The Jets have put the fear of making a mistake in the forefront of Mark Sanchez’s mind. That much is clear. He’s all hesitancy and doubt. He threw only one pass downfield against the Ravens, or at least one deep pass with serious intent. Flinging one up 10 yards away from a receiver does not count. That’s a throwaway.

Now the Patriots come to town, and they can set the Jets reeling. Don’t think they are not relishing that chance. Tom Brady is dangerous, and the Jets have some problems in the non-Darrelle Revis part of their defense. They even have problems in the Revis part now that their star corner is battling a tender hamstring — one that may been caused by his missing all of camp. The best player on the first level of their defense — defensive tackle Kris Jenkins — is gone. And the injured Calvin Pace may be the best player on the second level. He’s least the most versatile.

– Michael Salfino, SNY.tv.

I watched half of the Patriots’ evisceration of the Bengals on Sunday before I got disgusted with Cincy and switched over to something more compelling, but it was enough to convince me that the Patriots are once again, sadly enough, extremely good at football.

It’s a very small sample, mind you, but they appeared to be moving the ball at will on the Bengals’ defense and they completely neutralized Cedric Benson and the Cincinnati running game. The only place they looked weak was in the secondary, especially at the corners.

Again, it’s only one game. But it strikes me that there’s a pretty solid chance the Jets could be 0-2 after Sunday, and the reactive New York media will explode, even though Gang Green will have lost only to two reasonable Super Bowl contenders. If the Jets played like they played Monday and the Patriots play like they played Sunday, that’s exactly what’ll happen.

Luckily, a lot can change in a week. If the Jets can move the ball better on offense, they’ll secure more first downs, give their defense longer breaks and keep Tom Brady and his stupid hair off the field.

But based on what the Patriots did to the Bengals’ rushing game, it seems like a safe bet that the Jets will have to pass downfield to do that, if only to stretch the defense. That means a lot should fall on our hero, upon whom much doubt has been cast of late.

Phone call for you, Mark Sanchez. It’s destiny again.