Season comes full circle for Jets and QB Mark Sanchez

QB Mark Sanchez was told Thursday he’ll end the season as the Jets’ starter Sunday. (US Presswire)

For QB Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, 2012 will end where and how it started --against the Buffalo Bills with Sanchez as the starter. The Jets beat the Bills in Week 1, 48-28 at MetLife Stadium.

It's been a roller-coaster season for the Jets who are 6-9. They acquired QB Tim Tebow from the Broncos during the offseason to much fanfare and criticism and installed a wildcat element to their offense with all the mystery and suspense worthy of an Agatha Christie novel. Certain practices during training camp were off limits to the public and in a couple of instances, players stood in front of the media members who were allowed to be there, in order to try to block their view.

But neither the wildcat nor Tebow took off and the team struggled all season.

Sanchez also struggled, racking up 17 interceptions to 13 touchdowns before a frustrated coach Rex Ryan benched him after he threw five INTs in the loss to the Titans in Week 15. 

Greg McElroy, the Jets' third-string quarterback started Week 16 against the Chargers, passing over backup Tebow. The Jets lost 27-17 and McElroy was sacked 11 times and suffered a concussion, which he didn't disclose to trainers until Thursday and was immediately ruled out for the Bills game by Ryan.

Sanchez said he wasn't aware that McElroy was hurt until told about it Thursday morning by Ryan.

Asked if he was surprised to be getting another shot at the starting role, Sanchez said he wasn't expecting it, but "I'm excited to be playing again."

As for whether or not he feels any added pressure going into this week, he said: "No diffferent than any week."

Tebow asked Ryan for a shot to play quarterback when Sanchez was benched and was openly upset when he was denied. Tebow was more pragmatic Thursday with Sanchez getting the nod. "Obviously, you're a competitor, you want to play, but I understood his decision," Tebow said.