Rex: We'll see how much better we are
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan walks off the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Jets, 30-21. (Oct. 9, 2011) Credit: AP
The Jets have turned things around since their last meeting with New England a month ago, winning three straight contests to help move into a three-way tie atop the AFC East.
That three-game losing skid of theirs seems like it's a distant memory, especially after the way the Jets manhandled the Bills yesterday. But when the Jets meet the Patriots in Sunday's pivotal AFC East matchup at MetLife Stadium, they'll really get to gauge their progress since their 30-21 defeat in Foxborough Oct . 9
"We needed to improve as a football team," Rex Ryan said this afternoon. "We all know that. But we are going to see how much we’ve improved on Sunday. We have definitely been getting better these last three weeks, but we’re going to see how much we improved."
Jim Leonhard said the Jets never panicked, even when things seemed to bed spiraling in the wrong direction.
"We’ve known all along that it’s going to come down to November and December," the safety said. "We had our rough patch earlier this year, but we came out of it and now everything’s in front of us. We know we need to play well. They are who they are. They’re a great football team and we need to come out and play well."
The Patriots are reeling a bit, having dropped two straight games. The Giants stunned them with their come-from-behind victory at Gillette Stadium yesterday, that coming a week after New England was upended by the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Still, the Jets aren't about to get all giddy just because their rivals are reeling a bit.
"A team like New England is always going to be hungry," linebacker Aaron Maybin said. "They’re not a team that takes the vulnerable route too easily. Tom (Brady) is a heck of a competitor and so are the rest of the guys in that locker room. Obviously, anybody that knows anything about football knows that Bill Belichick knows what he’s doing back there.
"So, from our standpoint, we know that they’re going to be ready to play. We’re not expecting that they’re going to come out sluggish or anything. We know that they want to win just as bad as we do, and we’re going to have to come with our A game."
