Brady On Playoff Loss To Jets: 'We're A Different Team'
BOSTON (CBS) – The New England Patriots are a team with a short memory.
They have already put their 31-19 win over the Oakland Raiders in the rear-view mirror, along with the other three games this season.
"3-1 is good, but we need to move on and get better every week," tight end Rob Gronkowski said earlier this week.
In their sights now, the New York Jets.
The last time the two teams met, the outcome was less than desirable for New England. The Jets derailed any hopes for another Super Bowl run by the Patriots, ending their postseason just as it began with a 28-21 defeat in Foxboro.
That game, of course, is also in the past and out of their mind.
"That was a long time ago, so that game doesn't have much bearing on this week," said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday. "We're a different team."
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The Patriots are a different team. Most of their defense is gone, with James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather and Darius Butler. Chad Ochocinco, despite not making much of an impact, is now one of Brady's targets.
While the Jets come to Foxboro struggling, Brady knows he is going up against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
"As long as Rex (Ryan) is coaching the team, they'll have a good defense. They lead the league in pass defense. They have a bunch of good corners. They're fast, playmakers. It's one of the best defenses we'll play all year," said Brady.
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Corner Darrelle Revis has a lot to do with that. The shut-down corner makes it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find their favorite target.
Luckily for Brady, his favorite target is whoever gets open. In the event whoever Revis covers does get open, the Patriots quarterback will not shy away from throwing the All-Pro corner's way.
"We kind of just call our plays and whoever he lines up on he lines up on," Brady said of Revis. "If the guy gets open he gets the ball, as we've shown. If he doesn't someone else gets the ball."
The Jets come to town riding a two-game losing streak. They were embarrassed Sunday night by the Baltimore Ravens to the tune of 34-17, a game in which Mark Sanchez lost three fumbles and threw an interception. Two of the fumbles and the pick were returned for a touchdown.
Starting the season 2-2 is not what the Jets had planned, so the Patriots will be getting a team very anxious to pick up a W.
"They're coming here hungry," said Gronkowski. "We're going to have to be prepared, play hard. We're going to have to have everyone has to be on the same page. We're going to try our best to come out with a victory at the end of Sunday evening."
Tune in to the Patriots-Jets game Sunday at 4:15 pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Tune in to Patriots Gameday at 11:30am on WBZ-TV and The Sports Hub's pregame coverage, beginning at 1:00 pm. After the game tune in to the Postgame show on 98.5, and to Patriots Fifth Quarter on MY TV38.
