FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis didn’t record a pick-six, he didn’t intercept a pass and he didn’t have a perfect game against his former team, the New York Jets. There were no fireworks with Rex Ryan or testy moments against the team he spent six seasons with.
Revis shut out the noise while experiencing this rivalry in a Patriots jersey for the first time and picked up what was most important -- a win.
“The only thing I was really focused about was getting this win today,” Revis said. “It was a tough game for us and it came down to the end. Good teams win these tough games, and we stuck in there as a team and we fought strong together.
“It’s just football to me. It doesn’t make a difference. An away game is an away game. A home game is a home game with a rivalry. It doesn’t matter where you play -- it’s the same thing.”
Before the game, all eyes were on Revis. Patriots Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law, a hometown friend of Revis's from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, who also spent time with the Jets in his NFL career, offered words of encouragement. Even Pat Patriot, the Patriots’ mascot, was wearing a Revis jersey. The crowd roared when Revis was announced during the starting lineups.
When the game started, Revis had a chance to make an early statement as he jumped a route run by Eric Decker, but Geno Smith delivered a perfect pass over the outstretched hand of Revis.
“Great throw by Smith,” Revis said. “I undercut it. If he were to throw it any other way, it would have been going the other way. I was on it like a hawk.”
Revis was itching to make the huge play against his former team.
“I was there,” Revis said. “Sometimes it’s a game of inches. He threw it right at the out-of-bounds line. It was right there. It was a game of inches. I was that close.”
Revis was inches away from making a highlight-reel play, which could have been the ultimate revenge along his former team’s sideline. But the win speaks louder for Revis.
Asked if there was anything personal about this game, Revis said, “No. A win is a win. I’m excited for this team. We are 5-2.”
After the game, Revis interacted with former teammates David Harris, Kyle Wilson and Darrin Walls and his former defensive backs coach and current Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman. Revis did not talk to Ryan or have any interaction with him.
“No, no,” Revis said when asked if spoke to Ryan. “I talked to a bunch of other players and coaches on the Jets and my former coaches. No, I didn’t talk to him.
“I built a lot of relationships with a lot of staff members there, a lot of former teammates and coaches as well. I still have the relationships. It’s competition, but at the same time, it’s life after football. And I will still probably have those relationships when I’m done playing ball.”
On a night when revenge and getting the best of his old team could have upstaged all else, Revis didn’t let it. He put the team first.
“To me, it’s football, it really doesn’t matter,” Revis said. “I’ve been on two sides. It’s been two different experiences. And this experience right here is that we came out with a win.”
