Mark Sanchez’ post game press conference following the Jets’ mind-boggling loss to the Buffalo Bills two Sunday’s ago was sad in many respects. Just minutes before, the rookie had completed only 35 percent of his throws and, worst of all, tossed a career-worst five interceptions. When I say career, I’m talking college, high school, pee wee, Thanksgiving Day family pickup, the list goes on. Politicians don’t even make that many bad decisions in one day.

Sanchez hung his head as us media members repeatedly reminded him him about what had transpired and asked how he’d respond. He was a 22-year-old facing a firing squad of reporters and he was taking shot after shot as best he could. He told us that he was working way too hard to produce type of results and things would get better. Sanchez was brutally honest, evaluating his performance as “horrible,” without offering up a single excuse: not the cold, not a bad route, nothing.

If there was a game that could help Sanchez bounce back, it was Sunday in Oakland. It had more to do with location than the opponent. You see, Sanchez grew up in Southern California and it just so worked out that he was that good that he could play quarterback at the top football college in the country: the University of Southern California. Traveling to Oakland meant the Jets would not only take on one of the worst teams in the NFL, but Sanchez would be able to play in front of many friends and family for the first time.

I saw Sanchez’ father, Nick Sanchez Sr., on the field before the Buffalo game. He was glowing as his son warmed up on the Giants Stadium turf just a few feet away. Before the younger Sanchez made his way into the locker room, he walked over to his dad and gave him a kiss. In that single moment, you could see how important the people close to him are.

Earlier in the week, head coach Rex Ryan said he was going to simplify the playbook for Sanchez, as perhaps he was overloading his young leader. Not only did he remove some options from Sanchez’ arm band, but he took the ball out of his hands more than any time before in his short seven-game NFL career. It worked and New York went on to win 38-0. Sanchez threw just 15 passes, completing nine of them for 143 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly, he had zero interceptions.

While the Jets (4-3) needed a rebound performance from Sanchez, which they received, the game was won by their defense and running game. The 38-0 victory was the defense’s first shutout of the season and included three sacks, all by Calvin Pace, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. That’s a pretty good line for you fantasy owners, depending on if you had the Jets defense or if you were facing it.

The Jets also racked up another monster day (316 yards) on the ground. Most of the yardage was compliments of rookie Shonn Greene, who rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Thomas Jones (121 yards, one touchdown) had another solid day, as well. Greene got a good amount of handoffs after Leon Washington went down in the first quarter. It’s not looking good for Washington, the Jets’ most versatile player, and he could miss 4-6 weeks with a broken leg.

New York has to feel good after snapping their three-game losing streak, a stretch that left many wondering whether this team was overhyped because of their hot start. Sure, this game was against an Oakland team could be considered one of the league’s punching bags, but it was a convincing enough win to make you feel that there is still some life there.

Back in New Jersey, however, the Giants (5-2) continued to struggle. They haven’t hit a three-game losing streak like the Jets, but they’re at two with a matchup in Philadelphia next Sunday. You can bet those Eagles fan are going to be roaring, especially with that game in the afternoon and the Phillies taking on the Yankees in the World Series across the parking lot later that night.

My best guess as to what is going on with the Giants is they feel they need to compete with a certain opponent’s primary trait. For instance, the past two weeks, they’ve taken on New Orleans and Arizona, two air-it-out offenses. The Giants, however, are a running team; they were in 2008 when they won the Super Bowl and they are today. But taking on these two teams, the Giants have tried to get the ball downfield quicker than pounding it up the middle. This has led to four Eli Manning interceptions, including three Sunday night. That’s the most he’s thrown since Week 6 last season against the Browns.

In Sunday’s 24-17 loss, Brandon Jacobs had 76 yards, while Ahmad Bradshaw had just 32. This was on 25 carries combined. Manning, meanwhile, threw the ball 37 times, the second most pass attempts he’s had this season. The argument could be made that the Cardinals have the top-ranked rushing defense in the NFL, but the Giants have the fifth best rushing attack, and 25 attempts will not cut it. I bet you could guess which of their seven games the Giants had fewer carries in. It was, in fact, against the Saints, where offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride mixed in just 17.

Defensively, the Giants secondary looked improved over what it did against the Saints, but was still shredded for 216 yards and a touchdown. The line fared slightly better against Arizona’s backs, holding them to just 72 yards, but they also let up two touchdowns. Mix in two sacks and an interception and that isn’t enough against one of the league’s best passing quarterbacks, Kurt Warner.

Comparing the Giants’ losing streak to the Jets is not entirely fair. The Giants’ losses came against two of the league’s best, while the Jets’ came against the undefeated Saints, an emerging Miami squad and the suddenly 3-4 Bills. The Giants also had their way with the Raiders earlier this season, 44-7. What I can compare is how the Jets got back to winning through playing how they know how: defense. If the Giants start to lean more on the legs of Jacobs and Bradshaw and less on Manning’s arm, they’ll be in better shape. Against Philadelphia’s rushing defense, 15th worst overall, Week 8 is the perfect time to start.