About the Patriots
Coach: Bill Belichick, 10th season (122-48)
Last week: Lost to Indianapolis, 35-34
The skinny: Fourth-and-2 from the Colts' 28, anyone? After a week of armchair quarterbacks second-guessing Belichick's decision to hand Peyton Manning and the Colts the game, the Patriots surely can't wait to take out their frustrations on somebody. The Patriots didn't need any extra motivation to beat the Jets anyway, and are seeking revenge for a 16-9 loss Sept. 20. They are aware they can virtually end the Jets' postseason hopes with a victory. Before falling to the Colts, they were red-hot, having won five of their last six. Tom Brady is engineering the league's second-ranked offense (416 ypg) and appears to have shaken off the rust, tossing for 2,739 yards and 19 touchdowns, numbers that are second only to Manning. WR Randy Moss leads the league in receiving yards with 891 and has seven TDs. But he wasn't very successful against the Jets the first time around, when CB Darrelle Revis held him to four catches for 24 yards.
MEET THE ENEMY
WR Wes Welker
Not only is he one of the league's top slot receivers, the 5-9, 185-pounder is one of the best receivers, period, giving Tom Brady a big weapon to help avoid the blitz with his short underneath routes. Despite missing two games with a knee injury, including the Week 2 matchup with the Jets, he's tied for second in the league in receptions with 64 and is on pace for 114. Welker has seven straight games with six or more catches after making nine receptions in Sunday's loss, and has grabbed at least six or more passes in 21 of his last 23 regular-season games. He's also great at returning punts, recording a 69-yarder last week.
INJURY REPORT
Jets
Out: LB Vernon Gholston (hamstring); Questionable: S Jim Leonhard (thumb); Probable: DE Shaun Ellis (knee), WR Brad Smith (quadriceps), LB Bryan Thomas (toe).
Patriots
Out: RB Fred Taylor (ankle); Questionable: WR Sam Aiken (hip), LB Eric Alexander (groin), TE Chris Baker (shoulder), LB Tully Banta-Cain (abdomen), DT Ron Brace (ankle), WR Julian Edelman (forearm), DE Jarvis Green (knee), C Dan Koppen (knee), T Matt Light (knee), RB Sammy Morris (knee), G Steve Neal (head), LB Rob Ninkovich (knee), DE Ty Warren (ankle); Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Shawn Springs (knee), TE Benjamin Watson (knee).
