FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mark Sanchez returned to the field — and to his turnover-prone ways last weekend.

After missing a game with a sprained right knee, the New York Jets rookie quarterback threw three more interceptions in a 10-7 loss to Atlanta on Sunday and increased his season total to 20.
“It’s frustrating at times because I’m working so hard,” Sanchez said Wednesday. “And then to go out Sunday and whatever it is, lose it for three plays, that could cost you a ballgame.”
With the Jets’ playoff hopes on the line, Sanchez needs to be much better this week against the undefeated Colts (14-0) at Indianapolis. There’s no more margin for error.
“I think the coaching’s getting there,” the former Southern California star said. “I think it’s just a matter of getting through this growing phase. I mean, there’s no excuses for making these decisions because I’ve shown that I can play smarter than this.”
Sanchez’s 20 interceptions are tied for second-most in the league with fellow rookie Matthew Stafford in Detroit, and trail only the 25 by Chicago’s Jay Cutler. In his last four games, Sanchez has two touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
“We’ve got to find a way,” coach Rex Ryan said. “We’re going to focus in. We’re going to get this thing right.”
Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer even installed a color-coded system a few weeks ago to help Sanchez be more aware of the situations at hand. Still, the same miscues seem to keep cropping up in games.
“Just feeling like a lot of my mistakes have really hurt us,” Sanchez said, “and coming into the locker room the next day, stepping into the huddle, it takes a lot to just try to move on and convey to these guys, ’Hey, look, I’ll be all right. Just give me a shot here. I’ll be fine.’ I think I’ve done that. They’ve seen it, too, in flashes.”
There certainly have been a few positives for the player who was pegged as the face of the franchise the moment the Jets traded up in the draft to take him fifth overall. Still, a team with so many veterans has lost a few games while putting its faith in an unproven rookie.
“It obviously bothers me and it’s something I really do care about, and I think the team knows that,” he said, “I know they’re not exactly happy with 20 interceptions, but they know I’m really working hard, got a positive attitude and I care. I think that’s why a lot of guys have really backed me through this growth phase.”
Schottenheimer blames himself for not doing a better job coaching Sanchez.
“I will take responsibility for that,” he said. “He knows what to do. Instinctively, he still lives in the mindset of, ’I can make that throw, I can do this.’ And what we are trying to do is clean up his decisions, to have him realize that we are a good football team. ... He doesn’t have to do this by himself.”
Despite the struggles by their young quarterback, the Jets (7-7) remain in the AFC playoff mix with several other teams.
“That’s another encouraging thing,” Sanchez said, “is just knowing that even if 10 of the 20 interceptions were just incompletions, I mean, who knows?”
Sanchez was asked if he sometimes gets caught up in the heat of the moment on the field, and strays from the game plan out of desperation.
“I don’t feel like there’s all this pressure, like I don’t know what to do and I’m just going to have a meltdown,” Sanchez said. “I feel like my instincts have actually made some great plays for us.”
Sanchez often meets with family members after games, and admits he struggles to maintain his composure in the hours after a tough loss or poor performance.
“You don’t want to beat your head against the wall with your family there,” he said. “You’ve got to act a little bit on days like that because it’s hard. You don’t really want to see anybody, but they fly across the country, so you’ve got to save face with them. Put on your Vegas face.”
Schottenheimer recalled when he was an assistant with San Diego that the Chargers needed to sit Drew Brees for five games during his second season so he could work out his problems on the field. Sanchez has also spoken to Peyton Manning, who threw 26 interceptions in his rookie season.
“A lot of quarterbacks go through this,” Sanchez said. “Like you learn in high school, like the Hero’s Journey, ’You’ve got to go through the belly of the whale.’ Hopefully, it’s short because the acid in the belly doesn’t feel very good right now.”