Jets' last loss to Pats was turning point

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

This was moments after the Jets had dropped their third straight game, this one to their hated AFC East rival Patriots on the road, and a red-faced Rex Ryan grimaced as he walked through the tunnel toward the locker room, making a fist in disgust.

The Jets were beaten, 30-21, only a week after being embarrassed by the Ravens on the road, 34-17. After falling to 2-3, it seemed as if the Jets' season was in danger of spinning out of control.

But rather than yell at his players afterward -- certainly a justifiable reaction, in light of what had just happened -- Ryan did just the opposite.

"Obviously, they're the better team right now, and the score indicated that," Ryan said of the Patriots. "I was encouraged, though. We did some good things . . . We've got to get better, but this is a resilient team and I think we'll be right there."

A month later, the Jets are right there. After winning three straight, the Jets now have a chance to overtake the Patriots in a massively important game Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. If they can beat New England, it will give the Patriots their first three-game losing streak since the 2002 season. Oh, by the way, that's the last time the Jets won the AFC East.

Ryan's postgame reaction from last month's game may have been somewhat counterintuitive, given the circumstances. But he was spot on in his observations -- even if the score might not have indicated it. The Jets ran the ball more effectively: Shonn Greene had 83 rushing yards, his best effort up to that point. The defense contained Tom Brady into the third quarter before the All-Pro quarterback got into a rhythm. And Mark Sanchez's two touchdown passes kept it a one-score game deep into the fourth quarter.

No, the Jets didn't win the game. But looking back, the improved performance might have been the turning point in their season. Especially if they continue the momentum on Sunday night and beat the Patriots for a third straight regular-season split in the series.

In a lot of ways, the Jets rediscovered themselves in that loss last month. They got back to their "ground-and-pound" mentality that had been a staple of Ryan's teams the first two years but was missing for much of the early part of the season. The Jets' offense showed balance: They ran the ball 26 times, and passed 27. And if they had converted a few more third downs, especially in the first half, they'd have been in better position to pull off the upset.

But they haven't lost since, and they've gotten better with each successive win. Another improved showing on Sunday night, and the Jets might be able to claim sole possession of first place in the division for the first time this season. The Jets, Patriots and Bills are tied for the lead.

"We know what this game represents," Ryan said Wednesday. "It goes through New England. To be the champ, you've got to beat the champ, and they're sitting right in front of us."

Ryan's right. The AFC East does go through the Patriots; it has ever since New England won its first Super Bowl after the 2001 season. If the Jets hope to win the division, then beating New England on Sunday is imperative. And if they're going to get it done, then it's going to be in the style they've won their last three. That means a strong running game, efficient passing and a crafty defensive approach to contain Brady.

"I just think we're playing Jet football," Ryan said. "We're playing more to our style. We were ready to play that game [last month] against New England, but they were better than we were. We'll see if we're improved enough to beat them."

If they continue the way they've been playing the last three weeks -- and in a good portion of that last game against the Patriots -- then Ryan might be making a fist again after this one's over. Only this time, he'll be raising it to the sky in victory, not to the ground in disgust.