FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Darrelle Revis has heard enough about his last matchup with Randy Moss. The New York Jets cornerback just wants to move on to the next one.
"No more Randy Moss and Bill yesterday, shaking his head. "This game is bigger than egos here. It's bigger than me, it's bigger than Randy Moss and it's bigger than Belichick. Our goal is we want to get this win Sunday."
The struggling Jets (4-5) sorely need it after losing five of six, and their chances at New England tomorrow might depend whether Revis can blanket Moss as he did in their Week 2 meeting. Moss had just four catches for 24 yards in New York's 16-9 victory.
"It's always great to compete against the best," Revis said. "It brings out the best in me and it brings out the best in those guys. I still give respect to all of the receivers that I go up against."
Even if it isn't always reciprocated. After the loss, Moss refused to give Revis total credit for keeping him quiet on the field.
"All week, he was talking about being a shutdown corner," he said, "but there are no shutdown corners in the league because they have help most of the game."
That's simply not the case, according to Revis and coach Rex Ryan.
"I'll just put it this way: Having Revis allows us to do things that most people don't do or have the courage to play against him," Ryan said.
And, just for good measure, Ryan heaped the ultimate praise on Revis.
"All I can say is we've got the best corner in the league," he said, "and I don't think there's any dispute about that."
Moss has been quiet this week, and Revis has maintained his composure at the Jets' facility when constantly asked about the Patriots receiver. He did get a little testy during a conference call Wednesday with New England reporters, who kept pressing on the man-to-man coverage question.
"In this league, there's mixed opinions," Revis said yesterday. "People have different opinions and if that's how he feels, that's how he feels. I still have to play and we've still got to play on Sunday. I just like to leave my talk on the field and go from there. Whatever he says, he says. That's it."
Bill Belichick acknowledged Revis' talent, but also said he benefited at times by having safety Kerry Rhodes backing him up against Moss.
"They played over the top of him quite a bit, not always, but quite a bit," the Patriots coach said. "Revis is a good player. He matches up against basically every team's best receiver. ... He's a good, solid all-around player. He doesn't have any weaknesses."
Ryan said one thing's for sure: Revis was in man coverage when he intercepted Tom Brady in the first matchup.
"We call it Cover One and some teams call it Cover Zero," Ryan said. "It's just man to man and you've got a center fielder. Kerry had great range on that play. If they think it's Cover Two, then hopefully they think it's Cover Two this week, too."
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine couldn't put a number on the plays in which Revis was entirely man to man with Moss.
"What I do know is this, there were a lot of times where he covered him where it wouldn't have mattered if he had help or not," he said. "He was all over the route. He did a great job and our plan will be similar again. We'll mix what we do and have him matched up on him and know that will be a focal point. I'm sure it will be fun to watch."
It's easy to forget that Revis is in only his third season after being a first-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2007. He has already made a Pro Bowl and has made for some long afternoons for some of the game's top receivers besides Moss, including Houston's Andre Johnson, New Orleans' Marques Colston and Buffalo's Terrell Owens.
SportsTalk Live: Mass Exodus Under Edsall-2/13
Jill Sorenson reports on the rumors swirling around Mike Knuble-2/13
Jill Sorenson reports on the Capitals' loss to the Sharks-2/13
Kelli Johnson 1-on-1 with John Thompson III -2/13
Alexander Semin finds back of net versus Rangers-2/12
The Sixers are not taking anyone lightly
Spring training is right around the corner
Moving day: Phils' gear en route to Clearwater
Will the Flyers make a move at the trade deadline?
Stoglin's frustrations boil over following Duke loss-2/12
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
La Salle vs. St. Louis Highlights - 2/11
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Ortiz, Red Sox meet in the middle
Merloni: Red Sox need another arm
Julien: In a 'must good-game' situation
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
