Steve Smith

After more than three hours of dreadful offensive football, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan sought out Carolina coach John Fox at midfield, happy the final gun had sounded to signal the end of a night of punts and turnovers.

"I told John Fox it looked like a pillow fight out there with both offenses struggling like that, to say the least,'' Ryan said. "You're going to have days like that."

Mark Sanchez and Matt Moore hope there aren't many more, after nearly equally poor quarterback performances in the Jets' touchdown-less, 9-3 victory over the Panthers on Saturday night.

Sanchez was lucky to avoid two interceptions and failed to get the Jets in the end zone despite great field position. Moore couldn't lead Carolina to any points on a night of bad passes, drops and penalties.

Sanchez completed five of 10 passes for 12 yards, a setback after he recovered from an interception on his first pass Monday against the Giants and looked sharp. LaDainian Tomlinson 's 20-yard draw play was the Jets' top offensive play.

The Panthers couldn't even come close to matching that - which is why they lost despite allowing only 112 yards.

Moore, given the starting job when seven-year starter Jake Delhomme was released in the offseason, failed to lead a scoring drive for the second straight preseason game. He completed just six of 17 passes for 57 yards and an interception.

Rookie Jimmy Clausen wasn't much better, going 9 of 22 for 72 yards and a pick, and neither got much help. Carolina played without star receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) and the unheralded stable of receivers behind him did nothing to quell concerns Smith will be the Panthers' only option.

Moore badly overthrew rookie Brandon LaFell on a deep pass on Carolina's opening possession and safety Jim Leonhard swooped in for the interception. Leonhard came in unblocked and sacked Moore the second time the Panthers had the ball.

LaFell, a third-round pick, had trouble holding onto passes after getting hit. Kenny Moore had some drops, while Dwayne Jarrett struggled to get open.

Kellen Clemens got the most time at quarterback after Sanchez, finishing 4 of 6 for 32 yards. Veteran Mark Brunell was 3 of 7 for 2 yards.