Rookie QB Mark Sanchez came up with a dud in what was basically a must-win game for the Jets. He threw four interceptions — three of which landed into the hands of CB Leigh Bodden — and lost a fumble as New York lost for the sixth time in seven tries and sits at 4-6 after starting 3-0. New England scored 17 points off of Sanchez turnovers and won going away, 31-14. Jets head coach Rex Ryan faced questions about whether he mulled making a change at quarterback during his team's Week 11 loss to the Patriots, but he said that move wasn't under consideration.

Any hope for a postseason berth is all but gone for Ryan's club, but he has shown no interest in handing the reins on offense over to QB Kellen Clemens.

"I don't think (Sanchez is) going to get any better sitting on the sidelines," Ryan told reporters after the game. "Unless you get on the field, you are not going to get any better."

The PFW spin

Ryan's stock has fallen significantly since he was the hot head coach of the year candidate three games into the season, but he's making the right call to stick with Sanchez.

Yes, the rookie from USC isn't showing the steady signs of improvement that many hoped for, but making Clemens the starter wouldn't help Sanchez's confidence and it would be a move that smacked of desperation, and there's no reason for Ryan, who has plenty of job security, to be desperate.

Aside from three really awful games, Sanchez has gone beyond what should be expected from a player with his experience level. Twelve of his 16 interceptions came in three nightmare performances at New Orleans, at home against Buffalo and at New England on Sunday. If you take away those contests, Sanchez has a touchdown-interception ratio of 9-4. The Jets have a 4-3 record when he commits two turnovers or less. His main focus now should be making better decisions under pressure, and the only way to improve in that area is to play in those conditions. Sanchez has to avoid letting bad outings spiral into disastrous performances to keep his team in games, and he's certainly capable of doing so.

It's hardly time to call on Clemens, who hasn't started a game since 2007, when he compiled a TD-INT ratio of 5-10.

Expectations have sunk for the Jets thanks to their tailspin, and Sanchez should relax and play free. He must learn when to throw the ball away to the sideline rather than risking a turnover by flinging one into tight coverage. With the Panthers, Bills, Buccaneers and Falcons, who are each at or below .500, next up on the schedule, the Jets have a chance to at least win a few more games and go out on a respectable note, and Sanchez ought to have the opportunity to lead that potential revival.