NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS. October 20, 2013 Table of Contents

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS October 20, 2013 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 1 Smith, Jets get another chance at Brady, Patriots (Dennis Waszak)... 1 Patriots-Jets Capsule... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Quiet Bilal Powell making noise as hard-working Jets back (Kimberley Martin)... 4 Jets see rematch with Patriots as a must-win (Kimberley Martin)... 7 Geno Smith learns from his mistakes (Bob Glauber)... 8 THE RECORD... 9 NFL: Jets vs. Patriots matchup (J.P. Pelzman)... 9 Patriots losses on defense a gain for the Jets? (J.P. Pelzman) STAR-LEDGER Jets secondary coach Tim McDonald wants more picks, production from his players (Darryl Slater) Three matchups to watch for the Jets as they face the Patriots (Darryl Slater) Jets Four Downs with Zach Sudfeld: The bottom line is that Tom Brady is a competitor (Michael J. Fensom) NEW YORK POST Jets eager to get back into AFC race by feasting on Patriots (Brian Costello) Jets scoff at lack of credit for stifling Brady (Brian Costello) Rex s team must bring sound & fury (Steve Serby) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS NY Jets' Geno Smith knows he needs to cut out the mistakes to take next step (Manish Mehta) New England Patriots at NY Jets: Gang Green begins crucial stretch against AFC East rival (Hank Gola) Sexless NY Jets should be well rested against hobbling Patriots (Seth Walder) NEW YORK TIMES To Jets Ryan, the Passer Rating Really Does Mean Something (Ben Shpigel) METRO NEW YORK Jets vs. Patriots: 3 things to watch (Kristian Dyer) SATURDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Smith, Jets get another chance at Brady, Patriots (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press October 19, P a g e

2 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Geno Smith has watched the film several times and knows exactly where it all went wrong. The New York Jets had a real chance to beat the New England Patriots in Week 2. It would have been huge for the rookie quarterback - a road win against a bitter rival in his second NFL start. Then, it all fell apart. "Twelve plays," Smith said. "The final 12 plays of the game, in my opinion, are what changed it for us. We were right in it." Smith threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, including one in the final moments that sealed the win for the Patriots. "I wasn't seeing things as clearly as I'm seeing them now," he said. Smith and the Jets (3-3) will get another chance against the Patriots (5-1), this time at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. "I'm sure it will be real competitive down there," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, "and I think we'll have to play better than we did the first time if we're going to win." A week ago at this time, this was shaping up as a potential showdown for first place in the division. New York, though, played a dud of a game in losing to Pittsburgh New England, meanwhile, knocked off previously unbeaten New Orleans as Tom Brady threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kenbrell Thompkins with 5 seconds left to win it "It's like, 'Oh, dude,'" Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "That's him. That really is him." Winning, after all, is commonplace for the Patriots. Especially in the AFC East. New England has won six straight regular-season matchups against New York, and 12 straight overall against division opponents, the longest such streak in the NFL. "We've lost some guys, dealt with some issues, like every other team," Brady said. "We're handling them OK. We're 5-1. It's a decent start. It doesn't really get you anywhere at this point and I think we're still looking to make improvements." Here are five things to watch as these two bitter division rivals meet for the second time this season: BRADY'S BRILLIANCE: The Patriots' win Sunday marked the 38th time Brady has led them to a victory from a fourth-quarter deficit or tie, so Ryan and the Jets know they can't celebrate until the clock hits zero and they are in front. His 28 comeback drives when trailing in the fourth quarter tie him with Brett Favre for fifth most in NFL history. "It's amazing, man, just to see him do it like that," Patriots rookie wide receiver Aaron Dobson said. RYAN'S HOPE: During his first season with the Jets in 2009, Ryan boldly declared that he didn't come to New York to kiss Belichick's rings. But so far, Ryan is 2-7 in the regular season against New England. Another loss Sunday would put the Jets' chances to unseat the Patriots in serious jeopardy. "To say that you're going to model your franchise after them or whatever? Shoot, I'll take their quarterback," Ryan said. "We'll see how many wins I'd have or whatever, or anybody else.... Belichick and all those guys, absolutely we respect them, but we fear none of them. I can promise you that." 2 P a g e

3 GOOD GENO OR BAD GENO?: Smith's rookie season has been a roller-coaster ride. He has shown flashes of brilliance, as he did two weeks ago at Atlanta with a turnover-free performance that included three touchdown passes. But, he has also had games like the one against the Patriots and last Sunday against the Steelers, when he was picked off twice. WALKING WOUNDED: Both teams enter the game having lost key contributors to season-ending injuries. New England placed linebacker Jerod Mayo, the team's top tackler, on IR with a pectoral injury. He joins nose tackle Vince Wilfork on the list. Cornerback Aqib Talib (hip) was uncertain, as were wide receiver Danny Amendola and guard Dan Connolly, who suffered concussions last week. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who hasn't played all season, was limited in practice early in the week. New York lost running back Mike Goodson (knee) and wide receiver Clyde Gates (shoulder) for the season, prompting the Jets to take a chance on former Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs to provide a spark on offense and special teams. CATCHING ON: Brady has mostly a new cast of receivers around him, but he is starting to get in sync with them. The Patriots lost most of their top pass catchers from last year, but Thompkins and Dobson have been promising, as have Amendola - when healthy - and Austin Collie, the newest newcomer who made his first two catches on New England's winning drive last week. Patriots-Jets Capsule Associated Press October 19, NEW ENGLAND (5-1) at NEW YORK JETS (3-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS OPENING LINE - Patriots by 3 RECORD VS. SPREAD - New England 3-3, New York 4-2 SERIES RECORD - Patriots lead LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Jets 13-10, Sept. 12, 2013 LAST WEEK - Patriots beat Saints 30-27; Jets lost to Steelers 19-6 AP PRO32 RANKING - Patriots No. 4, Jets No. 19 (tie) PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (14), RUSH (11), PASS (19) PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (14), RUSH (24), PASS (13) JETS OFFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (14), PASS (22) JETS DEFENSE - OVERALL (4), RUSH (2), PASS (12) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Patriots have won six straight regular-season matchups, and five straight overall since Jets' playoff win during 2010 season.... Patriots have won 12 straight against AFC East opponents.... Patriots coach Bill Belichick earned 210th victory last week, surpassing Chuck Noll for fifth in NFL history.... QB Tom Brady needs one TD pass to break tie with Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton (342) 3 P a g e

4 for fourth most in NFL history.... Brady threw 17-yard TD pass to rookie Kenbrell Thompkins with 5 seconds left to beat previously unbeaten Saints last week.... Brady 18-4 as starter in regular-season games vs. Jets.... Patriots banged up coming into game: LB Jerod Mayo went on season-ending IR on Wednesday, CB Aqib Talib uncertain with hip injury, and WR Danny Amendola and G Dan Connolly suffered concussions last Sunday. TE Rob Gronkowski, who hasn't played all season, was limited in practice early in week and it was uncertain if he'd play vs. Jets.... Patriots' defense has forced turnover in 33 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL.... New England one win from tying Oakland for most regular-season victories (432) among original eight AFL teams.... Jets rookie QB Geno Smith threw three fourth-quarter INTs vs. Patriots in first meeting in Week 2. In last four games, Smith is 26 of 37 for 317 yards with three TDs and one INT and QB rating in fourth quarter.... RB Bilal Powell ranks fourth in AFC with 360 yards rushing. Ran for TD in last game vs. Patriots.... In last two vs. Patriots, WR Jeremy Kerley has 14 catches for 206 yards.... Jets defense ranks second in NFL for fewest yards rushing allowed per game (75.7), and no starting RB has averaged better than 3.1 yards per carry against them.... DE Muhammad Wilkerson already has tied career best with five sacks, and is looking for third straight game with sack.... CB Dee Milliner, No. 9 overall pick in April, hoping to return after missing three games with hamstring injury.... K Nick Folk has connected on all 13 FG attempts this season, including accounting for all of Jets' points last week with three FGs.... Jets signed former Browns Pro Bowl KR Josh Cribbs to help on offense and special teams after RB Mike Goodson (knee) and WR Clyde Gates (shoulder) were placed on season-ending IR. NEWSDAY Quiet Bilal Powell making noise as hard-working Jets back (Kimberley Martin) Newsday October 19, Bilal Powell grabs one of the folding chairs propped against the wall and sets it down at the edge of the indoor practice field at One Jets Drive. The sunlight seeping through the opaque windows late Wednesday afternoon does little to brighten up the expansive space. But the stillness and the shadows of the empty field house seem quite fitting for Powell. The Jets running back is purposely reserved, intentionally understated. And unlike some athletes, the spotlight is one thing he doesn't crave. "Can I just ask, why did you want to talk to me?" he says in the most earnest of voices. The quietest man in the meeting room has quietly emerged as one of the most trusted players in Marty Mornhinweg's offense heading into Sunday's showdown between the Jets (3-3) and the AFC East rival Patriots (5-1). Powell isn't flashy, but he works hard. Damn hard, his coaches will tell you. He's not a burner, but he's determined to gain that extra yard for the good of the team. And he's survived a heck of a lot to get here. But if he had it his way, you wouldn't know about any of that. "He literally should have died," said Louisville running backs coach and special-teams coordinator Kenny Carter. 4 P a g e

5 Before Powell became the Jets' starting back, before he rushed for 1,405 yards as a Louisville senior, he was known for running the streets and occasionally carrying a gun. But he's reluctant to rehash the details of his checkered past. He'd rather not get into his involvement with a neighborhood gang in his hometown of Lakeland, Fla., or the night his mother, Stephanie, found him lying on the pavement, bleeding from a knife wound inches from his kidney after a 2005 street fight. "I'd say the average person in America would probably not survive in the situations that he had to negotiate," Carter said. But after years of soul-searching, he has come to accept it all. And Powell, who will turn 25 next Sunday, doesn't regret the path that brought him to this very moment. "I try to see that everything happens for a reason," said the married father of a soon-to-be 18-month-old boy. The truth Carter knew what he had in Powell. But the running back didn't know his own potential. While coaching at the University of Florida from , Carter saw Powell, then a star at Lake Gibson High School, "almost single-handedly" beat a Lakeland powerhouse stacked with future NFL players. "We knew when we got here that we had a gem who, for whatever reason with the previous staff, had not been used," said Carter, who followed head coach Charlie Strong to Louisville in But Powell lacked confidence. He also had ball-security issues. So Carter -- who is as much a confidant as he is a coach -- used tough love to get through to his prized pupil. "He doesn't like for people to just stroke him," Carter said of Powell, who amassed only 933 rushing yards in his first three seasons at Louisville. "He wants truth." Said Powell: "He just tried to get me to believe -- which he did." They still talk at least once a week, and while their conversations aren't always rooted in football, Carter freely offers blunt assessment. Immediately after the Jets lost, 38-13, to Tennessee, he texted Powell: " ball security." Weathering the storm "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." -- Exodus 14:14 Every morning Powell tries to read a Bible verse. With the aid of an iphone app, he reads a few more between meetings. His favorite is Exodus 14:14. "That's how I try to approach things. Just stay calm in any situation," said Powell, now a devout Christian. He doesn't profess to be a saint. He's just trying to be better than he was yesterday. Powell was even-keeled when the Jets acquired running backs Mike Goodson and Chris Ivory in the offseason. He still was unproven and few thought he could be an every-down back. But after seven weeks, Powell -- a fourth-round pick in is the AFC's fourth- leading rusher with 360 yards on 87 carries (4.1 yards per attempt). "He's everything you want a player to be," Carter said. "So I just told him, 'Hey, weather that storm.' " 5 P a g e

6 Meanwhile, Ivory (3.4 yards per carry) has struggled to stay healthy and Goodson -- who missed the first four games because of an offseason arrest -- is out for the season with a knee injury. "I wasn't worried about it 'cause he wasn't worried about it," said Jets receiver Jeremy Kerley, Powell's best friend on the team. "His mind-set was, 'I've got to go take this job. It doesn't matter who's in front of me.' Besides, he's not selfish. As long as everybody's doing their part, he's happy." Jets running backs coach Anthony Lynn acknowledged that Powell would get overlooked by some coaches. "But not with me," he said, adding that he saw a "wow factor" in Powell's college game tape. "The success he's having now, it's what I completely anticipated." Still, the 5-10, 204-pound Powell isn't a household name. Said Lynn: "If Bilal had the personality of a Mike Goodson, everybody would know who Bilal Powell is." The listener As a rookie, Powell would sit in meetings with his head down, eyes often closed. He never jotted down a single note. "I used to get really, really ticked off at him because I thought he wasn't paying attention," Lynn said. "I thought maybe I was just boring him." But a learning test administered by the team's sports psychologist helped Lynn tailor his teaching. Some football players learn by watching video, others need to physically walk through reps to absorb the material. Others, like Powell, are audio learners. "He would rather listen to what you have to say than look at you," said Lynn, adding that Powell's audio grade came back extremely high. "And because he doesn't make a lot of mistakes on the field, I don't care if he ever takes a note." Powell, however, was unaware that his failure to maintain eye contact created the perception that he was shy and disinterested. Even as the face of the Louisville football program, he shunned media attention and often declined interviews. But his desire to say little always was by design. "He understands that's a tough city and he understands the minute that a chink in your armor is exposed...," Carter said of the New York market. "Remember, he watched what happened with Mark Sanchez." Open book Powell leans forward on the folding chair and clasps his hands together. His eyes dart from side to side before eventually settling on the reddish-brown rubber floor beneath his feet. His words are measured. So is his voice. Banners featuring great men of the Jets' past hang from the Ring of Honor wall in the indoor facility as Powell speaks of his own journey to the NFL. He talks about fatherhood and how his son Tavis is a constant reminder to be a better man. "I know he's looking at everything I do," he said. Powell's quiet nature masks his once-reckless ways. His past transgressions are part of an early chapter in the Book of Bilal. But there is much more to his story -- and far more left to write. "You just see the book," Kerley said. "You don't turn it over and read the back, you don't open it up and read the first three pages. You just look at him and you're like, he's a quiet kid. He must have gone to a private school or something." 6 P a g e

7 Jets see rematch with Patriots as a must-win (Kimberley Martin) Newsday October 19, Rex Ryan laid it all out for his players. There was no hyperbole, no over-the-top rhetoric. Just brutal honesty. "He told us flat-out, if we want a chance of winning this division, we've got to have this one," right guard Willie Colon said. " 'Cause if they beat us, they're going to take off. And there's no catching this team." Sunday's rematch against the 5-1 Patriots is about pride. But it's also about position. The Jets (3-3) wasted an opportunity to secure early-season leverage in the AFC East when they lost to the Patriots, 13-10, in Foxborough in Week 2. Although their young defense kept Tom Brady off balance for much of the game, all hope of a Jets comeback was dashed by rookie quarterback Geno Smith. "The final 12 plays of the game, in my opinion, are what changed it for us," said Smith, who threw three fourth-quarter interceptions to seal his team's fate. "We were right in it... had a chance to kick a field goal. We had another chance to go down and tie the game, but we didn't get it done." Losing isn't an option on any Sunday. But for the Jets, it won't be tolerated this weekend -- especially against this team. The Jets, 3-8 against New England since Ryan became coach in 2009, have dropped five in a row to the Patriots. The tide could turn Sunday thanks to key Patriots injuries. Run-stopper Vince Wilfork (Achilles) and fellow Pro Bowler Jerod Mayo (torn pectoral muscle) are out for the season and top cornerback Aqib Talib (hip) did not make the trip, according to the Boston Herald. But the Patriots will get back a key weapon. Tight end Rob Gronkowski was cleared to make his season debut, according to his agent, though he was listed as questionable. It'll be a statement game for Ryan and his newbie QB as both look to prove they can keep pace with their potential Hall of Fame counterparts. But Ryan's defense might be more amped for the rematch than any other Jets unit. The defense will look to prove that its Week 2 performance against Brady -- who completed only 48.7 percent of his passes and threw for fewer yards than Smith (214 to 185) -- wasn't a fluke. "I mean, it wasn't the Jets' defense that stopped Brady, it was what Tom Brady didn't do right," rookie Sheldon Richardson said, giving his take on the media's portrayal of the loss. "We didn't get recognition. But now we're getting it. As far as back then, nah, no one was trying to cut us no slack." Richardson, like the rest of Ryan's defense, gladly bears the proverbial chip on his shoulder. And he's acutely aware of the extra passengers on the Jets' bandwagon. "It's what happens," he said with a shrug. "It's OK. If they want to join the team, hey, whatever floats their boat." After missing the playoffs the past two seasons, the Jets are determined to decide their own fate in But anyone who thinks playing the Patriots for the second time in six games will be easy ought to think again, Colon said. 7 P a g e

8 "You can tell they're on a roll with the way they're playing," said the Bronx native and Hofstra product. "Those young guys are starting to trust Brady and Brady's starting to trust them. That last drive against New Orleans, Brady was surgical. It was amazing what he did to them. "So you can tell that ball's getting bigger and they're starting to roll over teams. We've got to come with our 'A' game." The Jets are four-point underdogs at MetLife Stadium -- a place Ryan hopes will be overrun by Jets fans in "a sea of green." But within the home team's locker room, the expectations of anything less than a "W" are unacceptable. Especially from the defense. "I'm pretty sure [Brady] feels like he can come out here and duplicate some offense and make some plays," Richardson said. "And I feel like we can stop him." Geno Smith learns from his mistakes (Bob Glauber) Newsday October 19, There's still a long way to go for Geno Smith, with no assurances that he'll have what it takes to be the Jets' long-term answer at quarterback. But if there's one thing that bodes well for the rookie passer, it's this: He rarely makes the same mistake twice. This is one of the critical attributes for any successful quarterback. Just ask Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who has worked with his share of big-time passers over the years -- Brett Favre, Steve Young and Donovan McNabb, to name a few. "He's very good at,'' Mornhinweg said. "Now look, he's made his share of mistakes. He's had some plays that he would desperately like to have back. However, he's learned from it. Very rarely in a ballgame can I come up with [Smith making] the same mistake twice.'' Smith has been far from perfect, and his numbers and the Jets' 3-3 record reflect it. He's completing 59.5 percent of his passes, has thrown seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions and has a 74.7 rating. Not great, but certainly respectable for a player starting from Day 1. There were meltdowns against the Patriots in Week 2 and the Titans in Week 4. But there also was a spectacular showing in the Monday night road win over the Falcons, a game in which he played about as well as a quarterback can. "Rarely does a day go by where I'm not more impressed with him,'' Mornhinweg said. "Sometimes it may not look like it, but he's certainly progressing at a high rate.'' There's something else about Smith that stands out. It's how he comes off to his teammates, how he carries himself as the leader of the offense and how he holds himself accountable to those around him. On that count, he has been exceptional. Smith is not an excuse-maker. If he makes a mistake, he owns up to it, even if others have contributed to those mistakes by running a bad route or failing to provide adequate blocking. When a quarterback has his teammates' trust, he will do good things. It's no guarantee of success, but it's important. 8 P a g e

9 "When you're thrown in that position as a starting quarterback for the Jets in a city like New York, you kind of learn those leadership traits pretty quickly,'' right tackle Austin Howard said. "He knows it's a big responsibility and that this team now looks to him as one of the leaders, even though he's young. He has to realize we have the trust and faith in him, and the reason we have that faith in him is because we see how much work he puts into his craft. He's 110 percent on the field, does pre-practice work, postpractice work, film work, comes in early, stays way late. That's the type of guy he is and he understands that. That's good.'' And it's how Smith responds to his mistakes that jumps out at those around him. The guy doesn't point fingers anywhere except at himself. It's also noteworthy that he never -- ever -- uses being a rookie as a crutch. The other day, for instance, he was asked about trying to eliminate rookie mistakes and responded this way: "I don't look at them as rookie mistakes. I just see them as mistakes. I think every quarterback in this league is going to make some of those mistakes and the key thing is to try and eliminate them, try to avoid those mistakes. "Although I am a rookie, I don't tend to use that excuse as the reason behind me making those mistakes. I think they're just simple mistakes in a game, and they've got to be eliminated.'' "You hear rookie mistakes, but you can have a fourth- or fifth-year guy who makes mistakes,'' center Nick Mangold said. "Geno's done a good job at recognizing that he doesn't get a pass because he's a rookie. He's working hard continuously to correct things that he's done. A lot of times I haven't seen him make the same mistake twice, which is a good sign.'' It would be a very good sign if Smith doesn't make the same mistakes twice against the Patriots Sunday at MetLife Stadium. A win would put the Jets only a game behind their longtime nemesis in the AFC East, and it could come down to whether Smith avoids problems he experienced in a loss in Week 2. "Twelve plays,'' Smith said of his three late interceptions. "The final 12 plays of the game, in my opinion, are what changed it for us. We were right in it. Just 12 plays, those three interceptions at the end, are what I believe changed it for us.'' Now he has another chance to not make the same mistake twice. If he can pull it off, so can the Jets. THE RECORD NFL: Jets vs. Patriots matchup (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 20, Jets_vs Patriots_matchup.html?page=all At MetLife Stadium Today, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7 Line: Patriots by 3 1/2 What s at stake Jets: This is a pivotal game for the Jets 2013 season. A victory not only would recapture the momentum lost in a lackluster defeat to Pittsburgh a week ago, it also would have more tangible benefits. The Jets 9 P a g e

10 would pull to within one game of AFC East-leading New England and earn a split of the season series. The Jets also would be 2-1 in AFC East games. Patriots: New England hasn t lost to the Jets since being upset in the AFC divisional playoffs in January 2011, and is seeking its third consecutive series sweep. It would mark the first time the Patriots have swept the Jets in three straight seasons since they did it from A victory also would give the Pats a three-game lead over the Jets and earn the tiebreaker over them. Key matchup Jets CB Antonio Cromartie vs. Patriots WR Kenbrell Thompkins: A candid Cromartie said Thursday he hasn t played well this season after a Pro Bowl campaign in 2012, giving himself a grade of C. He ll need to do better against the rapidly improving Thompkins. He has 15 receptions and four touchdown catches in the four games since the Jets last saw him Sept. 12, and had the game-winner against New Orleans last week. He is quickly gaining chemistry with veteran QB Tom Brady. How they ll win Jets: The Jets run the ball well, as they did in the first meeting. But this time, coordinator Marty Mornhinweg stays with that strategy and doesn t put as much of the offensive burden on QB Geno Smith, who melted down with three costly fourth-quarter interceptions in last month s loss. The front seven gets pressure on Brady and the secondary disrupts the timing between the QB and his receivers. And the Jets get some instant contributions from veteran kick returner Josh Cribbs, who was signed Tuesday. The Jets have been unable to positively affect field position with their return game. Maybe Cribbs can change that. Patriots: The expected return of TE Rob Gronkowski gives the Jets defense something else to worry about and someone else to cover. So even if he s rusty, his presence frees up space for other receivers. The injury-riddled New England defense makes up in guile for what it currently lacks in star power without NT Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo, both out for the season. And New England K Stephen Gostkowski, who had four touchbacks on four kickoffs in the earlier meeting, kicks it too deep for Cribbs to be a factor. Patriots losses on defense a gain for the Jets? (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 20, ml Nick Mangold had to do a little more film study this past week. Since Mangold came into the NFL in 2006, there has been one constant for him when the Jets play New England, and that was his ongoing battle with mammoth Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. But Wilfork was lost for the season with an Achilles injury suffered Sept. 29, which has altered the preparation a bit for the Jets veteran center. Wilfork has been replaced by Joe Vellano, an undrafted rookie. You now have to look at who s in there and study a little bit more, Mangold said. Every game that I ve played, Vince has always been there. You watch the film, but you rely on your experience [against Wilfork], and now there are guys in there who you don t have experience with, so it s going to be a challenge for us up front. 10 P a g e

11 The absence of Wilfork is only one of the changes the Jets will notice when they host New England today. The Patriots also will be without linebacker Jerod Mayo, who suffered a season-ending chest injury in a win over New Orleans a week ago. Wilfork and Mayo keyed a defense that limited the Jets to 10 points in the teams previous meeting Sept. 12. And there are plenty of other missing Patriots from previous years, lost because of injuries and defections. But one thing hasn t changed. As usual, the Patriots are standing in the Jets way, much as they have for the past decade. Star defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson spoke to New England media on a conference call, and made sure not to provide any bulletin-board material for the Patriots, especially when he was asked about the importance of this game. This game and every game is important, Wilkerson said, not just because it is the Patriots and not because it is a division opponent. Every game is just as important as this one. Hmmmm. Well, consider that coach Rex Ryan told his players to refuse to do household chores and errand-running in the days leading up to this game. That would seem to dispel the notion that this is just another game. A win could be a springboard to continuing a so-far surprising season. A loss could be devastating, given the fact the Jets face two more division leaders in the next two weeks, Cincinnati and New Orleans, before having their bye week. Because of the Pats injury problems, this shapes up as the most winnable game of those three. Maybe that s why Ryan showed a glimpse of his formerly outspoken side when he was asked on a conference call with Patriots media if he now was kissing New England coach Bill Belichick s rings, given the fact the Pats have won five straight against Ryan s team. No, I haven t, Ryan replied. Maybe you have, but I haven t, and I never will. I came here to beat him and to win, and to win our own championship rings and all that type of stuff. Again, hey, the facts are we ve lost five in a row to them. We ll see if it s six in a row. Rookie quarterback Geno Smith blamed himself after throwing three fourth-quarter interceptions in the first meeting to let a potential victory over the Patriots slip away last month. And he s aware the defensive looks he saw that first time probably won t be repeated today. You know what, you have to anticipate it, he said when asked about the likelihood of the Patriots changing their approach. It will be interesting to see exactly what they do. You can t really tell until you get out there and you get the looks on the field. We try to prepare for every single scenario. STAR-LEDGER Jets secondary coach Tim McDonald wants more picks, production from his players (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger October 20, roduction_from_his_players.html 11 P a g e

12 Nearly 20 years have passed since Tim McDonald played in one of the greatest defensive backfields in NFL history. In 1994, the San Francisco 49ers played 19 games in the regular season and playoffs. They won 16 of them, including the Super Bowl, largely because their secondary composed of McDonald at strong safety, Merton Hanks at free safety and Eric Davis and Deion Sanders at cornerback. Davis was the only one not to make the Pro Bowl that year. Those 49ers tied for the league lead with 23 interceptions seven by Hanks, six by Sanders, two by McDonald and one by Davis. Sanders returned three interceptions for touchdowns. McDonald returned one, and also ran back a fumble for a touchdown. McDonald is new to high-level coaching, in his first season as the Jets defensive backs coach after occupying that role last season at Fresno State. Before that, he coached high school football. Despite his coaching inexperience, he is not naïve enough to think every secondary he mentors will mirror the ers. Yet he still maintains high standards. On Friday afternoon, he stood in the hallway outside the Jets locker room, between planning sessions for today s game against New England and its future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. McDonald listened, for a beat, as he was told the Jets passing defensive numbers weren t all that bad this season 12th in the NFL with yards allowed per game. Then he cut in, like he would have jumped in front of a pass two decades ago. "Not good enough," he said. "Not where we want to be." What gnaws at McDonald more than anything is the Jets baffling lack of interceptions. Safety Dawan Landry had one in the season-opening victory over Tampa Bay. In the next five games, the Jets picked off zero of the 188 passes thrown by opposing quarterbacks. The Jets did a solid job against Brady in a Week 2 loss, though he was clearly not yet comfortable with his rookie wide receivers, Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins. The Jets held Brady to a 48.7-percent completion rate. In Week 3, they limited Buffalo rookie EJ Manuel to The next three starting quarterbacks they faced Tennessee s Jake Locker, Atlanta s Matt Ryan and Pittsburgh s Ben Roethlisberger combined to complete 77.8 percent of their passes. Ryan threw for 319 yards, Roethlisberger 264. Though the Steelers leaned on screen passes, Roethlisberger did hit Emmanuel Sanders for a 55-yard touchdown pass that helped send the Jets to a 19-6 loss. The play came on a deep ball against the Jets best cornerback, Antonio Cromartie. All told, Roethlisberger threw at Cromartie nine times, for five completions totaling 92 yards. In the past three games, Cromartie has been thrown at 22 times for 11 completions. He allowed 65 yards against Atlanta, with a long gain of 46. He surrendered 99 yards against Tennessee, with the long gain coming on a 77-yard touchdown one of two scores against him that day. The Jets defensive scheme relies on man-to-man coverage and demands a lot from its top cornerback. While Cromartie gave himself a grade of C through six games, coach Rex Ryan said he has "played really well" under challenging circumstances. "Unlike a lot of teams, we put him in some tough situations, put him in coverages where he has no help (from a safety)," Ryan said. "But I ve done that because I believe he ll make the play. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn t." 12 P a g e

13 SEARCHING FOR TURNOVERS The Jets rebuilt their secondary in the offseason. They traded their best overall player, cornerback Darrelle Revis. They signed Landry, after both of their safeties, LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell, left in free agency. There were going to be hiccups for a position group that began the season starting secondyear safety Antonio Allen and rookie cornerback Dee Milliner alongside Cromartie and Landry. Yet the Jets, like their defensive backs, still have a chance to make something out of this season. They are 3-3, having alternated win and loss every other game a larger trend underscored by the spotty play of their secondary. It is too soon to opine that Revis departure portended disaster for this group. But with Brady today, and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees another future Hall of Famer coming to town in two weeks, McDonald will see his defensive backs mettle tested. For now, he is not pleased. "We ve got to get turnovers," said McDonald, who was a six-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler. "We ve had our chances. When you get those opportunities, you ve got to make those plays. Those plays are huge in the game. It s pretty surprising (that the Jets have just one interception). What s surprising is that we work on: You touch it, you catch it. And we ve had our hands on quite a few balls. We haven t come down with them and that s got to change." The Jets defensive coordinator, former nine-year NFL cornerback Dennis Thurman, is taking the long view with turnovers. His defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed per game, has recovered just one fumble. "Usually, when they come, they come in bunches," Thurman said. Ryan, who calls the defensive plays during games, said he is shocked the Jets have just one pick. He said a defense that does not take the ball away cannot be considered elite. "I d be shocked if we only had one (interception) a game," Ryan said. "Quite honestly, yes, it s very disappointing. Right now, that s probably what s keeping us from taking that (next) step." BACK TO BASICS Cromartie has been the Jets most prominent defensive back since last season s fourth game, after Revis was sidelined for the year with a knee injury. He played like a No. 1 corner, and earned a Pro Bowl spot for the second time in his career. But he believes his eighth season hasn t even sniffed last year s success. "This year has been a tough year for me," he said. "I don t consider this (is) me playing at a Pro Bowlcaliber at all." Cromartie said he feels healthy now, after dealing with hip pain and playing through a hyperextended knee against the Steelers. He believes he is physically capable of correcting his recent technique problems microcosms of a bigger issue for the secondary, whether with attacking deep jump balls, or being assertive at the line. "We re not playing at the level we need to be playing at when it comes to being technically and fundamentally sound," said Thurman, who coached the Jets defensive backs for the past four seasons. In particular, Cromartie is displeased with his passivity in defending wide receivers immediately after the snap. He is a large cornerback 6-2 and 210 pounds and has long arms that make it "tough to throw the ball over him," McDonald said. Yet too often this season, Cromartie s arms and hands have remained too inactive. 13 P a g e

14 "Use your hands," is an edict McDonald frequently repeats to his players. As Cromartie s body has healed, he regained confidence that he can pop a receiver after the snap, without worrying about getting beat down the field. Now, Cromartie believes, his press coverage can actually provide more physical pressure. This could, in turn, relieve whatever anxiety McDonald might feel about his secondary s less-than-legendary performance so far. "I m letting receivers get too many free releases, even when I m in press," Cromartie said. "I think last year, I was doing a better job of making sure I got my hands on the receiver at the line, to try to disrupt the timing of the route. That s something I haven t been doing in the first six games, and that s something that I ve got to get back to." Three matchups to watch for the Jets as they face the Patriots (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger October 20, _patriots.html THREE MATCHUPS TO WATCH JETS SECONDARY VS. TOM BRADY The Jets have just one interception, and that was in the opener, by safety Dawan Landry. As the Jets, sound on defense almost all season, enter their seventh game, they are still seeking their second pick. Brady this season has thrown eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He was at his best on the gamewinning drive Sunday against New Orleans, which he capped with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kenbrell Thompkins. The Jets rank 12th in the NFL with passing yards allowed per game, but their best cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, has been spotty in the past three games. The Jets likely will get cornerback Dee Milliner back in this game. He began the season as a starter but was benched at New England in Week 2 and then hurt his hamstring. How much will his presence hurt or hinder the secondary? BILAL POWELL AND CHRIS IVORY VS. PATRIOTS FRONT SEVEN The Patriots are without nose tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo two important pieces of their run defense. In Week 2, when the Patriots had Wilfork and Mayo, Ivory ran 12 times for 52 yards and Powell had 13 carries for 48 yards. The Patriots are 24th in the NFL with rushing yards per game allowed and 21st with 4.2 yards per carry allowed. This is a big opportunity for the Jets to run the ball and take pressure off rookie quarterback Geno Smith. Powell is running for 60 yards per game and 4.1 per carry. Expect Ivory, who has four carries in each of the past two games since returning from a hamstring injury, to have a bigger role in this game, with Mike Goodson out for the season because of a knee injury. GENO SMITH VS. DEVIN MCCOURTY Smith has 10 interceptions in his first six NFL games and has just one interception-free game, a win at Atlanta. Smith was picked off in Sunday s loss to the Steelers by savvy veteran free safety Ryan Clark. Will McCourty do the same to Smith? McCourty doesn t have an interception this season, but the former Rutgers star had seven, two and five in his first three years, after New England drafted him 27th overall in McCourty is a versatile player. He filled in for cornerback Aqib Talib when he injured his hip against New Orleans. You have to think McCourty is licking his chops for this matchup with Smith, 14 P a g e

15 who threw three interceptions against the Patriots in Week 2 all in the fourth quarter (two to Talib and one to corner Alfonzo Dennard). DID YOU KNOW? The Jets limited the Patriots to 232 yards in the team s first meeting, which the Patriots won at home, amid a second-half downpour. Since the beginning of the 2003 season, in games started by quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots have gained fewer yards than that just 10 times. And the Patriots actually went 7-3 in those contests, including a victory over San Diego in a 2010 game in which the Patriots gained just 179 yards. Curiously, the Patriots had no special teams or defensive scores that day. THE NUMBER 7 The Patriots longest winning streak against the Jets, in a series that dates to 1960 and the Patriots lead The Patriots won seven straight from Their current winning streak against the Jets is at five. From , the Patriots won six straight against the Jets. Before that, they had never won more than four straight in the series. All told, the Patriots have won 20 of their past 26 meetings against the Jets, dating to their second game in The Jets longest winning streak in the series is nine, from The Jets won 17 of 19 games against the Patriots from Jets Four Downs with Zach Sudfeld: The bottom line is that Tom Brady is a competitor (Michael J. Fensom) Star-Ledger October 20, hat_tom_brady_is_a_competitor.html Having caught passes from Tom Brady, what is it that sets him apart? He's got a tremendous work ethic and the bottom line is that he's a competitor. That's something I really took away from my time there. As long as he's been in the league and everything he has accomplished, he's still such a competitor. That's something I really admire about him and great for me to see and try to emulate. Shooting empty Gatorade bottles into the trash can he wants to win. How does Rex Ryan differ from Bill Belichick? You can easily see the difference just by the way they are with everything. It's a huge difference. But they're both great coaches and have unique ways of going about things. They go about it in different ways but there's still that drive to win. The way they're seen is how they are in my limited experience. Is there anyone on the Patriots you're looking forward to seeing this weekend after spending training camp and the first few games with them this season? No, right now it's any other game. Afterwards I'll say hi to my buddies and some friends over there. But before the game it's going to be all business. I'm a Jet now and I'm excited about that. Your brother is the quarterback at Indiana. He must have gotten his start throwing passes to you. Yeah, any time he could. I have a twin brother who played wide receiver at Brown, so we would always be out there. My younger brother was the shrimp, I guess you could say. Then he grew up. He's 6-6, 230 pounds now. My other brother is a fraternal twin, he's 5-10, 180 pounds. He played slot receiver at Brown. It's a stark difference. 15 P a g e

16 NEW YORK POST Jets eager to get back into AFC race by feasting on Patriots (Brian Costello) New York Post October 19, The Jets are asking for their fans to create a Green Out at MetLife Stadium by showing up clad in green. They need to hope the Patriots don t provide a blackout for their season. The Jets open a brutal three-game stretch of games Sunday against the rival Patriots. They face the Bengals and Saints after that. If they re not careful, they could fall from 3-3 to 3-6 in a flash. It starts with the 5-1 Patriots, who are coming off an amazing comeback win over the Saints. The Jets nearly beat New England in Week 2, but rookie quarterback Geno Smith had three fourth-quarter interceptions and the Pats escaped with a win. Now, they get a rematch. They know us and we know them pretty good, Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said. It comes down to execution. There are not going to be any surprises. No, there won t be. The Jets know what to expect when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady come to town. The Jets have lost five straight to the Patriots, their last win coming in the January 2011 playoff game. There s a lot to play for, Jets coach Rex Ryan said. First, you re playing your biggest rival in your division. You re already down a game to them that you played head-to-head. Certainly in the standings we re well down. Obviously, it s big that way for sure. With that being said, it s game seven, so that s a little unusual. If it was game 15 or 16 and it meant more, then obviously I d say so. Clearly, with all that being said, you still want to win it in the worst way, and certainly that s our feeling. The Patriots are beat up with key pieces of their defense Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo done for the season and wide receiver Danny Amendola out this week with a concussion. The Jets have alternated wins and losses this season. Can they keep that trend alive with a win this week? A look inside the game: MARQUEE MATCHUP Jets safeties Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen vs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski The Return of Gronk has arrived just in time for the Jets. What a coincidence. Gronkowski will play his first game of the season after undergoing back and forearm surgeries this offseason. Gronkowski has been practicing since Sept. 2, so he should not be too rusty, but he has not been hit since last season. Jets coach Rex Ryan likely will have a multi-layered plan for Gronkowski, but the safeties figure to draw the assignment quite often. The Jets could even use three safeties with Jaiquawn Jarrett getting in the game. He s a playmaker, you have to respect that, linebacker Quinton Coples said. We ve got things for him, we got defenses that can protect us and make sure that we take care of him and we ll move forward from there. 16 P a g e

17 BAD ENCORES Ryan has beaten the Patriots three times in his five years as Jets coach, but he has lost the second meeting in each of his first four seasons. They have included some of his most lopsided losses as Jets coach. The Patriots beat the Jets last year in the second meeting, the most points the Jets have allowed under Ryan. It was two years ago, 45-3 in 2010 and in Their team, historically in that second half of the season, they don t lose much, Ryan said. Whatever it is, they ve obviously done a better job than we have. The rematch comes earlier in the season than usual this year. Maybe that will help the Jets. TARGET TOM When the Jets have had good games against the Patriots, they have pressured Tom Brady and hit him. It is no secret the Jets want to do this again Sunday. Ryan has been able to pressure the quarterback this season without a lot of blitzing, thanks to the play of the defensive line. Muhammad Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks and the team is tied for fourth in the NFL with 20. Brady is having a down year for him statistically, but he showed what he can do last week against the Saints with the stunning comeback. Brady looks like he s getting better and better each week, Jets guard Willie Colon said. That s the scary part. Brady looks surgical. In that Saints game, he looked scary. MARTY BALL NEEDS A NEW PAGE The Jets averaged 4.2 yards per carry rushing the ball last week against the Steelers, but ran it just 20 times. Running back Chris Ivory said he wants the Jets to run the ball more, but the question is: Will offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg listen? This seems like the perfect week to do it. The Patriots are 24th in the NFL versus the run, allowing yards per game. They are missing Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo in the middle of their defense. And it would limit what you re asking Smith to do against Bill Belichick s defense. COUNTING ON CRIBBS The Jets signed Josh Cribbs this week to replace the injured Clyde Gates as their kick returner with the hope he can give them a spark in special teams. Cribbs is tied with Leon Washington for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns in NFL history with eight, but he has not brought one back since The Jets hope Cribbs has something left, and maybe he gives them a big return today. Also, watch for him to have a role in the Wildcat offense, replacing Mike Goodson. NUMBERS TO KNOW 38 -Fourth-quarter comeback wins for Tom Brady, after the Patriots quarterback brought his team back last week against the Saints. 12 -Consecutive divisional wins by the Patriots, the longest active streak and three shy of the NFL record since the merger. The Patriots have not lost to an AFC East team since 2011 when they lost to the Bills. 1 -Interception by the Jets this season, the fewest in the NFL. Dawan Landry picked off Josh Freeman in Week 1. Since then, nada. COSTELLO S CALL 17 P a g e