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By The Associated Press (AP) – 7 hours ago

Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets sent quite the message to the New England Patriots.

The rest of the NFL, too.

The rookie quarterback came out throwing in the second half after two quiet quarters Sunday, connecting with Dustin Keller on the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Jets a 16-9 victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots.

The Jets' gritty team effort, which backed up some pre-game boasting from coach Rex Ryan, stood in contrast to another dazzling individual performance by the Saints' Drew Brees, who tossed three more touchdown passes in a 48-22 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brees threw six TD passes last week as the Saints pounded Detroit, and seemed to pick apart Philadelphia's secondary just as easily. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 311 yards and one interception, with Marques Colston grabbing eight passes for 98 yards and two of the scores.

The Eagles (1-1) were without Donovan McNabb, who missed the game with a cracked rib. Kevin Kolb started in his place and threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions, including one that was returned 71 yards by DeSean Jackson for a touchdown.

"You like starting 2-0," Saints coach Sean Payton said flatly, "but it doesn't promise you anything."

Promises? Ryan sure knows something about that.

The outspoken Jets coach reiterated his offseason promise this week that he didn't come to "kiss Bill Belichick's rings," and even sent a voicemail to season ticket holders urging them to be loud Sunday. They responded so forcefully that Brady was forced into consecutive delay of game penalties in the third quarter.

The victory was the first for the Jets (2-0) over Brady at home, and the first over the Patriots (1-1) at the Meadowlands since 2000. The Patriots managed only three field goals from Stephen Gostkowski a week after the Jets' defense held the high-scoring Houston Texans without an offensive touchdown in a 24-7 win.

"That's a statement not just to us," cornerback Darrelle Revis said, "but to the league that every week we're going to come out here and try to get a shutout."

Brady got the ball back at the Patriots 10 with 1:48 left. The Jets defense stepped up one more time, with Dwight Lowery knocking away a pass to Joey Galloway on fourth down in the closing minutes.

"We're not really firing on all cylinders right now," Brady said. "To not get the ball in the end zone is unacceptable."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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