Rex Ryan insists he sticking with Mark Sanchez as Jets' starting quarterback
Mark Sanchez (left) greets Tim Tebow as the two quarterbacks rotate in and out of the game. Coach Rex Ryan said he has no plans to replace the struggling Sanchez with Tebow.
SEATTLE — For another weekend, Jets coach Rex Ryan found himself defending Mark Sanchez as the team’s starting quarterback.
This latest instance, during Sunday’s 28-7 loss to the Seahawks, followed Sanchez’s fourth red zone interception of the season.
• Tim Tebow won't campaign to get a crack at starting at quarterback for Jets
• Rex Ryan insists he sticking with Mark Sanchez as Jets' starting quarterback
• Jets' defense played well for three quarters against the Seahawks -- and then folded
• Jets vs. Seahawks: live coverage and fan discussion
The Seahawks were in a basic Cover 2 defense at their own 6-yard line, according to corner Richard Sherman, who picked off the pass. It was third down in a 7-7 game with 10:55 to go in the first half.
Sherman was stationed in the flat waiting, and expecting, Sanchez to throw the ball to tight end Dustin Keller, who was already being spied by another defensive back.
In the back of the end zone, Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill flailed his arms and called for the ball.
“It’s just a bad decision,” Sanchez said. “I strung the play out for too long and got greedy; that kind of stuff happens when you do that.”
Guard Brandon Moore said of the play: “It wasn’t a jovial moment.”
Sanchez, who turned 26 Sunday, finished 9-of-22 for 124 yards and the interception. It was the fifth time this season he finished a game with a completion percentage below 50 and the second time this season he failed to throw a touchdown pass.
Ryan, though, stuck with his same motto and said he believes in his heart that Sanchez gives the team the best opportunity to win despite the struggles.
When pressed on the matter, Ryan’s reasons were mostly emotional. He said his gut instinct is to stick with Sanchez.
“That’s what I believe,” Ryan said “It’s what I believe to be the truth. Why do I believe it? Because I believe it. I don’t care what you think or anybody else. I believe it.
“In my heart, I believe it.”
• WR Jeremy Kerley muffed his second punt of the season, this time with 5:56 to go in the second quarter, giving Seattle the ball and a short field. The Seahawks converted the turnover into a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Marshawn Lynch and took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
“I should have fair caught it,” a very quiet Kerley said after the game.
• The Jets left struggling pass rusher Aaron Maybin inactive for the game and replaced him on the game-day roster with linebacker Ricky Sapp.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine hinted toward the move on Thursday when he said the recently promoted Sapp had essentially the same role as Maybin.
Maybin, a breakout player on the defense last year with six sacks, has zero this season and just one tackle.
• The Jets are now 3-5 in franchise history against the Seahawks in Seattle and have not won a game here since 1997.
Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com; twitter.com/ConorTOrr
