TORONTO — It looks like quarterback Mark Sanchez needs to take some more sliding lessons. But at least the New York Jets’ bid to make a late-season playoff push is back on better footing.
Sanchez threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards before hurting his right knee, and the Jets’ stingy defense finished the job in a 19-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.
The Jets (6-6) won their second straight game and moved within a victory of AFC East-leading New England (7-4), which plays at Miami on Sunday.
Not all the news was good.
Sanchez was wearing a brace after suffering what coach Rex Ryan described as a mild sprain that happened when the quarterback hurt himself with a headfirst dive at the end of an 8-yard run early in the third quarter. Sanchez had hurt his other knee in a 17-6 victory over the Carolina Panthers last weekend, which led to the team bringing in New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi to provide sliding lessons for the first-year quarterback.
“He’s got to understand that it’s in the organization’s best interests to slide, and that was disappointing,” said Ryan, who added it’s uncertain whether Sanchez will be able to play at Tampa Bay on Dec. 13. “I love the kid, but he’s got to grow up and understand that he represents our entire organization.”
The Jets didn’t let down after Sanchez was escorted to the locker room.
Thomas Jones had 109 yards rushing to lead a Jets ground attack that registered 249 yards. In two games against Buffalo, including a 16-13 overtime loss at the Meadowlands on Oct. 18, the Jets combined for 567 yards rushing. And New York’s defense did the rest, limiting Buffalo to 36 yards and four first downs in the second half.
