendall Langford and Quentin Moses recovered at the New York 26. Miami scored its only TD soon after on Brandon Marshall's 6-yard catch.
Ryan said he never thought about benching Sanchez this year, and only considered it once in Sanchez's rookie season -- during a loss to Buffalo in which the quarterback threw five interceptions.
Against Miami, Ryan insisted the problems were spread throughout the offense. His players agreed.
"This one definitely is not just Mark," said receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who had five receptions for 69 yards but also had a key drop. "We had some opportunities to make plays for him and we just didn't do it. For whatever reason, we just started pressing a little bit, and when you press, you lose focus. Hey, we just have to make sure we get this thing fixed fast."
Sanchez is sure that things will turn around, but with trips to Pittsburgh and Chicago ahead, the challenges are mounting.
"I don't know how many negative words you can use to describe it," he said. "We're 9-4 and we're still right there. We're in better shape than last year and we made the playoffs and went all the way to the AFC championship game.
"This team is positive and I now how they'll respond. It will be a good test for me early in my career."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
