EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Observed and heard in the New York Jets' locker room after their 17-16 loss to the New England Patriots:
This time, Rex Ryan didn't punch a wall, as he did after the Week 7 loss to the Patriots. He blew off most of his frustration at his postgame news conference, delivering an unusually blunt assessment of Geno Smith, who made two critical mistakes in the second half -- an interception and a third-down sack.
"Pretty dang critical," Ryan said of Smith's sack, which forced Nick Folk to try a 52-yard field goal that was partially blocked. "That's something you have to learn from. You can't take a sack there, no matter who's in your face. Get rid of the football. You can't take sacks in those situations."
As for the interception, Ryan said, "He underthrew it. It was a poor throw."
Center Nick Mangold, who was carted off in the second quarter with an ankle injury, wore a walking boot and needed crutches to leave the stadium. X-rays of the ankle were negative, according to the Jets, but he will go for an MRI exam Monday to determine if there's ligament damage. Mangold refused to rule himself out of the season finale, although it seems like a stretch that he'll be able to play.
Replacement Dalton Freeman (one penalty) did a decent job, but he's no Mangold.
The team provided no update on wide receiver Percy Harvin (ribs), who didn't play in the second half. That forced the Jets to adjust their game plan; they had hoped to use Harvin in a variety of roles. The durability questions that have hounded him throughout his career have resurfaced in recent weeks. Harvin has also battled an ankle injury.
Even though they had nothing at stake, this was an important game for the Jets. They badly wanted to beat their No. 1 rival.
"This was going to be our Super Bowl for this season," safety Calvin Pryor said.
Defensive end Sheldon Richardson took solace in the performance of the defense, which sacked Tom Brady four times and limited him to 182 passing yards. Asked to describe how the defensive line fared, Richardson said, "Feasting. We had a feast out there."
Ryan echoed that sentiment.
"I don't know if it's really possible to control Brady," he said. "If not, we're the team that always gives him the biggest challenge, whether he admits it or not."
