Throwback Thursday: New York Jets vs. New Orleans Saints: Last Meeting

Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

It’s Thursday, so let’s have a little “Throwback Thursday” action, but taking a look at the last time these two teams met.

The year was 2009, and a rookie quarterback led his 3-0 New York Jets into New Orleans to face the 3-0 Saints. The afternoon started out pretty even, as the Saints were only able to manage a field goal from John Carney to take a 3-0 lead.

The difference came in the second quarter, when two Mark Sanchez turnovers proved to be costly. First was an interception in the red zone. Darren Sharper intercepted a pass on his own one and took it the distance. Later in the quarter, Will Smith caused a sack fumble on the Jets goal line which was recovered in the end zone to stake the Saints to a 17-0 lead, and a 17-3 lead at halftime.

Thomas Jones scored in the third quarter from 15 yards out to close the gap to 17-10, but a fourth quarter touchdown from Pierre Thomas put the game out of reach. Final score 24-10 in favor of the Saints.

So the Jets played the Saints to a pretty even matched game in 2009, and that was in New Orleans.  Here is the box score: