Edwards excited for showdown with Patriots

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Braylon Edwards can't wait to see how things turn out this time around against the Patriots.

"I'm excited because I feel like both sides of the ball are coming into their own," the wide receiver said Tuesday, "especially how the defense played this past game against Peyton [Manning]. So, I'm excited to see what they can do and what we can do."

Edwards, who had two key receptions on the Jets' final drive to help set up Nick Folk's 32-yard winning kick in Saturday's AFC wild-card win over the Colts, believes the offense has gotten its act together. They've averaged 352 yards the last four games, and appear to have their confidence back following successive losses to the Patriots and Dolphins, when they scored nine total points.

"I think our offense has been a lot different ever since that Steelers game, and just learning how to play our game, and molding the game around what we want to do," he said. "Keep that momentum and that tempo. We did that against Chicago, we did that against Buffalo, and to some extent we even did that this past Saturday.

"I think we match up well [with New England]."

Trainer's room

Brad Smith (groin/quad) and Santonio Holmes (quad) stood on the sidelines while the rest of the team stretched in the first practice of the week. The duo didn't appear on the field during team drills. . . . Additionally, RT Damien Woody was a no-show during the portion of practice allotted to the media. Woody played in Saturday's game against the Colts for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Dec. 15.