These are not Rex Ryan's Jets. And that could make all the difference on Sunday.
The brash trash-talk of recent years was noticeably absent in the locker room this week, although the rivalry between the Jets and Patriots is as intense as it ever was. And for the first time in a long time, the boys in green are playing for more than just pride.
A victory would ensure that the Jets (4-1) leave Foxborough tied with New England (5-0) atop the AFC East standings. It also would indicate that they might be the team most capable of knocking the Patriots off their perch.