Jets must establish run against Patriots

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - For the first half of their 17-16 wild-card playoff win at Indianapolis, the Jets forgot who they are on offense in an effort to be unpredictable. It wasn't until they reverted to their "ground and pound'' identity with two long touchdown drives that they took control.

Was it a lesson learned? If the Jets can do it again, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be harmless watching from the bench in their divisional playoff game Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Using the running game to effectively punch the Patriots in the mouth, fullback Tony Richardson said Tuesday, "sounds good on paper, but they're a tough, physical football team. I don't think we're just going to line up and mash these guys.

"They're probably the best-coached team you're ever going to see. They're very, very sound in technique . . . They don't beat themselves. But yeah, that's the mentality you take. You want to go up there and impose your will. Sometimes, that's easier said than done.''

There's a 325-pound road bump named Vince Wilfork in the middle of the Pats' line. He might have something to say about the success of LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, who totaled 152 of the Jets' 169 rushing yards against the Colts.

"He's a full-grown man in there,'' said Richardson, who has run into Wilfork many times as a lead blocker. "I've been around this game a long time, and he's one of the best at eating up double-teams.''

The Jets ran for 136 yards in their 28-14 home win over the Pats and actually improved to 152 yards in their stunning 45-3 loss Dec. 6 at New England.

"Everyone keeps saying, 'Oh, you guys ran the ball well,' '' Richardson said. "We only scored three points. So we definitely want to run the ball, but we've got to put points on the board.''

The Jets didn't score on the Colts until the second half. They had only 13 first-half runs but ran 25 times in the second half, holding it 18 minutes. Their second TD drive covering 87 yards in 17 plays took 9:54 off the clock.

"That was huge,'' Richardson said. "It does something, not only for the offense, but to your defense. When you're running the football and getting positive yards, it's a totally different mentality. Everyone feeds off of that.''