How Does This Sound: "First Place New York Jets"

If you said “completely unbelievable,” then you’re probably not alone.

Seriously, raise your hand if you had the Jets at 2-0 after opening the season at Houston and home against the Patriots.

So what do me make of the suddenly perfect Jets? Is this team for real? Can Mark Sanchez really lead Gang Green to a division title?

Answer to the first question: yes. Answer to the second question: probably, believe it or not.

When you think of where this team is at this early stage of the season, it conjures up memories of…..think WAAAAAY back with me now…..to the 2008 Baltimore Ravens.

Haven’t we heard this before?

Mark Sanchez = Joe Flacco.

The amazing Jets defense = The amazing Ravens defense.

That Baltimore team made it to the AFC Championship game last season. I know it’s early, but the Jets seem to be following that identical blueprint.

Do you realize the Jets kept the Patriots out of the end zone today?

That goes for the Patriots offense, defense and special teams! When the schedule came out and you saw Mark Sanchez taking on the Patriots defense week 2, you probably would have guessed the rookie QB would be vulnerable to a fumble or interception return for a TD.

(He almost was when the Pats sacked him on the game’s first drive….Alan Faneca recovered the ball inside the Jets’ five).

Close or not, that wasn’t the case. The Jets played near flawless defensive football and Sanchez and the Jet offense didn’t make the big mistake.

Is this team for real? I say yes.

But don’t take my word for it (Reading Rainbow, anyone?), we’ll find out for sure over the next three weeks.

On the schedule:

-Week 3: Titans (13 wins last season)
-Week 4: @ Saints (Averaging 46.5 points per game this season)
-Week 5: @ Dolphins (Defending AFC Champs)

Something tells me Rex Ryan is watching film already.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle