What matters this week...

Our 2010 squad has not played very well. They talk a much bigger than they deliver on Sunday. That being said they have scored 11 regular season wins and are 1-0 in the postseason. IMHO this game comes down to our running game and the dominance of our O-line. But, looking at the big picture Mark Sanchez's performance will have some long lasting ramifications.

As a second year man he put up acceptable stats and more importantly 11 wins. He had more TD's than INT's and thats all that really matters. He made some magical plays at the end of games which is nice to have on your resume. He is also 3-1 in the playoffs, but this game is not about stats... it's about #6 stepping up and putting together a complete game when it counts. Those perfect passes and gutsy calls at the end of the game are nice... but Sanchez is starting to look like a guy that takes time to warm up, sometimes looking out of sync until the second half... a guy who forces the ball when his team gets behind... a guy who pouts when things aren't going his way... and a player who is not ready for prime time.

I need to see a perfect performance this week. This is the game that will set the tone for the next 3 seasons. Brady has at least 3 elite years left, but he is getting older. #6 needs to pull out a win here and get in his head a little. Mark doesn't need 400 yards and 4 TD's, but he does need to get the ball in the endzone, not turn it over, and make the right reads... from play #1. I know he is young, but he is surrounded by more talent than any other QB in the league. Schotty knows how to use motion and will send in winning plays. It's all about that NEED to win, some athletes just have it. Can Sanchez show that he can beat Brady when it counts, or will he give the Pats a golden pass to the Superbowl and a ton of confidence next year?

A recent national poll by ESPN had Sanchez ranked in the bottom 5 QB's in the league behind names like Henne and McCoy (yes, that kid from the Browns who played like 4 games). There are reasons why public perception is so negative. Mark is going to show this week who he will be moving forward. Will he become the next dominate force in the AFC East, or that guy who is always chasing Brady's coat tails?