The Rundown, 9/14: Sanchez shines brightest in Week 1

Welcome to the first installment of The Rundown, a look at each of the heavy hitters in New York sports. For right now, that includes the pro teams from the four major sports that are in season (including the Giants and Jets, Devils and Nets, despite their locations). If St. John's basketball or the Red Bulls suddenly catch fire, I'll be happy to throw them in too. I'll open with a longer look at one of fine franchises, then briefly touch on the rest. Enjoy.

THE LEDE: NEW YORK JETS -- Not since Joe Willie Namath have the Jets drafted a quarterback who generated as much hype as Mark Sanchez. The Jets traded up to grab the USC star at No. 5, and Sanchez was immediately lauded as the savior of the franchise.

He certainly looked the part on Sunday.

Granted, it was the Texans in Week 1. But the newly minted Jets' starter was superb, leading Rex Ryan' squad to a 24-7 win. Sanchez threw for 272 yards and a touchdown, and just as importantly, he had just one interception in his first career start (considering the team's 23 total picks last season, worst in NFL).

Sanchez is not going to mirror Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan's rookie year of a season ago. But he can air it out and keep opposing safeties honest. If he can limit the turnovers and keep freeing up running back Thomas Jones (107 yards and two touchdowns), the Jets can at least keep their nose over .500.

NEW YORK GIANTS -- Osi Umenyiora took two quick steps and was around Redskins left guard Chris Samuels. And with that, Giants fans everywhere could exhale.

Umenyiora had torn the meniscus in his left leg in the 2008 preseason, a knee injury that threatened his trademark speed. While Jason Sehorn's ACL tear was more damaging, Giants fans everywhere remember his decreased cover ability and quick descent into retirement.

The highlight reel on SportsCenter focused on the end of Umenyiora's play -- his strip of Washington quarterback Jason Campbell and 37-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. I'll remember the beginning, when Osi proved he still has his speed.

NEW YORK YANKEES -- The Bombers are up seven games on Boston in the AL East and boast the best record in the MLB. But they are by no means in cruise control.

Case in point: Sunday's 13-3 shellacking of Baltimore at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles took the first two games of the series at Yankee Stadium and were poised for the sweep. They even had a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Then C.C. Sabathia took over, and the Yankee brought out the big bats. Sabathia and the bullpen shut down the Orioles the rest of the way, and the Yanks erupted for eight runs in the eighth to blow it open.

Hideki Matsui was the star, with a home run and five RBIs, and he made it very clear how important Sunday's win was. "Winning today's game was pretty important," he said, according to the New York Times.

Don't expect the Yanks to ease up on the gas until they've got the AL's best record in hand.

NEW YORK METS: The Mets were officially eliminated from playoff contention after dropping both games of a doubleheader to the Phillies on Sunday. An ignominious end to an ignominious season.