Sanchez leads Jets to win over Giants in first game since being named starter

Sanchez impressive as Jets starter vs. Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mark Sanchez lived up to all the hype in his first game since being selected as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback.

Sanchez completed a spectacular 31-yard touchdown pass play to Chansi Stuckey and put 20 points on the board in 2½ quarters as the Jets took the annual New York braggin’ rights game with a 27-25 decision over the Giants on Saturday night, giving new coach Rex Ryan his first win.

Thomas Jones scored on a 1-yard run, Jay Feely kicked two field goals and Erik Ainge threw a late 70-yard scoring pass to Aundrae Allison for the Jets (1-2), who survived two potential game-tying 2-point conversion attempts by the Giants in the final minutes.

The first came after backup David Carr capped a 99-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to first-round draft pick Hakeem Nicks with 4:15 to go. His 2-point pass attempt fell incomplete.

After Ainge’s touchdown to Allison, Carr and Nicks combined on a 71-yard touchdown pass. This time, Allen Patrick was stopped on the 2-point run.

Eli Manning threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to halfback Brandon Jacobs and Lawrence Tynes kicked field goals of 38 and 26 yards for the Giants (1-2), who lost their second straight.

Named the starting quarterback by Ryan earlier in the week, Sanchez overcame a slow start and a little early pressure to complete 13 of 20 for 149 yards. He combined with Jerricho Cotchery on a 14-yard pass play to set up Jones’ touchdown run that tied it at 7 in the first quarter.

Jets linebacker David Harris set up the score, intercepting a pass that receiver Domenik Hixon let slip through his fingers, something the Giants did at least four times in the game.

However, the play that no one will forget was Sanchez’s touchdown pass to Stuckey with the Jets trailing 13-7 in the second quarter.

The fifth-pick overall in the draft, Sanchez had to sprint to his right to avoid charging defensive ends Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyiora. Just before he reached the Jets’ sideline, Sanchez threw a strike to Stuckey at the 10 and the receiver broke four tackles to make his way into the end zone.

A thrilled Sanchez ran down to the end zone to join the celebration.

The first half was long and ugly at times. The Jets had eight penalties with three setting up Manning’s touchdown pass to Jacobs on the opening drive.

The Giants turned the ball over twice, with the first one setting up the Jones’ touchdown and the second — a fumble by Jacobs at the Jets 27 — costing Tom Coughlin’s team points. A wide-open Steve Smith also dropped a 50-yard pass from Manning at the Jets 40 on the Giants’ second possession.

Manning finished 9 of 21 for 91 yards, a touchdown and an interception playing into the third quarter.

After Sanchez gave the Jets the lead, he set up Feely’s first field goal with a 24-yard dump off to Leon Washington late in the second quarter. His final points came in the third when he followed two good runs by Washington with a 28-yard pass play to Cotchery, setting up Feely’s 25-yarder.