Sunday, October 23, 2011

Jets WR Burress grabs 3 TDs vs. Chargers



We were all wondering where Plaxico Burress was this year, but New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Mark Sanchez had been insisting that Burress and Sanchez were just a little off and assured that he was due for a big day.

That big day came.

Burress made four catches Sunday against the San Diego Chargers – three for touchdowns. He was the ultimate red zone threat, as all three scores came when the Jets were inside the 5-yard line. The Jets scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and went on to win, 27-21.

Burress’ first touchdown score was a critical one. The Jets were third-and-goal from the 3-yard line and down, 14-3, midway through the first quarter. Burress got a nice release of a little slant route working from the right and cleanly caught a Sanchez pass in the middle of the end zone.

Sanchez found Burress again late in the third quarter, this time on a second-and-goal from the 4-yard line. The third-year quarterback hit his veteran receiver on a quick back-shoulder throw to the left side of the end zone to bring the Jets within four.

Burress’ last grab was on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. The Jets went with a spread formation, and Sanchez made a quick strike to Burress, who was lined up in the slot, right off the line of scrimmage. That was the game-winner, as San Diego didn't score again.

The 10th-year wideout hadn’t caught a touchdown since Week 3 and had just two on the year prior to Sunday.

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