NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

October 21, 2015

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Jets promote wide receiver Thompkins from practice squad ................................................................................... 2

Jets climbing in NFL power rankings; next game vs No. 1 Pats (Ricard Rosenblatt) ................................................. 2

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Brandon Marshall says ref questioned his TD prayer (Kimberley A. Martin) ............................................................ 3

Chris Ivory running over and by opposing tacklers (Kimberley A. Martin) ................................................................ 4

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Jets: Downplay facing Patriots (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................................................................... 5

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 6

Beware, Jets: Patriots racking up huge numbers on revenge tour 2.0 (Rich Cimini) ................................................ 6

Ex-Patriots could be in Jets' plans (Rich Cimini) ........................................................................................................ 7

New York Jets crack a top-10 list ... and no one is laughing (Rich Cimini) ................................................................. 8

J-E-T-S! Double-digit wins a real possibility for New York (Mike Sando)................................................................... 8

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Why this might just be the best Jets’ defense ever (Brian Costello) ......................................................................... 9

Why Tom Brady is so concerned about facing Darrelle Revis (Brian Costello) ....................................................... 10

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 11

Now that Jets are 4-1, what are their chances of making the playoffs? (Darryl Slater) .......................................... 11

Darrelle Revis' scorned ex-business manager goes on unhinged Twitter rant (Dom Cosentino) ........................... 11

Why does Jets' Todd Bowles continue to barely play Quinton Coples? (Darryl Slater) .......................................... 12

Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick's hilarious mic'd-up reaction to Brandon Marshall TD catch (Dom Cosentino) .................... 13

Jets players bring fitness equipment and cheer to Dover school (Ben Horowitz) .................................................. 13

Jets players wait tables at Muhammad Wilkerson charity dinner (Dom Cosentino) .............................................. 14

How Jets' Darrelle Revis made game-changing pick vs. Washington Redskins | Defensive film review (Darryl Slater) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Tom Brady says Jets' Darrelle Revis has 'an intimate knowledge' of New England Patriots' ways (Darryl Slater) .. 16

NFL power rankings roundup: Jets in Top 5 with New England Patriots up next? (Dom Cosentino) ...................... 16

Even Bill Simmons, New England Patriots fanboy, is 'worried' about Jets (Dom Cosentino) .................................. 17

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 18

Praise still piling up for Jets running back Chris Ivory (Seth Walder) ...................................................................... 18

Five rules for the Jets on how to beat the Patriots (Manish Mehta) ...................................................................... 20

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 21

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Jets' Bryce Petty ends Pizzagate debacle (Kristian Dyer) ........................................................................................ 21

TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 22

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets promote wide receiver Thompkins from practice squad Associated Press October 20, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-promote-wide-receiver-thompkins-practice-squad

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets promoted wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins to the active roster from the practice squad on Tuesday night.

The move came a day after wide receiver Quincy Enunwa was suspended four games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy in an incident last year.

The Jets also signed former Jaguars and Chiefs cornerback Jeremy Harris to the practice squad.

Thompkins, signed by the Jets on Oct. 5, joins the active roster in time to face his former team when New York plays at New England on Sunday.

Thompkins was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati in 2013 and caught 32 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns. He was claimed off waivers by Oakland last season, but was cut before this season. New England re-signed him to the practice squad last month, but released him a few weeks later.

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Jets climbing in NFL power rankings; next game vs No. 1 Pats (Ricard Rosenblatt) Associated Press October 20, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-climbing-nfl-power-rankings-next-game-vs-no-1-pats

NEW YORK (AP) — Other than the NFL's five remaining unbeaten teams, the New York Jets are the best of the rest in the AP Pro32 power rankings.

The Jets climbed two spots to No. 6 in this week's rankings heading into Sunday's AFC East matchup against the top-ranked New England Patriots.

New England again was the solid top choice following its 34-27 win over Indianapolis. The Patriots (5-0) received nine first-place votes and 381 points in balloting by the 12 media members who regularly cover the league.

New York improved to 4-1 after its 34-20 win over Washington and improved two spots. Under first-year coach Todd Bowles, the Jets and their defense could be a formidable foe for Tom Brady and the Patriots.

"Todd Bowles has the Jets off to a remarkable start, as they've already equaled last year's win total," Newsday's Bob Glauber said.

And, adds NBC's Tony Dungy, "Now they'll have their chance to do it against the Patriots."

Green Bay and Cincinnati remained 2-3, both with 6-0 records. The Packers had three first-place votes and 368 points, six points ahead of the Bengals. Carolina (5-0), which won at Seattle, moved up three places to fourth, followed by Denver (6-0), the lowest ranked of the unbeatens after an overtime win against Cleveland.

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"Peyton Manning still is not right — in fact, this could be it for the future Hall of Fame quarterback," Glauber said. "... It's that Denver defense that's powering the Broncos' unbeaten start."

Former coach Herm Edwards of ESPN moved Carolina up a few notches to fifth on his ballot.

"That was the most impressive win of Week 6, coming back against Seattle," Edwards said.

The Packers, Bengals and Broncos have byes this week. The other unbeatens play at home — Jets at Patriots and Eagles and Broncos.

In interim coach Dan Campbell's first game, the Miami Dolphins (2-3) routed Tennessee and made the biggest move with a 10-spot jump to No. 20 following a 38-10 rout of Tennessee.

After their first loss of the season, the Atlanta Falcons fell four spots to ninth, while Baltimore (1-5) and Tennessee (1-4) each tumbled four places, to 29th and 31st, respectively.

Other notable changes include defending NFC champion Seattle (2-4) down five to No. 15 and Jacksonville (1-5) back at No. 32.

"Fourth-quarter woes continue (for Seattle)," Fox Sports' John Czarnecki said.

As for the Jaguars, "Get some ice on the arm of Blake Bortles," the Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin said. "Quarterbacks have thrown 50 passes in a dozen games this season and only Bortles has done it twice."

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NEWSDAY

Brandon Marshall says ref questioned his TD prayer (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 20, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-brandon-marshall-says-ref-questioned-his-td-prayer-1.10990413

Should the NFL stand for the "No Fun League"?

The crackdown on touchdown celebrations and end zone dances has been going on for years. But during Tuesday night's episode of Showtime's "Inside the NFL," Jets receiver Brandon Marshall divulged that he was almost flagged for a penalty during Sunday's win over the Redskins for praying after a score.

"Sunday, I score a touchdown and I fall to the ground and I put my hands up and I pray, like I always do," Marshall said, referring to his 35-yard shoestring catch-and-run touchdown in the second quarter of the Jets' 34-20 win. "The ref comes to me and said: 'Brandon, that's a celebration. Were you praying? Because if you weren't, we're going to have to throw that flag.' "

"Are you kidding me? Is that a flag? . . . It happened," Marshall insisted. "It's true."

Gone are the days when NFL players could show up opponents with choreographed dances and outrageous TD celebrations. And the enforced rules of the so-called "No Fun League" are in stark contrast to other professional sports, such as Major League Baseball.

"Jose Bautista smashes the ball, home run, throws the bat up, stares at the pitcher," Marshall said, referring to the Blue Jay's 442-foot game-winning hit in Game 5 of the ALDS.

"And what does the MLB do? They celebrate it."

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Cut Heyward a break

Marshall also discussed the NFL's decision to twice fine Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward for honoring his late father, former NFL fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, on his eye black.

Though the Jets receiver believes rules should be followed, he noted there's "a lot of gray" area when it comes to NFL players paying tribute to their loved ones on game day.

"There needs to be rules. We can't have 2,000 guys out there running around looking like yo-yos. We can't have that," Marshall said, before pointing out that former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still used his platform as an NFL player to bring awareness to his daughter Leah's fight against cancer. "We can't have that gray -- and there's a lot of gray."

Still wrote "Leah Strong" on his eye black last season as a way of supporting his then-4-year-old, who had stage four cancer. The groundswell of support for Still raised awareness about pediatric cancer and research. But unlike Heyward, Still was not fined by the NFL.

Heyward -- whose father died of brain cancer in 2006 at age 39 -- was fined $5,787 for wearing eye black that read "Iron Head" during the Steelers' Monday Night Football game against the Chargers. Heyward wore the same eye black Sunday against the Cardinals, and he'll likely be fined again. According to ProFootballTalk.com, the NFL will continue to fine Heyward the amount of a repeat offender of uniform rules: $11,576.

"Look at Devon Still's story," Marshall said. "It seems like Devon was able to raise a lot of money off of it. The NFL was able to capitalize off of it because there were a lot of eyeballs on our game, which is good. This isn't as big of a story. Now, we are telling this guy [Heyward] you can't do it anymore, we are fining you. And that's a lot of gray. Let's come up with the right plan, the right system to allow guys to do what they need to do or what they feel is right and is not taking away from the game.

"The NFL will have to do a better job of not picking and choosing."

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Chris Ivory running over and by opposing tacklers (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 20, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-chris-ivory-running-over-and-by-opposing-tacklers-1.10989168

Chris Ivory is far more than he appears.

He's a violent runner and a physical force. But the Jets' "bell cow" is not just a one-dimensional running back, say his teammates.

"Every guy, you want to put them in a specific group of running back and he seems like the physical bruiser when you first meet him. That is his style," Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "But he's kind of got both. He does have the speed as well."

For the third time this season, Ivory was named a finalist for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week award for his performance against the Redskins (2-4). He rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries (7.3 average) in the Jets' 34-20 win over the Redskins. Ivory won the award in Week 4.

He showcased his repertoire against the Redskins, breaking off a 54-yard run early in the second quarter and catching three passes for 50 yards. Ivory's 196 total yards from scrimmage was a career high.

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"Obviously Chris has been pretty special, in terms of finding the holes, being patient and running hard when he sees it," Fitzpatrick. "We keep talking about it and you kind of run out of words to describe all the things that he does and he brings to our offense. But again, the thing that surprises me each week is just the speed when he sees the hole. He's such a physical runner, but he's also able to outrun guys, beat them to the edge, get down the sideline and we saw it again a couple times on Sunday."

The Jets are 4-1 heading into Sunday's showdown with the New England Patriots (5-0) and Ivory is a big reason why. Todd Bowles' team has the top rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 146 yards.

The running game starts with the guys up front, Fitzpatrick said, "just the way that they work together as a unit." But after that, it's all Ivory.

"I mean, he's a great back," right tackle Breno Giacomini said. "It's fun to watch him play and block for him. He's definitely coming on a lot stronger than he was last year."

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THE RECORD

Jets: Downplay facing Patriots (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 21, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-downplay-facing-patriots-1.1437282

Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan liked to say that in his mind, games against divisional rivals counted as 1 1/2 games in the standings.

First-year Jets coach Todd Bowles doesn’t believe in that, uh, new math.

"It’s one game for us," he said of Sunday’s contest at New England.

True, and the Jets still will play at least 10 more games after that one. But it’s hard to overstate the importance of this one, even though Bowles continues to downplay it and most of his players seem to have adopted his "just another game" mantra.

"I think good teams don’t ride the emotional roller coaster," right guard Willie Colon said Monday, championing Bowles’ approach. "They stay steady, they stay straight ahead, and they stay in their lane. They don’t look left and right, and see what other teams are going through."

Hmmmm. And why is this suddenly the Jets’ mind-set, Colon was asked.

"You know the answer to that," Colin said. "You know why. New regime."

Bowles said, "This is a division game for us. We want to win division games. It’s still one game at a time. Winning this game is not going to make us, losing this game is not going to break us. We’re going to take the same approach we’ve been taking. You don’t get up or down for one game because it means you haven’t been playing hard in the first place. We’re going to continue to do our job and get better as a team, and we’ll go forward from there."

Well, that quote certainly won’t find its way on to any bulletin boards at One Patriots Place, unlike some of Ryan’s colorful comments about New England, or those of some of his players. And yes, as boring as Bowles’ statements might be, the real statement will be made one way or the other Sunday.

Consider that although New England is 5-0 and the Jets are 4-1, the host Patriots still are favored by 9 1/2 points. That likely is because, other than a Week 2 victory at Indianapolis, the Jets don’t have any wins that most observers would consider impressive.

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The Jets’ victories have come against Indianapolis, Cleveland, Miami and Washington, which have a cumulative record of 9-14. Not one of those teams is above .500.

Granted, New England hasn’t exactly run an early-season gauntlet, either. Their victims — Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Dallas and Indianapolis — have a cumulative record of 13-16, although the Steelers at least have a winning record and the Patriots beat them before Ben Roethlisberger was injured.

Still, for those outside of the Jets’ locker room, a victory for Gang Green on Sunday would be irrefutable proof that Bowles’ new approach has made them legitimate contenders instead of a bunch of talented and well-schooled opportunists who merely have fattened up on an easy schedule that still has plenty of seemingly tasty morsels left. (The Jets have three games remaining against the woeful AFC South, for instance.)

No doubt Bowles is tuning out the critics and all the outside noise, and perhaps that’s the best approach. For all of Ryan’s emotions during Patriots Week, the Jets lost seven of the last eight games against New England during his reign.

Bowles believes this week of practice will be the same as the previous ones in terms of intensity, and that’s his goal.

"You want them amped up on Sunday," he said, "but as far as playing the game or playing a specific person, you try to treat everybody the same and we go about our business the same way. We don’t let that [determine] what we do in practice or what we do on Sunday."

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ESPN NEW YORK

Beware, Jets: Patriots racking up huge numbers on revenge tour 2.0 (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 21, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55192/beware-jets-patriots-racking-up-huge-numbers-on-revenge-tour-2-0

Ten things to know about the New England Patriots, the New York Jets' next opponent:

1. Conjuring up memories of their post-SpyGate vengeance in 2007, the Patriots are in the midst of another revenge tour, thrashing opponents as they attempt to escape the shadows of DeflateGate. They're one of five undefeated teams, the most in Week 7 since the merger in 1970. This marks their third 5-0 start under Tom Brady and -- this won't surprise you -- they reached the Super Bowl the previous two times (2004, 2007). The Patriots aren't just winning, they're winning big -- an average margin of victory of 16 points. Hell hath no fury like a Patriot scorned.

A motivated Tom Brady has been dangerous indeed for the Patriots' opponents. AP Photo/Brandon Wade

2. The Patriots have fielded some scary offenses over the years -- who can forget Brady to Randy Moss in 2007? -- but the current group has scored 183 points, a franchise record for the first five games. Think about that for a moment.

3. Brady, who was supposed to be washed up a year ago at this time, is having another MVP-type season. He didn't throw his first interception until last week, and his 118.4 passer rating leads the league. He's had a couple of hiccups against the Jets in recent years (relatively speaking, of course), but his overall record (20-5) speaks for itself. One topic sure to come up this week, especially in the Jets' coaches meetings, is how he handles the blitz. Brady's release versus the blitz (1.83 seconds) is the second-fastest in the league,

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according to ESPN Stats & Information, but he struggled a bit last week against the Indianapolis Colts. His interception -- a Pick 6 -- came on a blitz.

4. It's worth noting the last Jets-Patriots game at Gillette Stadium (Oct. 16, 2014) became immortalized in the Wells Report on DeflateGate. During the game, Brady "complained angrily" about the inflation level of his footballs, telling staffers the balls were "like bricks," the report states. In fact, there are 25 references to the Jets in the 243-page report. If you believe Brady, his education on PSI level began in the aftermath of that two-point win over the Jets.

5. Obviously, the Patriots have survived the loss of cornerback Darrelle Revis, although their defense isn't the same without him. They're 16th in total defense and 16th in pass defense -- the very definition of average. Average is okay if your quarterback is Brady and he's averaging 30 points per game. The big concern is the run defense -- 4.84 yards per attempt, 29th in the league. You think Chris Ivory will appreciate that stat? A lot of factors can be attributed to the porous run defense. Not having a shutdown corner like Revis, whose presence in the secondary allows the defense to commit an extra player to run support, is one of them.

6. Revis has been replaced by Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler, who sometimes is matched against the opponents' No. 1 receiver. A year ago, he played only 17 percent of the defensive snaps, and now he's their No. 1 corner. The other cornerback position has been a revolving door. Right now, the job belongs to Logan Ryan. As for their depth ... what depth? It's the weakness the Jets, no doubt, will try to exploit.

Rob Gronkowski has 33 catches for 404 yards in his past five games against the Jets. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

7. It took us to No. 7 before mentioning Rob Gronkowski, who certainly will be a lot higher on the Jets' priority list. Gronkowski, who reached 60 career touchdowns faster than any tight end in history (70 games), is a matchup nightmare. Interestingly, only five have come against the Jets. Don't read too much into that, though. In his last five games against them, he's had 33 catches for 404 yards. This just in: He's good.

8. The Patriots will introduce some new faces to the rivalry, none bigger than Dion Lewis, the type of running back that causes problems for the Jets. He's super-quick and explosive, capable of making big plays in the passing game. He has 26 receptions, second to Julian Edelman's 40, and he averages 5.0 yards per carry. Basically, he's their new Danny Woodhead. The Patriots' personnel department did a great job of finding Lewis on the NFL scrap heap.

9. For the third straight week, the Jets will face a team missing its starting left tackle. Nate Solder is on injured reserve, and his backup, Marcus Cannon, left last week's game with a toe injury. The Patriots were forced to finish the game with right tackle Sebastian Vollmer on the left side. Could Muhammad Wilkerson & Co. face a third-string tackle on Sunday? No doubt, the always transparent Belichick will provide up-to-the-minute injury info.

10. The Jets' struggling special teams may want to keep an eye on linebacker Jamie Collins, who blocked a PAT last week with a spectacular leap over the long snapper.

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Ex-Patriots could be in Jets' plans (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 20, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55205/two-ex-patriots-not-named-darrelle-revis-could-be-in-jets-plans

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You already know about Darrelle Revis, who makes his return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Two other former New England Patriots also could have a homecoming weekend -- running back Stevan Ridley and wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.

Thompkins, who has spent the last three weeks on the New York Jets' practice squad, is expected to be signed to the 53-man roster, a source confirmed. With Quincy Enunwa (suspension) out the next four games and Chris Owusu recovering from a knee scope, the Jets are down to four healthy bodies at receiver. Owusu's status this week is uncertain, so there's a good chance Thompkins will be active for the game.

Thompkins had two stints with the Patriots, most recently as a member of their practice squad in September. He broke into the league with the Patriots in 2013 as an undrafted free agent, finishing with 32 catches as a rookie. He was released in October, 2014, and spent the remainder of last season with the Oakland Raiders.

Ridley is eligible to start practicing this week after six weeks on the physically unable to perform list. When he returns to the practice field, the clock starts. By rule, the Jets will have 21 days to add him to the active roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve. The Jets placed him on the PUP list at the end of the preseason because they felt he wasn't recovered from major knee surgery last November.

"I’m hoping to get him in pads (Wednesday) and get him out there and let him run around," Todd Bowles said.

Asked if Ridley could play Sunday, Bowles said, "Maybe. I haven't seen anything. I can't answer that."

It appears unlikely, but an injury to Bilal Powell (sprained ankle) could hasten Ridley's return. If Powell can't play, they could add a third back to join Chris Ivory and Zac Stacy.

Ridley, a third-round pick of the Patriots in 2011, was once considered a rising star. He rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012, but his playing time dwindled and the team let him bolt as a free agent after last season.

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New York Jets crack a top-10 list ... and no one is laughing (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 20, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55198/newyork-jets-crack-a-top-10-list-and-no-one-is-laughing

Other than defensive rankings and late-night tweaks by former talk-show host David Letterman, the New York Jets haven't cracked many top-10 lists in recent years. But look what we have here:

In the new ESPN NFL Power Rankings, the Jets (4-1) have climbed to No. 8, jumping three spots from last week. That's pretty impressive, considering five of the top seven spots are occupied by undefeated teams. The only defeated teams ahead of the Jets are the Arizona Cardinals (4-2) at No. 4 and the Atlanta Falcons (5-1) at No. 7.

The No. 1 team? Come on, you know the answer to that. It's the Jets' opponent Sunday -- the New England Patriots (5-0).

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J-E-T-S! Double-digit wins a real possibility for New York (Mike Sando) ESPN New York

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October 20, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/487202/former-qbs-coach-david-lee-says-geno-smiths-mistakes-killed-us

The New York Jets drew the only "A" grade when Hall of Famer Bill Polian and our other ESPN analysts awarded offseason grades in May.

What wasn't there to like? Darrelle Revis' signing had Polian forecasting a massive jump for the Jets' defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick topped my list of value additions in the veteran market. Todd Bowles' hiring as coach was what put the Jets' offseason over the top for analyst Louis Riddick. Almost as a bonus, they added Leonard Williams through the draft. Mel Kiper Jr. had Williams as the top overall prospect, and they got him at No. 6 overall.

Well-conceived offseason moves do not always work out -- cue the 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- but the Jets have so far justified the optimism. They take a 4-1 record into a measuring-stick game against New England, and suddenly it's easy to envision this team posting double-digit victories for the first time since 2010. ESPN's Football Power Index is projecting 10.5 victories for the Jets and an 80.5 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. Evidence suggests these are reasonable expectations -- despite warning signs in one important area.

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NEW YORK POST

Why this might just be the best Jets’ defense ever (Brian Costello) New York Post October 21, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/21/why-this-might-just-be-the-best-jets-defense-ever/

As a beat writer covering Rex Ryan, you learned certain techniques over time to get him to make headlines. One easy one every August when you were out of ideas was to ask Ryan if he thought the Jets’ defense could be the best in the league.

It worked every time. Ryan, of course, would predict the No. 1 defense in the NFL and you had a story for the day.

This August, I decided to try it out on new coach Todd Bowles, knowing the response would be quite different. I asked him if he sets statistical goals.

“No, I don’t,” Bowles said. “There are certain things we have to be good at. Statistical goals are a false lead.”

That did not quite make headlines. But that approach is working just fine for the Jets’ defense. Bowles may not care about the rankings, but the Jets’ defense is topping the charts like Taylor Swift.

It is No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense. It is second against the run and against the pass. It is the best red-zone defense in the NFL, the third best at takeaways and has given up the fewest first downs.

It still is early in the season, but the Jets’ defense looks like it could be the best in team history and possibly one of the best ever. Think that’s hyperbole? The Jets are giving up 4.3 yards per play. Two of the best defenses in history gave up a similar average — the 1985 Bears (4.4) and the 2000 Ravens (4.3). Yards per game? The Jets are giving up an average of 269.2. The ’85 Bears were at 258.4 and the 2000 Ravens at 247.9.

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Again, there are 11 games left. There is a long way to go in the regular season and those teams won Super Bowls, which solidified their legends.

All I’m saying is they’ve got a chance.

Which brings us to this week. So far, the Jets have beaten up on Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Andrew Luck, Sam Bradford, Ryan Tannehill and Kirk Cousins. Not exactly a Murderers’ Row of quarterbacks. Luck is the only one you would consider in the top half of the league. But old friend Tom Brady will be on the other side this week, along with Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman and whatever running back Bill Belichick chooses to use.

Sunday’s showdown with Brady should be fun. Brady and Belichick thrive on finding a team’s weaknesses, but this Jets’ defense does not appear to have any holes. That is what could make it the best in franchise history.

You probably could not get a consensus on which Jets’ defense was the best.

Statistically, Ryan’s 2009 crew is it. But the 1981 “Sack Exchange” defense and the 1968 Super Bowl champs have strong cases.

There are areas of other Jets’ defenses that are better than this one. This group won’t have 66 sacks like the 1981 team with Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. But that team did not have a defensive backfield like this one, led by Darrelle Revis.

The 1968 team played in the all-offense AFL, so its stats are not as good as those of other teams. But the defense’s value to that Super Bowl title gets overlooked in the glare of the Joe Namath spotlight. It held a Colts team that averaged 28.7 points per game to seven points in Super Bowl III. That alone gives it credibility. They probably had the best linebackers, but the 2015 defense has more overall talent. Revis is a probably Hall of Famer and there are eight first-round picks on the unit.

The 2009 team is an interesting comparison, with some of the same players. Revis was otherworldly in 2009, but the rest of that secondary was not as talented as this one.

The 2009 linebackers were better with a younger David Harris and Calvin Pace plus Bart Scott in his prime. But this year’s defensive line of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams is light years better than the Shaun Ellis, Sione Pouha, Marques Douglas line of 2009. That tips the scales in favor of the 2015 crew.

You won’t hear it from Bowles, but this defense might be the best the Jets ever have had.

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Why Tom Brady is so concerned about facing Darrelle Revis (Brian Costello) New York Post October 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/20/why-tom-brady-is-so-concerned-about-facing-darrelle-revis/

Sunday’s game between the 5-0 Patriots and 4-1 Jets does not need a subplot, but the return of Darrelle Revis to Foxborough, Mass., provides an interesting one.

Revis spent one season with the Patriots, winning the Super Bowl with them last year, before returning to the Jets as a free agent. Now he faces his former mates. Will his year in New England help this week?

“He’s got, obviously, an intimate knowledge of how we do things,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Tuesday on WEEI radio, “and kind of the skill set of our players and our formations, and vice versa. I know how he likes to play things. His play style is very similar to what it’s always been.

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“He’s a phenomenal player. Some of those players you play against where you go, ‘God, how did they know it was going to be this route, or that?’ Sometimes they just know by what they see, or their instincts, or feel, by the way the receiver walks to the line of scrimmage, the way the right tackle looks in his stance. I don’t know what he’s looking at, but he diagnoses plays and routes. He’s off to a great start this year.”

Revis will downplay the matchup this week because that is his personality. But he and Brady developed a friendly rivalry and respect through the years that played out in some training-camp battles last year.

Sunday, they renew acquaintances on the playing field, not the practice field.

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Now that Jets are 4-1, what are their chances of making the playoffs? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media October 21, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/now_that_jets_are_4-1_what_are_the_chance_theyll_m.html#incart_river

Now that the Jets are 4-1 entering Sunday's big game at 5-0 New England, here's a look at their latest playoff chances, courtesy of numberFire.com:

Projected record: 10.5 wins, 5.5 losses (increase of 0.89 wins from last week)

Chance of making playoffs: 77.58 percent (increase of 10.78 percent)

Chance of winning AFC East: 23.8 percent (increase of 6.54 percent)

Chance of making Super Bowl: 11.52 percent (increase of 3.76 percent)

Chance of winning Super Bowl: 5.84 percent (increase of 2.54 percent)

Power ranking: 5 (Jets were 11th last week)

Here's a look at where the Jets were last week, when they were off, in these "just for fun" (or at least in our opinion) numberFire percentages.

Here's where the Jets were immediately after improving to 3-1 with a win over Miami in London.

And here's where numberFire had the Jets when they were 2-0, coming off that victory at the Colts.

Again, none of this means a whole lot. But it's amusing barstool chatter fodder. So there you have it. Chatter away.

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Darrelle Revis' scorned ex-business manager goes on unhinged Twitter rant (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/darrelle_revis_scorned_ex-business_manager_goes_on.html#incart_river

John Geiger had been friends with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis since the two were children. Until somewhat recently, Geiger had also served as Revis' business manager.

But in the last two days, Geiger's been busy showing his backside on Twitter.

Daily Clips Cont.

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After Revis, the Jets' star cornerback, was featured Sunday night on "60 Minutes" with an emphasis on a support network that never mentioned Geiger, Geiger went on an unhinged Twitter rant that accused Revis of lying, stealing, being a phony, and—heavens, no!—sometimes enjoying booze and marijuana.

Geiger even implored the NFL to drug test Revis and Revis' uncle and adviser, former NFL player Sean Gilbert, in addition to taking aim at Revis' agents.

In August, Geiger gave an interview to Complex.com in which he said he and Revis haven't spoken since Revis won the the Super Bowl with the Patriots in February, just before Revis returned to the Jets.

"I think his agents didn't want me around him anymore," Geiger said at the time.

In his tweetstorm, Geiger also lashed out with a few choice expletives fired directly at the official "60 minutes" Twitter account. A sampling: "you wrote a bs story based on a guy lived my life. That d------d don't look at art. That's me. I dressed his a--."

Geiger at one point tweeted that Jets owner Woody Johnson "is paying to delete this." Predictably, there was even a tweet about getting hacked. Geiger has since deleted all of the tweets that referenced any of this stuff.

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Why does Jets' Todd Bowles continue to barely play Quinton Coples? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/why_does_jets_todd_bowles_continue_to_barely_play.html#incart_river

If this keeps up, it's difficult to envision rush outside linebacker Quinton Coples being with the Jets in 2016. (But it's not necessarily going to keep up.)

Coples, whom the Jets drafted 16th overall in 2012, has barely played in the past two games. He got just 15 snaps against Miami in London. And this past Sunday against Washington, Coples played nine snaps.

In the first three games, he got 54 snaps (76 percent), 39 (61), and 36 (49). Then he played just 23 percent of the snaps against the Dolphins and 14 percent against Washington.

Part of this stems from the fact that the Jets have used a lot of their nickel package lately, and Coples isn't part of that package.

Against Washington, the Jets got defensive end Sheldon Richardson back from a four-game marijuana suspension. To work Richardson in, coach Todd Bowles opted to use a lot of 4-3 alignments.

That meant one fewer linebacker than the Jets typically have in their normal 3-4 base defense. And Coples was the odd linebacker out.

Bowles has said he likes how Coples is performing this season. So there's certainly a chance you could see more of Coples in the coming weeks, depending on what packages Bowles decides to use for his defense.

Here's how Bowles explained Coples' limited action against Washington: "We wanted to put the bigger guys up in there [in the 4-3 package]. We knew they wanted to run the ball. I think we talked them out of some run plays, where they ran some quick plays. So at least the threat of it, in my opinion, got them out of some things."

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Basically, against Washington, the Jets favored four true defensive linemen over their usual three linemen and an edge rusher (Coples). Bowles said Coples' low snap count against Washington owed to the Jets' heavy use of the 4-3.

Coples doesn't have a sack yet this season. (Not that he's had a ton of chances.) He hoped 2015 would bring more pass rushing production for him. Last season, he had a career-best 6½ sacks, improving his professional total to 16½. So far in his NFL career, he hasn't played like the No. 16 overall pick.

The Jets have technically picked up the fifth-year option in Coples' rookie contract, for 2016. But that doesn't become fully guaranteed until March. Coples' fifth-year option figure is expected to be worth about $7.8 million. The Jets won't pay that to a part-time player. And in Coples' case, they won't have to.

If Coples doesn't start contributing more, the Jets probably will cut him after this season. As long as they do it before his fifth-year option becomes fully guaranteed in March, his release wouldn't result in future salary cap ramifications for the Jets.

But it's still fairly early in the season, so Coples certainly could see more action in future games — a chance to show the Jets he's worth keeping around.

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Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick's hilarious mic'd-up reaction to Brandon Marshall TD catch (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/watch_jets_ryan_fitzpatricks_hilarious_micd-up_rea.html#incart_river

After the Jets beat Washington, 34-20, on Sunday, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick admitted he couldn't quite believe wideout Brandon Marshall scored a touchdown on an underthrown pass Fitzpatrick had delivered as he was being hit in the third quarter. But you really have to hear Fitzpatrick's stunned reaction in the moment.

Marshall somehow was able to come back to the ball around a defender, catch it inches off the ground, and dash to the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown. Not many receivers could do what he did.

"I've thrown so many of those where's I'm getting hit as I release it and they get picked in my career," Fitzpatrick said. "I was thinking, 'Oh boy, here we go.' How he caught it, I don't know. How he turned it in to a touchdown, I really don't know."

But as the play unfolded, Fitzpatrick was a bit more excited and surprised to learn Marshall had caught the ball, and that Marshall had managed to score. Check it out in the video above. Fitzpatrick's hilarious reaction—complete with an f-bomb!—comes at the 18-second mark.

Also, it's not in the clip above, but in the full version that aired Tuesday night on "Inside the NFL," Fitzpatrick approached Marshall on the sideline after the play and said, "You bailed my a-- out with that."

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Jets players bring fitness equipment and cheer to Dover school (Ben Horowitz) NJ Advanced Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2015/10/jets_players_bring_fitness_center_to_dover.html#incart_river

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Ten New York Jets players came to the Dover Middle School on Tuesday to help deliver fitness equipment and enjoy some time with the students.

The players helped unveil a Play 60 Fitness Zone with 35 children as part of the NFL's 17th annual "Hometown Huddle," an NFL day of service carried out in cooperation with United Way chapters across the nation.

The Jets, in a partnership with the United Way of Northern New Jersey and NFL Foundation, contributed $50,000 to install the equipment, said Laura Bruno, spokeswoman for the United Way.

The Zone involves five pieces of strength-training equipment that the players and students tested.

The players showed the students exercises they can do regularly and help get the suggested 60 minutes of exercise per day.

The Jets players visiting the school and demonstrating exercise techniques included Deion Barnes, Jarvis Harrison, Julian Howsare, Taiwan Jones, Ronald Martin, Lorenzo Mauldin, Bryce Petty, Wes Saxton, Deon Smith and Devin Smiht.

"Our players are here today to contribute their time and effort for the good of the community and provide opportunities where children can get at least 60 minutes of activities ever day," said Jets community relations director Jesse Linder.

United Way chief executive officer John Franklin said, "We are committed to giving children access to the tools they need to make healthy, lifelong choices."

Robert Becker, the Dover schools superintendent, commented, "We are grateful to United Way and the New York Jets for their generous contribution ... This is an outstanding opportunity for our students to meet and be inspired by professional athletes as we strive to emphasize personal health and wellness."

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Jets players wait tables at Muhammad Wilkerson charity dinner (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/photos_jets_players_waiting_tables_at_muhammad_wil.html#incart_river

NEW YORK — Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson took his charitable efforts into Manhattan on Monday night, where he and several of his Jets teammates donned aprons to wait tables at Wilkerson's annual Celebrity Servers Charity Dinner.

Wilkerson is a Linden native and a Linden High School alumnus. The dinner, at Morton's Grille in Gramercy Park, was a benefit for Wilkerson's T.E.A.M. 96 Foundation, which raises money for student-athletes in Union County—in this case, $1,000 scholarships for students from several county schools.

"Eventually, I want to help out other communities in different areas," Wilkerson said.

Fans who attended Monday night's event—which was packed—paid anywhere from $175 to $350 for an evening that included a cocktail reception, a silent auction, a chance to get autographs, and a meal that was served by Wilkerson and nine other Jets players: cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Dexter McDougle, and Dee Milliner; inside linebacker David Harris; outside linebackers Calvin Pace, Quinton Coples, and Trevor Reilly; nose tackle T.J. Barnes; and safety Jaiquawn Jarrett.

(No word on whether any of them got stuck doing any side work.)

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"We're brothers on the field, we're brothers off the field," Wilkerson said of the turnout among Jets players for the event. "It's not like we just work with each other. Off the field we support each other."

Click through the gallery above for a look at Wilkerson, Revis, and the other Jets as servers.

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How Jets' Darrelle Revis made game-changing pick vs. Washington Redskins | Defensive film review (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/how_darrelle_revis_made_game-changing_pick_vs_wash.html#incart_river

Through five games, cornerback Darrelle Revis has absolutely been a difference maker for the 4-1 Jets.

He has three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He hasn't been perfect in coverage, of course, but no corner is. For the most part, opposing receivers haven't done much against Revis this season.

Recovering a fumble has a lot to do with luck, and the bounce of the ball. But picking off a pass generally takes significant skill and awareness. Revis demonstrated both in Sunday's 34-20 win over Washington.

The game was tied at 13, as Washington lined up for its second play of the second half, with 10:18 remaining in the third quarter. It was second-and-8 from Washington's 23-yard line.

You know what came next. Revis intercepted quarterback Kirk Cousins, and the Jets got the ball at Washington's 18. All Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick needed was one play to scramble 18 yards for a touchdown. Like that, it was 20-13, Jets, and they never trailed again for the remainder of the game.

So how did Revis' pick unfold?

He said after the game that he "baited" Cousins by letting wide receiver Ryan Grant "cross my face" — a term commonly used by defensive players. Let's take a look back at the film and examine what Revis meant by this, and how he made this game-changing play:

The play started with Revis lining up in press coverage against receiver Pierre Garcon. Grant actually lined up in the backfield, next to Cousins, and would run a pass pattern from that position, curling out of the backfield.

Revis initially stuck with Garcon, as Cousins examined his route progresses, from right to left. Grant was going to be Cousins' last option in his progression. Revis recognized this. So he let Grant curl in front of him, and get open, near the sideline. This is the "cross my face" part Revis was referring to.

Revis made Cousins think he was going to continue covering Garcon, who moved toward the inside of the field, as Grant curled outside. But instead, as soon as Cousins turned and looked toward Grant, Revis had his own eyes locked on Cousins. Revis knew exactly where Cousins was going to throw.

Revis jumped Grant's route as soon as Cousins turned his shoulders to throw — a perfectly timed break. By the time the ball was in the air, the play was over.

Revis did an excellent job of tracking both Garcon and Grant on this play, while monitoring Cousins, and noticing how the quarterback was going through his progressions. That's a lot for a cornerback to notice at once. And this is why Revis is one of the best to ever play his position.

This Sunday, Revis gets to face his old pal, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Will Revis continue his 2015 success in a matchup with one of the all-time greats?

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Tom Brady says Jets' Darrelle Revis has 'an intimate knowledge' of New England Patriots' ways (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/tom_brady_says_jets_darrelle_revis_has_an_intimate.html#incart_river

Cornerback Darrelle Revis has played most of his career (2007-12 and now this season) with the Jets.

But last season, for one year, he was with the Patriots. Revis won a Super Bowl ring in New England, before leaving for the Jets in free agency.

The Jets and Patriots meet Sunday, in New England, for the first time this season. Will Revis' knowledge of the 5-0 Patriots' ways help the 4-1 Jets leading up to the game?

Maybe. Maybe not.

But Patriots quarterback Tom Brady made it clear during a Tuesday radio interview with Boston's WEEI that Revis does indeed know the Patriots quite well.

"He's got, obviously, an intimate knowledge of how we do things," Brady said, as CSNNE.com's Phil Perry noted. "And kind of the skill set of our players and our formations, and vice versa. I know how he likes to play things. His play style is very similar to what it's always been.

"He's a phenomenal player. Some of those players you play against where you go, 'God, how did they know it was going to be this route, or that?' Sometimes, they just know by what they see, or their instincts, or feel, by the way the receiver walks to the line of scrimmage, the way the right tackle looks in his stance. I don't know what he's looking at, but he diagnoses plays and routes. He's off to a great start this year."

Revis sure is. He has three interceptions and three fumble recoveries for the Jets, including a game-changing pick in Sunday's win over Washington.

Jets coach Todd Bowles had this to say Monday about Revis' knowledge of the Patriots, and if it can help the Jets: "Some of the things he can probably take away that can help him. At the same time, they probably can take away some things that can help them, because they practiced against him every day. You try to be careful of that. As long as he understands what they can take away from him, he can mask his weaknesses. He should be fine."

Bowles said he planned to speak with Revis about his experience with the Patriots. Perhaps Bowles can glean some helpful information from that conversation.

"We'll talk about it," Bowles said. "It's not going to be about what the game plan is detailed around, but we'll talk about a few things, I'm sure."

Like what?

"I don't know until I talk to him," Bowles said.

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NFL power rankings roundup: Jets in Top 5 with New England Patriots up next? (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

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http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/nfl_power_rankings_roundup_jets_in_top_5_with_new.html#incart_river

With Sunday's 34-20 victory against Washington, the Jets improved their record to 4-1, and all four of their wins have now been by double digits. So where do they stand in the power rankings on various parts of the internet heading into Sunday's game at the hated Patriots?

We've gathered a bunch of power rankings here so you don't have to look for them.

We've even added Newsday's Bob Glauber's power rankings to the mix, but only because Glauber kept pleading with us to include him. (Hi, Bob!)

And one national pundit even has the Jets in his Top 5. Like, really. Keep reading.

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: No. 6 (No. 8 last week)

Prisco's take: "At 4-1, Todd Bowles has his team off to a fast start. The defense is playing really well, and now faces a huge test in the Patriots."

NFL.com: No. 7 (No. 8 last week)

NFL.com's take: "Yet another win for Todd Bowles and company, who have quietly gotten off to a sturdy 4-1 start and are in sole possession of second place in the AFC East. (Does anyone care about being in sole possession of second place?) That Jets defense shook off a few Redskins impact plays before ultimately shutting the door in the second half. And Ryan Fitzpatrick added a sweet touchdown run in which he clocked about a 6.4-second 40. Still counts, man."

ESPN.com: No. 8 (No. 11 last week)

ESPN.com's take: "Chris Ivory is averaging an NFL-best 115.0 rushing yards per game this season. The Jets are 4-0 when Ivory is in the lineup (0-1 without him)."

Yahoo Sports: No. 8 (No. 7 last week)

Yahoo's take: "Not to be like a baseball team worried about innings pitched, but Chris Ivory has never had more than 198 carries in a season. He has 83 in four games played this year. If that average keeps up and he plays in all 11 remaining games, that would be 311 carries. Something to watch."

USA Today: No. 9 (No. 11 last week)

USA Today's take: "They've outgained all of their opponents this season, a stat that will be put to the test Sunday in Foxborough.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated and The MMQB: No. 5 (No. 9 last week)

King got all fancy and did a video take:

Bob Glauber, Newsday: No. 7 (No. 8 last week)

Glauber's take: "Todd Bowles has the Jets off to a remarkable start, as the they've already equaled last year's win total. The Jets overcame a sluggish start, due in part to some bye week rust, and dominated Washington in the second half. Now we see how good the Jets really are: They're on the road on Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots."

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Even Bill Simmons, New England Patriots fanboy, is 'worried' about Jets (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 20, 2015

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http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/even_bill_simmons_new_england_patriots_fanboy_is_w.html#incart_river

The biggest indication yet that the Jets might be for real? No less than Bill Simmons—the Grantland founder and multimedia personality whose HBO show debuts next spring—is showing them some love heading into Sunday's Jets-Patriots game in Foxborough.

Simmons, of course, is a loud and proud Boston sports fanboy.

But ...

"The Jets might be good," he acknowledged on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" this week.

"No, I'm a little worried. I'm a little worried. Oh, yeah. You know me; I'm always honest with the Pats. We're down to our fourth-string right tackle, and our second-string right tackle is now the left tackle. Why shouldn't I be worried?"

The 4-1 Jets will bring a dominant defense—all four of their victories have been by at least 13 points—and a balanced offense to Gillette Stadium on Sunday to face the 5-0 Pats. First place in the AFC East hangs in the balance.

"You know, Ryan Fitzpatrick is due for a Ryan Fitzpatrick game—it has not happened yet," Simmons said of the Jets' quarterback, who has the fifth-best Total QBR (76.6) in the NFL this season.

"But, I will say, remember the years when you would never have a Jets guy on your fantasy team? And now, [wide receiver Brandon] Marshall, [wide receiver Eric] Decker, and [running back] Chris Ivory, those guys are actually doing stuff.

"So I think the Jets are back," Simmons said.

That said, Simmons was not ready to concede the division—at least not yet.

"They might," he said of the Jets, "be a wild-card team."

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Praise still piling up for Jets running back Chris Ivory (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 20, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-praise-piling-rb-chris-ivory-article-1.2405119

Brandon Marshall isn’t the only one heaping praise on Chris Ivory.

After the Jets’ running back has exploded onto the scene with back-to-back 140-plus-yard performances, he is suddenly yet another star on this talented Jets roster. And his running backs coach, Marcel Shipp, could not be more thrilled.

“I wouldn’t trade him for any running back in the league,” Shipp said.

Really? Not even Le’Veon Bell?

“I’m sold on Chris Ivory,” Shipp said. “I’d go to war with Chris Ivory, any day of the week. That’s how I honestly feel.”

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Ivory has been a solid back for a couple of years, but just five games into the season (and only four of which Ivory played in), it’s clear that this is his breakout campaign. And everyone across the league − from opposing linebackers to fantasy owners − has to be taking notice.

Ivory has racked up 460 yards and found pay dirt four times in his four games this season. He leads the league with 115 yards per game. And the impressive numbers don’t end there. He ranks third with 3.2 yards after contact per attempt, according to ProFootballFocus.com. And is ranked sixth with 18 missed tackles this season, again according to PFF, despite having played in two fewer games than some other running backs.

“Everyone knows that he’s a great talent but I think this year he’s really (coming) into his own,” Shipp said.

Ivory has had a long road to stardom. He was recruited and played for Washington State from 2006-08, though he only had 91 rushes in that span. Bill Doba, the Washington State head coach when Ivory first arrived, has fond memories of the quiet running back.

“I was the head coach at that time, and I was (previously) a linebackers coach,” Doba said. “And I wanted him to be a linebacker in the worst way.”

He thought Ivory had potential, he said, but a lot of kids have potential.

“I didn’t know he would be this good, to be honest with you,” he said.

After Doba left Washington State, Ivory was dismissed from the program for an undisclosed violation of team rules in 2009. He was later charged with felony assault, with the alleged incident occurring shortly before he was dismissed from the team. That charge was ultimately dismissed.

He ended up transferring to Tiffin, a Division II school, and went undrafted before signing with the Saints. He had a strong rookie campaign in 2010 − 716 yards and five touchdowns on 137 attempts − before failing on the depth in 2011-2012.

In 2013, he was traded to the Jets for a fourth-round pick in one of the few moves by John Idzik that paid off.

“Steal,” Shipp said of the trade.

Back when Shipp joined the Jets in the offseason, he sat down to watch every play Ivory was on the field on from a season ago. At the time, he thought to himself, “‘We have something here. We have a great back here. No really knows that.’”

Ivory impressed on the practice field, getting around the edge quicker than one might have expected given his size. And then in a preseason game against Atlanta, he changed direction on a 33-yard touchdown run that really impressed Shipp.

“And that’s when I said, ‘OK, we’ve got something special.’”

Shipp’s favorite memory of Ivory is his latest, when the back dominated Washington in the Jets’ win at home on Sunday. Intent on stopping Ivory from running up the middle, Washington crowded the box, but the Jets’ back just ran around them.

“He’s 230, he moves like he’s 210 pounds,” Shipp said. “He can make every cut on the field.”

DON'T I KNOW YOU?

Darrelle Revis is facing his old team on Sunday, and Tom Brady recognized just how tough it is to go against the Jets cornerback again.

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“He’s got, obviously, an intimate knowledge of how we do things, and kind of the skill set of our players and (our) formations, and vice versa,” Brady said on WEEI. “I know how he likes to play things. His play style is very similar to what it’s always been.”

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Brady added. “Some of those players you play against where you go, ‘God, how did they know it was going to be this route, or that?”

Bill Belichick, meanwhile, downplayed Revis’ time in New England, noting that there are former Patriots on many different teams that they play.

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Five rules for the Jets on how to beat the Patriots (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News October 19, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-rules-jets-beat-patriots-article-1.2403585

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to beating the Patriots comes with explicit instructions that should help the Jets foil their eternal nemesis in Foxborough on Sunday.

The key chapters include feeding a beast, slowing down a giant, exploiting a vulnerable bunch of fat guys, seeking divine intervention and avoiding sheer stupidity.

Full disclosure: There’s no time-tested way to solve the riddle of Tom Brady. He’s an unstoppable, age-defying force.

So, Todd Bowles’ team must figure out how to take away Brady’s helpers and exploit a pedestrian New England defense. His even-keeled mindset has had a trickle-down effect on what used to be a bulletin-board infested week (at least from one side) for years under Rex Ryan.

Bowles swears that the weekly routine will be no different no matter how much hype swirls around a divisional matchup between his 4-1 team and the 5-0 reigning Super Bowl champs.

“Winning this game is not going to make us,” Bowles said. “Losing this game is not going to break us.”

There’s a distinct Patriots-esque robotic feel to all of it, but make no mistake: The Jets can topple their bitter rivals by following some simple guidelines. Here are five tips for an organization that has lost seven of eight against the NFL’s Evil Empire.

-Just give Chris Ivory the Damn Ball.

The Jets became the first team in league history last October to control the clock for at least 40 minutes, rush for at least 200 yards, commit no turnovers… and still lose. Ryan punched a wall in anger after the 27-25 defeat in Foxborough.

Ivory rushed for 107 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown that night. Bowles has been careful not to overwork him, but this a game when the running back should get 25-30 touches. Maybe more.

The Patriots’ run defense, frankly, emits a foul odor. Not even Bill Belichick’s genius can mask the deficiencies. Only three teams allow more yards per carry than New England’s 4.8. Ivory has racked up 312 yards on the ground the past two games.

-Double, triple, quadruple or quintuple-team Rob Gronkowski

Gronk is a 6-6, 265-pound mountain of a man, if he’s a man at all. He’s more of an animal than a human. So, what can Bowles & Co. do to neutralize him?

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The simple solution would be to parade an attractive female out there to distract the party-going tight end, but that’s not permissible. Then again, NFL officials might not know the rules.

Otherwise, the Jets will have to bracket Gronk and throw varying looks at him. There shouldn’t be a single snap when the All-Pro tight end is locked up in one-on-one coverage with no help, because there is no single defender who can cover him.

-Exploit the Patriots’ porous offensive line:

Brady is a magician, but he still hasn’t been able to pull out a good offensive line out his hat this season. Thanks to a spate of injuries, the current collection of guys protecting the organization’s most valuable asset is fugazi.

New England already had a reshuffled interior line. Now, the tackles are in flux. Starting left tackle Nate Solder’s season-ending biceps injury two weeks ago opened the door for backup Marcus Cannon, who suffered a toe injury Sunday. New England moved right tackle Sebastian Vollmer to the left side and inserted former practice squader Cam Fleming.

Bowles classifies the season as 16 one-round fights. Well, Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams versus the Patriots’ offensive line is like Smokin’ Joe Frazier versus a tomato can.

-Pray that Buster Skrine passes his concussion tests in a hurry:

The Jets need Skrine, who is in the concussion protocol after getting hit during a pick play against Washington, to be ready to go. Skrine’s ability to cover Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola in the slot will be essential to slowing down the league’s second-ranked passing attack.

Brady loves quick crossing routes and pick plays to his shifty receivers. Skrine has the skillset to minimize the damage. Marcus Williams (hamstring) is also a question mark, which could mean disaster. If Skrine and Williams are out, Brady will pick on Dex McDougle. It could get ugly.

-Don’t pull a Pagano:

The Colts’ fake punt fiasco against the Patriots on Sunday night will be remembered as one of the dumbest decisions in the history of pro sports.

Bowles is too smart to out-smart himself, but he should probably double check with special teams coach Bobby April to make sure that the Swinging Gate is closed.

The rules are clear. The divide between the Patriots and Jets isn’t cavernous.

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets' Bryce Petty ends Pizzagate debacle (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 20, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/jets-bryce-petty-ends-pizzagate-debacle/zsJojt---831PUyhAtL2cQ/

He won’t go so far as to say it was a little slice of heaven but the rookie mistake of New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty has now been rectified. He’s finally had pizza from the epicenter of the food.

Cross off Bryce Petty’s bucket list a slice of Jersey pizza, the rookie partaking of the delicacy a couple weeks ago and loving it. There was original cause for concern when Petty, during preseason, tweeted about

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Domino’s pizza. In the New York metropolitan area, that’s tantamount to criticizing the Pope in the Vatican; you simply don’t crave chain pizza when you’re in Jersey. You just don’t.

He says he’s still getting tweets about ‘Pizzagate’, even two months removed the whole, terrible controversy. Fans are overwhelming his mentions with suggestions for places to grab a slice.

A couple weeks ago, Petty went to Nonna’s Pizza in Florham Park, just a few minutes from the Jets facility. In July, Nonna’s was a pick of Metro for fans traveling to the team facility for training camp to get some food. There is routinely a line out the door of the place come dinner time and it is a favorite among players in the locker room.

“I had a pepperoni slice,” Petty told Metro in an exclusive interview on this bold subject. “Just one.”

Petty said it was a great slice and while he wouldn’t take a jab at Domino’s, the pizza he grew up eating, a bite of Nonna’s and Jersey pizza won him over.

“I understand what the fuss is about. It was really good,” Petty said. “You can see the care they put into it. People here are crazy for their pizza, I understand it. I’m passionate about my food too. It was good to finally have a slice from around here though. I enjoyed it. I’ll be going back.”

Nonna’s has a four-star ranking on both Yelp and Foursquare.

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TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Claimed RHP Vance Worley off waivers from Pittsburgh. Designated RHP Jorge Rondon for assignment.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Released RHP Logan Kensing.

National League

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Assigned OFs Kelly Dugan, Brian Bogusevic and Domonic Brown and C Tommy Joseph to Lehigh Valley (IL).

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

BROOKLYN NETS — Waived G Ryan Boatright, F Quincy Miller and C Chris Daniels.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS —Waived C Robert Upshaw and G Michael Frazier II.

UTAH JAZZ — Waived G Bryce Cotton and F Traveon Graham.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

ARIZONA CARDINALS — Terminated-injury settlement DB Chris Clemons.

ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed LB Philip Wheeler. Released S Charles Godfrey.

BUFFALO BILLS — Placed WR Marquise Goodwin on injured reserve. Signed OT Jordan Mills. Released QB Dustin Vaughan from the practice squad. Signed WR Titus Davis to the practice squad.

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CLEVELAND BROWNS — Waived RB Shaun Draughn. Released DB Ty Zimmerman from the practice squad. Signed LB Jayson DiManche from Kansas City’s practice squad and TE Brian Leonhardt to the practice squad.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Released LB Dakorey Johnson and RB Gus Johnson from the practice squad. Signed LB Darius Eubanks and DT Casey Walker to the practice squad.

DENVER BRONCOS — Waived RB Kapri Bibbs. Signed TE Richard Gordon.

DETROIT LIONS — Placed RB Zach Zenner on injured reserve. Signed RB George Winn from their practice squad. Released G Taylor Boggs. Signed RB Marion Grice and WR Ryan Spadola to the practice squad.

INFIANAPOLIS COLTS — Signed CB Tony Carter. Signed QB Matt Blanchard to the practice squad.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Released WR Kenny Cook from the practice squad. Signed WR Fred Williams to the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATROITS — Signed OL Brennan Williams to the practice squad.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Waived TE Jerome Cunningham. Signed DB Brandon McGee from the practice squad.

NEW YORK JETS — Signed WR Kenbrell Thompkins from the practice squad. Signed CB Jeremy Harris to the practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Re-signed S Taylor Mays. Placed DE Justin Tuck on injured reserve.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Placed OT Kelvin Beachum on injured reserve. Signed OT Byron Stingily.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS — Waived OT Michael Ola.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Waived CB Crezdon Butler. Placed LB Brock Coyle on injured reserve-return. Re-signed C Lemuel Jeanpierre. Activated FB Derrick Coleman.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Waived DT Derrick Lott from the practice squad. Signed CBs Keon Lyn and Dax Swanson and OT Martin Wallace to the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Agreed to terms with C-G Joe Looney. Placed C Brian Schwenke on injured reserve.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Signed RB Mack Brown to the practice squad. Released LB Nico Johnson from the practice squad.

Canadian Football League

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed DL Ethan Farmer, RB B.J. Catalon and WR Spencer Davis.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

CAROLINA HURRICANES — Recalled D Rasmus Rissanen from Charlotte (AHL).

COLORADO AVALANCHE — Reassigned RW Borna Rendulic to San Antonio (AHL).

American Hockey League

AHL — Suspended Wilkes-Barre/Scranton LW Kael Mouillierat two games for an illegal check to the head of an opponent in an Oct. 17 game vs. Lehigh Valley.

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS — Recalled Fs Kevin Goumas, Brandon Alderson and Derek Mathers from Reading (ECHL).

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SOCCER

National Women’s Soccer League

NWSL — Announced the addition of the Orlando Pride for the 2016 season. Named Tom Sermanni coach.

ECHL

READING ROYALS — Signed F Adam Berkle.

TOLEDO WALLEYE — Traded F Stephan Vigier to South Carolina for future considerations.

COLLEGE

FLORIDA GULF COAST — Named Tome Scott director of athletics advancement.

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