Kevin Faulk Undergoing 'Tests'

Bill Belichick told Ian Rapoport that Patriots running back Kevin Faulk was undergoing tests for an unspecified injury Monday.

Faulk was in obvious pain after a seemingly routine tackle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Jets, and would not return to the game. It wasn’t clear how exactly Faulk was injured, and he walked off the field under his own power, but as Rapoport pointed out, it’s not a good sign that these tests were mentioned at all.

If Faulk does miss any significant amount of time, the Patriots will find themselves with very little depth at running back, with just the young BenJarvus Green-Ellis and the fragile combo of Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris left to handle the ground-game duties.

Patriots-Jets: Tom Brady: 'We Just Sucked'

Since we already offered reaction and postgame analysis from Pats Pulpit, it seems only fair to include what Tom Brady had to say after Sunday's loss to the Jets, too. And his words were a bit more succinct.

We couldn't do anything in the second half. We had a hard time gaining yards there. We didn't do anything on third down, couldn't gain anything on first or second down. We couldn't run it. We couldn't throw it. We just sucked. I think that's what it came down to.

Patriots-Jets: Pats Pulpit On New England's 'Lackluster Performance' In The Second Half

The Patriots built a 14-10 lead, complete with a highlight-reel touchdown, and were in control for a key victory over their divisional rival. And then the second half happened.

The Jets blanked the Pats in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring them 18-0 in the second frame. Pats Pulpit has more on New England's "especially lackluster performance":

Tom Brady was inaccurate, he kept missing throws left and right (literally).  He also stopped spreading the ball around.  It seemed that every time he dropped back to pass, he would try to force a pass to Randy Moss, who was always double covered.  It was painful to watch and led to two interception.  The Patriots also abandoned the run in the 2nd half.  Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis were ineffective.  The only yards the Patriots were able to manage on the ground came on Kevin Faulk draw plays.  Once the Patriots finally got things rolling and began to spread the ball around, the Patriots were down 28-14 with five minutes left.  With the Patriots approaching the end zone, Matt Light (who had a good day overall), was absolutely burned by Jason Taylor, who hit Brady and forced a fumble that was recovered by Bryan Thomas of the Jets, essentially ending the game.

And that's just scratching the surface, really. Richard Hill's analysis goes further, and points out how the playcalling is "awful" (on both sides of the ball), the terrible game from second-year back Darius Butler and the general ineffectiveness of Tom Brady.

Brady needs to stop playing stupid. He's going 2007 and airing out the ball, except he doesn't have the 2007 accuracy. I'm going to keep harping on Brady. I said leading up to the game that I'd rather see Brady not throw the ball over 25 yards, as long as he was accurate on passes that were 15 yards down the field. He's fantastic on mid-range throws, but (I know he got a touchdown to Moss, but that was mostly Moss) he can't drop the ball in the hands of his receivers on big throws.

Though, it wasn't all bad for the Patriots.

If I took any positives from this game, it would probably be the play of three rookies, one team veteran and one newcomer veteran: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Gerard Warren, Tully Banta-Cain and Jermaine Cunningham.  Aaron Hernandez came up huge as a receiver/tight end.  He has good hands, is deceptively fast, and is very elusive after the catch.  Gerard Warren had two sacks in the game, and really looks like a solid pickup.  Tully Banta-Cain made a couple of nice plays against the run and had one sack, although he probably should have had two.  Rookie linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes also played well.  Spikes looked solid against the run and Cunningham got a couple of quarterback hurries (one of which led to a sack by Gerard Warren) and also had a couple of nice plays against the run.

Jets 28, Patriots 14: New York Shuts Out New England In Second Half for Win

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Mark Sanchez threw a career-high three touchdowns, and the New York Jets blanked the New England Patriots in the second half to come away with a 28-14 victory in a matchup of bitter AFC East rivals.

Sanchez threw for 220 yards on 21-of-30 efficiency and found Dustin Keller seven times for 115 yards and a score. Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery also hauled in a TD pass for the Jets (1-1), who scored 21 unanswered points to end the game.

Tom Brady ended with 248 yards on 20-of-36 throws but turned the ball over three times in the final 30 minutes with two interceptions and a lost fumble for New England (1-1), which was coming off a 38-24 win over Cincinnati.

Randy Moss, who was referred to as a "slouch" by Darrelle Revis after a pair of subpar performances against the All-Pro cornerback last year, hauled in a remarkable one-handed catch in the end zone to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter. Revis was defending Moss on the play and pulled up as the receiver blew by him, citing a hamstring injury as he exited the game for good.

The 34-yard TD, which was the 150th of Moss' illustrious career, came with 53 seconds left in the half, enough time for the Jets to get in field goal range for Nick Folk, who booted a 49-yarder just as the gun sounded.

The Jets continued the momentum swing when Antonio Cromartie intercepted a long pass intended for Moss at New York's own three-yard line early in the third quarter. Keller's 39-yard reception and runs of 14 and 11 yards by LaDainian Tomlinson set up Folk's 36-yard field goal with under five minutes to go in the frame, cutting New York's deficit to 14-13.

New England followed with its second three-and-out, and the Jets ate up huge chunks of yardage on the ensuing 70-yard drive. Tomlinson highlighted it by shedding a tackle at the line of scrimmage and running up the right sideline for 31 yards down to the New England four. After a gain of two, Sanchez connected with an open Cotchery in the back of the end zone.

Edwards came down with a two-point toss after the touchdown for a 21-14 cushion heading to the fourth.

The Jets failed to capitalize on Brodney Pool's acrobatic interception along the sideline near midfield on the first play of the final stanza, but after another quick New England punt, the Jets used a pair of defensive pass interference penalties to get inside the opposing 10-yard line.

Shonn Greene rushed twice to the one, and Sanchez, off his back foot, was able to find Keller for a pivotal TD with 6:09 remaining in the contest.

Jason Taylor then thwarted a promising Patriots drive by sacking Brady and forcing a fumble at the New York 25. David Harris recovered the loose ball with just over four minutes remaining, and the Jets ran out the clock to seal the victory, the team's second over their division foe in their last 10 home games.

New England burned 7 1/2 minutes off the clock on its first possession but failed to get any points. Stephen Gostkowski lined up for a 32-yard field goal, but an illegal formation pushed it back five yards and the kicker was wide left.

After a Jets punt, another lengthy march was aided by a personal foul penalty after an incomplete pass on third down. On 2nd-and-goal from the Jets' six -- the 15th play of the drive -- Brady hit Wes Welker on an out route and the receiver was able to reach the ball over the goal line early in the second.

The hosts answered with their own seven-minute drive, converting three third downs, including a jump ball that Edwards pulled down in the left corner of the end zone on 3rd-and-3 from the 10 with just over six minutes left before halftime.

These teams split last year's series...Moss has 149 receiving touchdowns and another on a punt return, joining Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Tomlinson as the only players with 150 career TDs...Tomlinson logged 76 yards on 11 carries, while Greene gained 52 on 15...Aaron Hernandez had a team-high 101 yards on six catches for New England...Moss and Welker each had 38 receiving yards.

Edelman Active For Jets - Patriots

Ian Rapoport has the Patriots’ inactive list for today’s game against the Jets:

Patriots inactives: Price, Wheatley, Fletcher, Maneri, Ojinnaka, Deaderick, Kaczur and Woodhead

Noticeably absent from the list is Julian Edelman, who missed the season opener with a foot injury.

Patriots Week 2 Injury Report: Kaczur and Wheatley Out, Edelman Questionable

Ian Rapoport has the final Patriots injury report for their matchup against the Jets.

Terrence Wheatley and, unsurprisingly, Nick Kaczur will both miss Sunday’s game. Kaczur isn’t expected to return any time soon following his back surgery, while Wheatley is battling a foot injury.

Julian Edelman, meanwhile, is listed as “questionable” with a foot injury of his own, while Fred Taylor has had no more problems with a toe injury, and will likely play for the Maroney-less Patriots.

Fred Taylor A Full-Go At Practice, Edelman Still Sidelined

After being limited in Wednesday's practice, Patriots running back Fred Taylor fully participated in practice Thursday. 

Taylor, who has been battling a toe injury, participated in practice without any pain and will likely play on Sunday against the Jets. Taylor will now take over as the team's definite starter after Laurence Maroney was traded to the Broncos earlier this week.

However, news wasn't as good for wide receiver Julian Edelman. 

Edelman, was held out of practice for the second straight day as he continues to battle a foot injury that he sustained in the preseason.

Both players were listed as "Questionable" on Thursday's Injury Report.

Did Not Participate in Practice
Nick Kaczur T (Back)
Terrence Wheatley CB (Foot)

Limited Participation in Practice
Julian Edelman WR (Foot)

Full Participation in Practice
Tom Brady QB (Right Shoulder)
Fred Taylor RB (Toe)

Talking's Done: AFC East Rivals Patriots And Jets Meet Sunday In Week 2

(Sports Network) - OK, it could have been a lot worse.

Instead of simply losing the opening game of a regular season that followed an unprecedentedly noisy summer, the New York Jets could have walked away from that loss in tatters.

They could have found out 24 hours later that mammoth nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who missed two-thirds of last season with a blown-out knee, had re- injured the very same part early in last Monday's game with the Baltimore Ravens and would be lost for yet another season -- possibly the last of a snake-bitten career.

And on top of the 10-9 defeat to the Ravens and the personnel loss, the Jets could have spent the early part of this week fielding questions from the media and the NFL about a recent unsavory run-in with a female reporter along the practice-field sidelines and in the locker room.

As the coup de grace, all of this turmoil could be occurring as the lead-in to a suddenly season-defining home game this Sunday with their most prolific and motivated opponent, the New England Patriots.

If all that were true...whew, it'd be a tough time to be Jets head coach Rex Ryan. And the problem for the leader of a fatalist Gang Green Nation...it all is.

"There was no rhythm. There was nothing," a crestfallen Ryan said in reference to the Week 1 debacle with Baltimore. "(Against) this team we're going up against, obviously we've got to find a way, because (New England) is going to score and we have to be able to score.

"I think we have the ability. I don't think theres any doubt. But we've got to find a way to convert on third down and keep drives alive. When you're 1- of-11 on third down you're not going to beat anybody. We've got to be better. If that's dialing things back, whatever, we'll search for an answer.

"We're obviously not going to go undefeated this year, but our goals remain the same.."

Not exactly the Week 2 pre-Patriot blather a success-starved North Jersey fan base had anticipated.

As for the Patriots, their 2010 debut could have hardly gone better.

Faced with a similarly brash 2009 playoff qualifier many observers had dubbed a potential AFC powerhouse for this season, Tom Brady and company surged to a 28-point lead after 31 minutes en route to a convincing 38-24 home defeat of the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

The three-time Super Bowl champion passer was in mid-year form, completing 25 throws to seven receivers for 258 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while outgunning a chronically-behind Carson Palmer, with the Cincinnati signal-caller forced to throw 50 times and getting picked off once for a touchdown.

"How can you not hear it? Of course we hear it," he said of the Jets' insistent summertime chatter. "We just go about our business a different way and a way that has worked for us. We typically don't say much. And when we do, we get yelled at pretty good (by head coach Bill Belichick).

"That doesn't seem that's the program the Jets are on. That's the way it is. What wins games is preparation and work and commitment and being on the same page with your teammates. That's why you win games. I can really make all the predictions in the world, but I got to go out there and play. That's what's important to us."

Aside from Jenkins, New York will be without linebacker Calvin Pace, who broke a foot in the preseason and is expected to return in Week 3 at the earliest. Additionally, safety Brodney Pool was limited in this week's practices with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday.

Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes, one of the team's prized offseason acquisitions, is serving the second of a four-game season-opening suspension.

For New England, offensive tackle Nick Kaczur and cornerback Terrence Wheatley were held out of practice with back and foot injuries, respectively, and are questionable for Sunday. Also questionable are running back Fred Taylor (toe) and wide receiver Julian Edelman (foot), while Brady himself is listed probable with an apparent right shoulder concern.

"I have always said that I think (Belichick) the best coach in the league," Ryan said, "Nut again, I'm here to beat him. It's not about my skills against his skills. We'd lose that. It's about his team and my team, and I have confidence in my team."

SERIES HISTORY

The Jets hold a 50-48-1 edge in the all-time regular season series with the Patriots, including a conventional split of last year's home-and-home. The Jets were 16-9 victors when the clubs met at the Meadowlands in Week 2 of last season, and the Pats returned the favor with a 31-14 rout at Gillette Stadium in Week 11. Prior to last year's loss in North Jersey, the Patriots had an eight-game road winning streak against the Jets.

The teams have also met twice in the postseason, including a 26-14 road victory for New England in a 1985 AFC First-Round Playoff and a 37-16 triumph for the Pats in a 2006 opening-round tilt.

Belichick has a career mark of 15-8 against the Jets, for whom he served as defensive coordinator from 1997 through 1999, including 14-7 while with New England. Ryan is 1-1 against both Belichick and the Pats as a head coach.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

Expect success -- especially in New Jersey, where New England has won eight of the last nine games between the teams. Belichick, who was to coach the Jets before an impromptu resignation at an introductory press conference in 1999, is 8-2 with the Patriots on the road against New York. Brady is 7-1 in road games in the series and has completed 159-of-253 passes for 1,802 yards, 12 touchdowns and a 93.4 passer rating. Back in a primary role after the mid-week trade that sent Laurence Maroney to Denver, Taylor averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 14 rushes against Cincinnati. On the outside, Randy Moss is a touchdown away from becoming the fourth receiver in NFL history to reach 150, while slot man Wes Welker tries to echo the career-bests of 15 catches and 192 yards he posted in the teams' most recent matchup last season. He scored twice against the Bengals last week, when tight end Rob Gronkowski scored his first career touchdown.

Statistically, the Jets fared well enough against the Ravens, allowing just two scores and 10 points in spite of a barrage of penalties. Situationally, however, they were consistently unsuccessful getting Baltimore off the field on third down and allowed 100-plus receiving yards to wideout Anquan Boldin in his AFC debut. Welker has presented similar problems in past meetings, as his 15-catch, 192-yard effort last season demonstrates. On the positive side, the Jets did force three turnovers (two fumbles and an interception) against the Ravens. Tackle Sione Pouha recovered both fumbles and will see more rotation time with Jenkins on the shelf. Linebacker Bryan Thomas had 1.5 sacks in the opener, while veteran newcomer Jason Taylor has a career-best 12 sacks against the Patriots. In the backfield, former San Diego corner Antonio Cromartie had an interception in his initial game with New York on Monday, and former holdout Darrelle Revis had an interception in last year's home victory over the Patriots.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

Expect, well...who knows? Sanchez used a Week 2 defeat of the Patriots last season as a "Welcome to the NFL" statement by completing 14-of-22 passes for 163 yards, a touchdown and a 101.1 passer rating in a 14-9 win, but would up with 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions on the season. His reviews after the Ravens game were universally bad after one New York converted just 1-of-11 third-down chances and produced an overall offensive output of just 176 yards. Similarly panned was running back Shonn Greene, who fumbled twice in his initial turn as the feature back after Thomas Jones' offseason departure to Kansas City. In his brief career, Greene has averaged five yards per carry against AFC foes (85 carries, 428 yards). Resurgent veteran LaDainian Tomlinson may have played his way into more time after racking up 62 yards on 11 carries against Baltimore. He's averaged 108.4 yards per game for his career against New England. Among the receivers, Braylon Edwards has a 17.1 yards-per-catch career average against the Patriots.

The non-Brady side of things for New England isn't quite as glittery. Though they played with the lead all game, the Patriots were gashed for 428 yards by the Bengals and allowed a 12-catch, 159-yard output from wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Opportunism saved the defensive day, however, as the Patriots mustered a pair of takeaways, including a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Gary Guyton that extended the team's advantage before halftime. Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain and tackle Myron Pryor shared the Patriots' only sack of Palmer, though Banta-Cain had a pair of sacks in his last meeting with the Jets. Safety Pat Chung and linebacker Jerod Mayo were the tackling leaders for the opening week, recording 16 (12 solo) and 12 (8 solo) stops, respectively. Palmer saw six of his 50 pass attempts deflected as well in addition to the one pick.

FANTASY FOCUS

Brady is a fantasy must-start even if none of his targets are remarkably prolific, because he'll spread the ball around enough to post good numbers. Welker also gets a nod this week for his matchup with the suddenly less- imposing non-Revis element of the Jets' coverage team. Look for kicker Stephen Gostkowski to get his points as well. For New York, Greene will probably get a chance to reassert himself against a sometimes balky New England run defense. And the Jets defense is a must-start most weeks, especially after forcing three turnovers in the otherwise-forgettable Baltimore outing.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

It's Week 2 and far too early for ship-jumping, yet it's not surprising that this game is already being framed as a serious test for the dizzied Jets. Two consecutive losses at home to start the schedule would be bad enough, but the combined mental blow it would deal to a team primed for far better things might be more impactful -- and more important to avoid. Expect Ryan to dig into an "everyone's turned against us" bag of motivational tricks to summon a turnaround against his teams signature foe.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Jets 20, Patriots 17