Wide receivers Kerley, rookie Hill excel in opener

They were supposed to be the weak link in the offense, the reason Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was going to struggle to produce points this season.

That is the message that was hammered into the heads of the Jets' receivers all through the preseason. Every time they turned on a radio or flipped up their computer, all they heard or read about was that the team needed to go out and add a big-name pass-catcher.

The older Jets players may be used to this kind of noise, but it apparently did not sit well with rookie wideout Stephen Hill and second-year wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. Both responded brilliantly Sunday in the Jets' 48-28 victory over the Bills at MetLife Stadium.

Hill caught two touchdown passes from Sanchez, and Kerley caught a touchdown pass and scored on a punt return as the Jets set a franchise record for points in a season opener.

"It's not like we knew this could happen, but we thought we could open it up," Hill said.

Both had been feeling the heat heading into the game, and they dealt with it in different ways. Hill was haunted by a couple of drops during the preseason, and Kerley was haunted by some tough comments from Rex Ryan before the start of camp. The coach said that he was disappointed with Kerley in the offseason and said he needed to "step it up."

Kerley said Ryan's comments motivated him.

"I like the target on my back and I fed off it a little bit," Kerley said. "I felt like I was disappointed in myself. It didn't anger me. I didn't take it as a negative. I hope I've regained his confidence."

He apparently has. Kerley was the first name Ryan mentioned in his postgame news conference, even before Sanchez's.

"Jeremy Kerley was the first player in team history to have a punt return for a touchdown and a touchdown catch in the same game," Ryan said, calling the feat impressive.

The Jets failed to score a touchdown until their final preseason game, and Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, had a couple of drops. Then Sports Illustrated ran a story with a headline saying Ryan hadn't been crazy about the decision to draft Hill in the second round.

"Terry Bradway and all our scouts were adamant about this guy. They were adamant that this guy can do it," Ryan said in the story.

"He was the guy they all wanted, but honestly, when it came down to it, a wideout? Not my dream pick. But now that we have him, of course, I want to claim him."

Hill brushed off the notion that Ryan's comments motivated him.

"I didn't feel like I struggled in the preseason," said Hill, who had touchdown receptions of 33 and 17 yards Sunday. "I've seen a lot of guys drop balls, guys who are the best. So I just kept my focus and went out there to have the best game I possibly could.

"It feels like a dream. Only better."