Interesting New York news: Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez guides New York Jets to playoff victory over ...

New York

CINCINNATI — One playoff game into his career, Mark Sanchez is giving a good Off-Broadway performance.

So are the rest of the New York Jets, who are no longer an overlooked team after dismantling the AFC North champions for the second consecutive weekend.

Any more doubters?

With their rookie quarterback from USC playing mistake-free football, the Jets turned their surprising playoff appearance into a long-running production Saturday. Sanchez threw a touchdown pass, and the league's top running game took it from there, setting up a 24-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

"It's pretty special," Sanchez said. "It's got nothing to do with me."

Actually, the Jets' first playoff victory since 2004 had a lot to do with him.

Playing in single-digit wind chills against a defense that tried its best to put the game in his hands, Sanchez went 12 of 15 for 182 yards and a stratospheric passer rating of 139.4.

Considered the Jets' weakest link heading into the playoffs, he became their focal point, getting his first playoff win ahead of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, his boyhood idol and another former USC standout.

"He had the eye of the tiger today and he was ready to get out there and throw it around," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Sanchez. "I see him getting better and better each day on the practice field.

"What a job he's done. I think he's tired of hearing he's the weak link on this football team."

He wasn't the only rookie making plays under pressure for New York (10-7). Third-rounder Shonn Greene of Iowa ran for 135 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, leading a running game that churned out 171 yards for a rare back-to-back sweep of the Bengals (10-7).

Cedric Benson ran for a Bengals-record 169 yards in a playoff game, but Cincinnati managed little else. Its streak without a playoff victory reached 19 years and counting.

Cincinnati went to the Meadowlands six days earlier and got flattened 37-0. The Jets ran for 257 yards, and the Bengals managed a total of 72 yards, with receiver Chad Ochocinco getting shut out. Little changed the second time around — Ochocinco had two catches for 28 yards in the rematch.

"This was a great team effort," said Ryan, who won in his playoff debut as a coach. "We're a good football team. If people don't believe that, they soon will."

Sanchez looked like a playoff pro, joining Shaun King, Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger as rookie QBs to win postseason starts.

Note

• Minutes before kickoff, Jets kicker Jay Feely learned he was going to have to punt, too. Steve Weatherford was dizzy and had a fast heartbeat after warming up, leaving him unavailable. Feely averaged 31.4 yards on seven punts.