1495 Sports is proud to bring these notes and quotes from the New York Jets48-28 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Notes:

Jeremy Kerley:

With his 12-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, WR Jeremy Kerley became the first Jet to record a receiving touchdown and return a punt for a touchdown in the same game in team history.

Kerley’s touchdown reception was the second of his career. His first career score occurred on a nine-yard touchdown at NE (10/09/11). His punt return touchdown was the first of his career and first by a Jet since a 52-yard punt return by Santana Moss at SD (11/03/02). The last time the Jets returned a punt for a touchdown at home was the week earlier when Moss returned a punt 63 yards vs. CLV (10/27/02). Kerley’s return is the second-longest punt return in team history and longest by the Jets since Terence Mathis set a Jets record with a 98-yard punt return vs. DAL (11/04/90).

Mark Sanchez:

In the first half, QB Mark Sanchez completed 15-of-22 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for a passer rating of 105.1. The 184 yards passing represents a career high for the first-half for Sanchez, surpassing the 181 yards he recorded vs. KC (12/11/11). Sanchez finished the game with 266 yards on 19-of-27 passing with three touchdowns and one interception for a quarterback rating of 123.4. His three touchdown passes were the most since he tallied four vs. BUF (11/27/11) and his passer rating is the fourth-highest of his career, second highest of the regular season and the best since he posted a rating of 124.3 vs. NE (09/19/10). The Jets record improved to 6-0 in games that Sanchez throws at least three touchdown passes.

For his career in season openers, Sanchez has completed 63-of-102 for 872 yards and six touchdowns with xx interceptions

In compiling his totals, Sanchez completed passes to seven different receivers – four wide receivers, two tight ends and one running back. In all Jets wide receivers were responsible for 14 receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns.

Sanchez in Season Openers

	Today	Prev. High	Opp.	Date
QB Rating	123.4	88.7	vs. DAL	09/11/11
Touchdowns	3	2	vs. DAL	09/11/11
Cmp. Pct.	70.40%	59.10%	vs. DAL	09/11/11

Stephen Hill:

In his NFL debut, WR Stephen Hill, the Jets second-round pick, caught five passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Hill’s debut ranks first in team history for most receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He surpassed Jets Ring of Honor WR Al Toon’s club record of 67 receiving yards in his debut, set also vs. BUF (09/15/85).

Shonn Greene:

RB Shonn Greene carried a career-high 27 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. It marked his most successful opening game in his career. Prior to today’s game, his career totals for season openers was 15 carries for 44 yards and no touchdowns.

Greene in Season Opening Games

Date	Opp.	Att	Yds	Lg	TD
09/13/09	at HST	DNP
09/13/10	vs. BLT	5	18	8	0
09/11/11	vs. DAL	10	26	6	0
09/09/12	vs. BUF	27	94	14	1

Secondary:

All five “starting” members of the Jets secondary contributed to the team’s four takeaways. The Jets ended the first two BUF possessions with interceptions. First, CB Darrelle Revis intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick on a pass intended for Stevie Johnson. This marks the second-consecutive opening game in which Revis has posted an interception. In 2011, he intercepted Tony Romo, setting the stage for Nick Folk’s game-winning field goal vs. DAL (09/11/11) Next, CB Kyle Wilson picked off Fitzpatrick on a pass intended for David Nelson. Both ensuing offensive possessions resulted in Jets touchdowns. The third takeaway came after a C.J. Spiller fumble caused by S LaRon Landry and recovered by S Yeremiah Bell. Then on the BUF opening drive of the second half, CB Antonio Cromartie intercepted a pass intended for Nelson and took it 40 yards for a touchdown. The interception return for a touchdown marked the first one by Cromartie with the Jets, the third of his career and his first since he intercepted a Brett Favre against the Jets while in SD (09/22/08).

Points off Turnovers:

Following an interception, Sanchez and the offense used a balanced eight-play drive for 56 yards and the game’s first touchdown. The Jets used three passes, three runs and two plays out of Wildcat on the drive, which Sanchez capped with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kerley.

After the second interception by their defense on the ensuing BUF drive, the Jets offense again capitalized with a touchdown. The Jets drove five-plays and 52 yards, withSanchez completing three-of-three passes for 49 yards, including 33-yard touchdown pass to Hill.

For the game, the Jets scored 24 points off four takeaways. They scored touchdowns after the interceptions by Revis and Wilson, a field goal following the forced fumble by Landry and subsequent recovery by Bell, and finally a touchdown on an interception return by Cromartie.

Quotes:

Head Coach Rex Ryan opening statement:

“This was a tremendous performance by our football team, especially on offense. We know the records that we set in preseason that everyone pointed out, but the record that we set today was most points in team history in a season opener. I couldn’t be happier for our football team. It’s a tremendous performance, in particular by our offense. Jeremy Kerley was the first player in team history to have a punt return for a touchdown and a touchdown catch in the same game. His 68-yard punt return is the second-longest in team history. Those are some impressive stats.”

On the play of QB Mark Sanchez:

“The one interception was unfortunate because he knows we have to protect the football better against a good opponent like Buffalo. We wish he had that one back because he had one heck of a day. Santonio (Holmes) almost had an unbelievable catch in the end zone, but he had his hand down. It was a tremendous day for Mark.”

On if the team proved themselves:

“Proved that we were ready to play this opener? I’ll say without question, our guys were looking forward to it. Again, I’m excited about it, we expected a win. We knew that Buffalo was a tough opponent, but we expected a win and to defend our home field. Next week obviously brings up a totally different challenge. We have to go on the road and play in one of the toughest places to play in football, in Pittsburgh. Again, as excited and happy as I am about this win, it’s only one win. Obviously, we need a lot more to get to where we want to get to, which are the playoffs. ”

Stephen Hill had this to say on his first NFL performance:

“It was pretty good, especially scoring two touchdowns in the first game. It was pretty good. Like I said, looking forward to next weekend.”

On whether the offense’s performance was a surprise:

“No it wasn’t. We knew what was going to happen. Coach Rex Ryan, he told us. It wasn’t like, we “knew”, but we knew we were going to open it up. That’s how it was.”

On if practicing with the Jugs machine paid off:

“It definitely paid off. I kind of got off the Jugs early in the summer. But I have to get back on them and make sure I make those catches.”

Mark Sanchez had this to say:

On whether he thought the offense could be this explosive:

“I knew we were just capable of scoring points. I knew we had a great plan coming into the game. I had a good feeling about it all week, and I knew our shortcomings in the preseason were shortcomings in the red zone. There were penalties. (I) hit Stephen (Hill) on almost the exact same route I threw to PT (Patrick Turner) for a pick six against the Giants. You throw it right, you throw it accurately and you score. I knew we were really close in the preseason. Did I know it was 48 points? No, I didn’t necessarily know that, but that’s just a great day of execution. We still left some plays out there so it wasn’t perfect. (We’ve) still got a lot of work to do but I’m really proud of our effort and the way we moved the ball today.”

On Hill’s first NFL game:

“He’s still got a long way to go, but he sure did a heck of a job today, going up and catching the ball—and then the run after the catch to score. A great day for him, but he couldn’t do it without JK (Jeremy Kerley) running hard, without Chaz (Schilens) getting the crucial catch there in the two-minute (drill), Jeff Cumberland getting in the mix, Bilal Powell catching the ball, and then Santonio on some big third-down conversions – one late in the game to keep us on the field and then one early in the game to set up a touchdown later on. It was that entire receiving group, Coach Lal did a great job.”

On whether he learned anything about his team today:

“I know we’re a special group. I’ve known that from the jump, but I think we’re starting to realize it. It’s important to keep this whole thing in perspective. It’s a great way to start, it’s exactly what you want in your home opener, but we’ll celebrate this one for a couple more hours, then, we’ve got to get ready for Pittsburgh, because that’s going to (be) another tough challenge (and) on the road, (it is) never an easy place to play. So, we’ve got a lot to go here.”

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