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

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Last Monday night, one of the worst offenses in the NFL scored 12 points in the final four minutes on the Patriots' defense. The New England secondary -- riddled by injuries -- perhaps was coming undone. If Miami could do that with A.J. Feeley at the wheel, what would the 10-4 Jets and Chad Pennington do to the Pats DBs?

For 50 minutes and 48 seconds yesterday, they did nothing at all. The Patriots secondary, aided by a tenacious pass rush and playing with self-confidence that didn't even hint at Monday's collapse, made Pennington look pedestrian. He was 6-for-12 for 68 yards with an interception at halftime and 9-for-15 for 93 yards after three quarters. His first throw of the fourth quarter was picked off by Eugene Wilson and returned to the Jets' 15. A touchdown that made it 23-0 soon followed, effectively sealing the outcome.

Pennington managed a garbage-time scoring drive that resulted in a touchdown pass to Santana Moss with 9:32 left, but the Patriots ended any hopes of a comeback when Rosevelt Colvin sacked Pennington with 2:25 left and Jarvis Green recovered the fumble.

"We were anxious to get back out and play," said safety Rodney Harrison. "People were doubting us; every time you read the paper you saw it. You're going to have bad outings. I had a bad outing. But it's how you respond. We did a good job. (Secondary coach Eric Mangini ) did a great job preparing us and guys stepped up their game. We focused on communicating. We said, 'Let's play better and make it happen.' We're sticking together and believing in one another."

Credit goes to the New England pass rush for sacking Pennington three times and pressuring him frequently. It also goes to the linebackers, like Tedy Bruschi, who ended the Jets first drive with an interception. But a more noteworthy nod goes to the defensive backs for playing smart, fundamental football.

Consider that the Patriots were once again without starters Ty Law (who made the trip but was inactive) and Tyrone Poole (injured reserve), that rookie Randall Gay didn't make the trip because of his arm injury and that Asante Samuel is playing despite a shoulder injury. Another safety, Dexter Reid, didn't make the trip either. Earthwind Moreland and wide receiver Troy Brown were the only two healthy "corners."

To compensate, the Pats started safety Eugene Wilson and Samuel at corner, Harrison at strong safety and linebacker/safety Don Davis at safety.

The Patriots have started six corners this season, tied for the highest total in the league with the Bears and 49ers. Beat-up secondaries get most teams beat. The Patriots keep flying in the face of that logic, even when it appears they're starting to slip.

The idea in the secondary yesterday was to keep Jets receivers like Moss and Justin McCareins in front of them. Don't get beat for big plays.

"(Pennington) hit dump-off passes but he didn't hit deep passes, in-cuts," said Harrison. "Anytime you play against a pretty good quarterback you can't give up deep throws. As a secondary, we came together."

Actions speak louder

Corey Dillon , resplendent in purple pants, jacket and shirt after yesterday's 23-7 win over the Jets, begged out of speaking with the media after the game, but his stylings during the game said quite a lot.

Dillon ran for 89 yards -- 65 in the second half -- and broke the Patriots single-season rushing mark of Curtis Martin (1,487) with a 9-yard run in the third quarter. He has 1,519 yards this season after 14 games (he was inactive in Pittsburgh) and he should hit 1,600 if he has his normal game next week against the Niners.

Aside from the impact he's made on this team -- and he's arguably the team MVP this season -- he's also putting money in his pocket with his performances.

Dillon, who agreed to an incentive-laden, $660,000 deal, has now earned $1.75 million by hitting yardage thresholds.

Very strong defense

A pair of Patriots security guards in the locker room kept defensive end Richard Seymour off-limits to the media after the game. The outside of Seymour's lower left leg was landed on during the third quarter by Jets offensive lineman Kevin Mawae Squib kicks

The Patriots added to their NFL record streak of scoring first when Adam Vinatieri hit a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. New England has now scored first in 23 games including the playoffs. . . . Vinatieri's field goal was the first time in four games that he's been called upon. He had three. He missed a 50-yarder at the end of halftime after Tully Banta-Cain recovered a kickoff that glanced off of Jets' B.J. Askew. The miss was just the second of the season for Vinatieri and snapped a streak of 23 in a row. . . . Daniel Graham 's touchdown was his seventh of the season. He caught five in the first four games and was held scoreless until last week when he caught one in Miami. . . . The Jets retired the number of defensive line great Joe Klecko at halftime yesterday. His son, Dan, a linebacker/fullback for the Patriots who's on injured reserve, was allowed on the field for the ceremony.

Tribute to White

Bill Belichick on NFL great Reggie White, who died unexpectedly yesterday: "I thought Reggie was an awesome (player). I coached against him in his prime, recruited him in Cleveland in 1993 when free agency started and I got a chance to meet him and his family, and my condolences go out to them. It's tragic for a person that young and talented who contributed not just to football but all causes (to die). It's sad to lose someone who contributed as many positive things as Reggie did."