01:00 AM EST on Monday, December 27, 2004

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Picture Jason Varitek taking over for Johnny Damon in center field, or Raef LaFrentz playing the point for the Celtics.

Don Davis is an inside linebacker, for crying out loud. He's not supposed to be playing free safety. Not at 32 years old, and carrying 235 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame.

Truth be told, he's not really supposed to be playing anywhere other than on special teams, which is where he saw almost all of his action last season for the Patriots.

But with three cornerbacks sidelined by injuries, necessitating the shift of the regular free safety to the right corner, and the backup free safety also hurting and out of action, guys play where they have to play and do what they have to do.

"I never thought I'd ever play free safety," said Davis, who has played for four teams in his nine years in the NFL.

He'd already been cut by two teams -- the Jets and Chiefs -- before he ever played his first NFL game, for the Saints in 1996.

But there he was yesterday afternoon, filling in once again at free safety, helping to hold the fort with Tyrone Poole on the injured reserve list and Ty Law, Randall Gay, and Dexter Reid all inactive.

"We weren't sure all week who was going to play and who wasn't," Davis said.

Yet the Patriots and their injury-riddled secondary held the Jets -- who'd racked up 37 points last Sunday against the Seahawks while winning for the fourth time in five games and improving their record to 10-4 -- scoreless yesterday for the first 50 minutes, and to just one touchdown for the game.

"That says a lot about the character of this team," Davis said.

It also tells you why the Patriots are champions. Why they

have won two of the last three Super Bowls, and now are two playoff wins away from going to Jacksonville to defend their title. Why New England fans should be proud of this football team.

On a cold, dark, December afternoon that proved bracing for the Patriots but bitter for the Jets, the patchwork Pats put on a performance that had to be heartwarming to fans watching on TV back in New England.

Especially to those faint-of-heart fans who were worried about the future of the franchise following Monday night's bizarre, completely-out-of-character meltdown in Miami.

"It's always difficult," strong safety Rodney Harrison said, "when you don't have your starters. We were missing (starting corners) Ty Law and Tyrone Poole -- guys who mean a lot to this team. The corner spot is probably the hardest position to play on defense.

"But you have to adjust. You work with what you have and keep on fighting."

What Davis has is experience, intelligence, and heart.

"I'm not what you'd call a 'Pro Bowl-type' safety," Davis said with a smile. "But I'm able to contribute. I do what I'm asked to do, and do it effectively.

"I'm an older, veteran guy who's been in a lot of different defenses. I've seen a lot of plays. It comes down to having enough speed to cover.

"It's also a credit to the coaching staff," Davis added. "They do a great job preparing us, teaching the proper techniques."

"The coaches," Harrison concurred, "do a great job communicating to the players what we need to do.

"As banged up as we were, to keep a team like the Jets out of the end zone until the fourth quarter was a real commendable job by these guys."

It was more than merely commendable. It was admirable -- in large part because, before the game, it seemed implausible.

"I'm really proud of our football team," Pats coach Bill Belichick said. "The guys did a great job of bouncing back. They stepped up and showed a lot of toughness and played a pretty solid football game.

"It was a good effort by the entire team. It's a lot to defend out there with the Jets. You've got the running game. They've got good receivers. We needed good play all across the board. We had a lot of people step up -- too many to single anyone out."

He's right, of course.

Credit should be shared by the likes of Corey Dillon, who ran for 89 yards on 29 carries on his way to setting a club single-season rushing record, and Tom Brady, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception.

Also by Deion Branch, who made seven catches, including one for a touchdown; Patrick Pass, who had five receptions; and tight end David Graham, who caught a 16-yarder for the Pats' first TD. And by the offensive line that made all of the above possible.

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi had an interception to go with a team-high eight tackles. Eugene Wilson, who moved from his customary spot at free safety to cornerback, also picked off a pass.

But if you want to single out one guy who typifies this tough, talented, and resilient Patriots team, let it be Davis, who made three tackles and was credited with breaking up a pass on an afternoon when the Jets, battling to lock up a playoff spot, could have been expected to throw the ball all over the field.

"I'm thankful," said Davis, "they have confidence in me. This has been an awesome year."