Randy Moss may not be happy with his contract, but at least he appears to be motivated.
Moss will be looking to prove he deserves a long-term extension when the New England Patriots take on Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets on Sunday.
After a 38-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Moss took some time out in his postgame press conference to say he was “hurt” by the fact that he didn’t have a new deal and did not expect to be with the Patriots next season. But in a league where feeling disrespected is often used as the biggest motivation, Moss can prove at 33 that he still has a lot left in the tank if he can get the better of Revis.
A holdout throughout training camp, Revis got the long-term deal he was seeking from the Jets before the season opener and will be matched up against Moss whenever he is in the game on Sunday. Revis had little trouble defending the AFC East’s premier receiver in two games last season, holding Moss to nine catches for 58 yards and one touchdown combined.
Revis called Moss a “slouch” after the first matchup last season and did not back off those comments earlier this week.
While they may not have to worry about Revis, New York has plenty of concerns with the rest of its team after a 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. The offense managed just six first downs in that contest and quarterback Mark Sanchez completed only 10 of 21 passes for 74 yards.
Running back Shonn Greene, whose emergence last season allowed the team to let go of Thomas Jones in the offseason, did not have a carry in the second half after fumbling twice in the first.
The Jets also suffered a loss on the defensive line, placing nose tackle Kris Jenkins on injured reserve with a torn ACL suffered Monday.
New England has been a regular tormentor of New York under Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, winning seven of the last eight meetings at the Meadowlands.
Brady, who got his four-year contract extension before the opener, looked like he was back in MVP form against Cincinnati, throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to Wes Welker, who was making his return from a gruesome knee injury suffered in last regular-season finale in 2009.
As Revis concentrated on Moss last season, the rest of the Jets secondary had no answer for Welker, who went off for a career-high 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Patriots’ win here last December.
More weapons are beginning to emerge for Brady as well, with rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski catching his first career touchdown pass last week.
New England’s defense - the major point of concern for the team in the preseason - also looked sharp in the opener. Linebacker Gary Guyton returned an interception for a touchdown and Tully Banta-Cain led a strong pass rush.