Jets Try to Back Up Their Words on Field

A Jets beatdown of the Texans, a Patriots escape against the Bills and Rex Ryan's new attitude have the Jets in a chipper mood as they prepare to face the Patriots at home Sunday. Kerry Rhodes, who said the Jets wanted to "embarrass," not simply beat, the Patriots, is especially excited for the game. As if this rivalry needed any more juice.

Ryan's made more than a splash since taking over as Jets coach, and he probably doesn't mind what Rhodes said. The head coach said in June he didn't want to kiss New England coach Bill Belichick's rings. He got into an offseason spat with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder. His team backed up his gusto in Week 1 by beating the Texans and holding Houston's high-powered offense to zero points. The Texans' only points came off an interception/fumble return.

What can the Jets expect in Week 2? Tom Brady is better than Houston's Matt Schaub, and Wes Welker will prevent the Jets from paying too much attention to Randy Moss. (Houston's No. 2 receiver, Kevin Walter, missed last week's game, helping Darrelle Revis and the Jets shut down all-world Andre Johnson.)

On defense, the Patriots, masters of confusing inexperienced quarterbacks like Mark Sanchez, will be without linebacker Jerod Mayo, the 2008 defensive rookie of the year. New England has looked thin on defense before only to see Belichick pull rabbits out of his hat. That said, the Jets will probably put up some points. If Sanchez can limit his mistakes and the Jets can put Brady on his back, they could improve to 2-0 in front of their Meadowlands crowd.