There were plenty of words exchanged between Darrelle Revis and Randy Moss on Sunday.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson

FOXBORO — Darelle Revis won his battle, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a Jets loss in the latest Border War.

In the days leading up to Sunday’s Patriots-Jets rematch, there was some talk from both sides about how Revis covered Moss in the September meeting. Revis claimed he held Moss to four catches for 24 yards entirely on his own, while Bill Belichick countered that Revis had safety help over the top for much of the game.

The last man to talk, Moss, said on Friday that he wasn’t big on talking, but that Revis had “better back it up” come Sunday. And he did.

Moss had 5 receptions for 34 yards, his 6.8 yards per carry a sharp contrast to the 15.4 YPC he’s averaged this season, though he did have a 4-yard touchdown catch, his eighth score of the season. Twice in the first quarter, Tom Brady looked for Moss deep on sideline routes, and twice Revis was with Moss stride-for-stride, knocking the ball away.

The third-year corner, whom Rex Ryan has said repeatedly this season is the best at his position in the NFL, was one of the few players to get praise after the loss.

“Revis did a great job on Randy Moss, just like last time,” Ryan said. “He’s one guy who actually won his battle.”

“I did the best I could,” Revis said. “I know I was going to be matched up on him like I was in the first game and he did score a touchdown, but that was a play right there where it was a timing pattern. Things happen quickly down there.”

A first-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2007, Revis expected that Brady and Moss would challenge him, and he welcomed it.

“That was great. I love competition like that. They tried to do a flea-flicker and Moss tried to catch me sleeping, but that’s football,” he said. “They try to bring the best out of you and it was great.”

While each had a few words before the game, Revis said neither he nor Moss are big trash talkers on the field, so they didn’t say much to one another.

Moss made a hasty exit after the game, not talking with reporters.

Falling down on the job

While Revis took another step toward solidifying his status as one of the game’s elite cornerbacks, teammate Mark Sanchez took another step backwards.

Sanchez threw four more interceptions — he now has 14 in the Jets’ six losses against only two in their four wins — and connected on just 8 of 21 pass attempts for a miniscule 38.1 completion percentage.

For the season, the fifth overall pick in the draft is completing 52.1 percent of his passes.

But Sanchez, whose fast start to the season had media terming him the “Sanchise,” made no excuses for his poor play.

“I felt comfortable with my throws, maybe almost too confident,” Sanchez said. “Trying to do too much and create when things weren’t there. I can’t put the ball at risk on offense, I can’t afford to do that and go out on my own when a play is broken down. You just need to say ‘uncle’ and end the play and be smart with the football.”

If Sanchez looks to his teammates to give him a little boost, he may want to avoid guard Brandon Moore. When asked about keeping Sanchez’s spirits up after the loss, Moore said, “I’m just trying to keep myself up. He’s got a coach that will help him with that situation.”

At the top of the hit list

Reserve tackle Mark LeVoir delivered a crushing hit to New York defensive back Donald Strickland in the second quarter, blocking on a screen pass to Wes Welker. The replay drew lots of wows in the press box, as the 6-foot-7 LeVoir ran clean into the 5-foot-10 Strickland, who left the game with a concussion.

LeVoir said he was just doing his job on the play.

The Notre Dame product has generally been used as an extra blocker since coming off the PUP list in Week Seven, but on Sunday he played several snaps at left tackle after Sebastian Vollmer left the game in the second quarter with a head injury.

Vollmer did return to the game in the second half.

One that got away

Pats’ punter Chris Hanson, who has been at or near the bottom of the league in terms of net and gross yardage all season, had a first-half punt blocked by the Jets’ Eric Smith and returned for a touchdown by Brad Smith.

“We had enough to block it,” Bill Belichick said. “Obviously, we didn’t get it done. (Eric) Smith’s a good rusher. He’s one of the best rush guys, but we just didn’t … we’ve got to coach it better, we’ve got to block it better.”

It was the first time this season Hanson has had a kick blocked.

smanza@projo.com