Mark Sanchez and Jets Top Rams, Ending a Three-Game Skid Tom Gannam/Associated Press For one game at least, Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez could enjoy themselves. LOUIS - Every defeat for the Jets has accelerated a potential overhaul, or at least hastened the conversation. In pointed remarks last week, their owner, Woody Johnson, called this season a "miserable experience," adding that he did not "sign up" for such gloom. He all but put on notice the coach, Rex Ryan, who vowed that he would "die trying" to reverse the team's fortunes, and the general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, who on WFAN Radio defended their roster and insisted that the Jets have been making "meaningful progress." Two months from now, the Jets" 27-13 victory Sunday against the St. Louis Rams that ended a three-game slide might be viewed as an aberration, a temporary respite from the malaise. But for the moment, it is a welcome break from the misery, from the controversy, from the uncertainty. Their season will continue because they pummeled the Rams behind a brilliant performance by Mark Sanchez, who picked a smart day to validate Ryan's faith in him, and a defense that forced three turnovers. Instead of spiraling deeper into this vortex of despair, the 4-6 Jets again have meaning, even if, in the end, their victory might only extend the illusion that their season can be saved. But it was nevertheless, adding some heft to Thursday night's game against the division-leading Patriots, who eked past the Jets in overtime last month in New England. A few plays away, this has been the Jets" motto, it seems, as if a completion here, a missed tackle there could explain a margin of defeat that averaged 17 points. But on Sunday, the Jets made those plays - many of them, at least. An offense that produced 9 points in its previous two games tripled that total Sunday, with Sanchez completing 15 of 20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, and, more important, no turnovers. His efficiency helped Tony Sparano, the Jets" new offensive coordinator, outwit their old one, Brian Schottenheimer, whose unit scored on its first drive but not again until the waning moments of the game. The Jets led by 13-7 at halftime, and also after three quarters. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Bilal Powell slithered in from 5 yards out to stretch the Jets lead. Facing St. Louis at this juncture of the schedule was a fortuitous break for the Jets. In the first half, the Rams sacked Sanchez three times, blocked a field goal, snuffed a fake punt and stampeded 86 yards for a touchdown - on fourth-and-goal - on their opening drive. And still, they played worse than the Jets. Sam Bradford lost a fumble, threw a ghastly interception deep in Rams territory and watched as a holding penalty negated what would have been a go-ahead 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Chris Givens just before halftime. Consider it a rescue mission by the Jets" defense, which minimized another round of special-teams failures. After Janoris Jenkins zipped around the left edge to deflect Nick Folk's 26-yard field-goal attempt, the Jets forced a punt. After James Laurinaitis stuffed a shovel pass to Lex Hilliard on a fake punt, the Jets forced a turnover. Muhammad Wilkerson stripped the ball from Bradford, and Bart Scott scooped it up, rumbling 38 yards to the Rams 28. For all of his flaws, Sanchez remains excellent at freezing a secondary with his right shoulder, faking a throw just as Chaz Schilens began a double move. Slipping behind cornerback Trumaine Johnson, Schilens turned around to snare a 25-yard score, the Jets" first offensive touchdown in 17 possessions. It was Jets 10, Rams 7, and if the score did not already indicate it, St. Louis was proving a favorable matchup for Sanchez. In the first half, Sanchez completed 9 of 13 passes for 118 yards, a touchdown and a 123.2 rating.