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Here are seven notes an observations on the AFC East in Week 15:

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Ron Chenoy/US PresswirePatriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, 81, had nine catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.
• With Rob Gronkowski's emergence with the New England Patriots, you almost forget how good fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez is. The Denver Broncos certainly forgot about Hernandez in coverage. He led the game with nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. It was clear Denver's strategy was to stop Gronkowski, who is having a monster season. That didn't bother Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who went away from "Gronk" and targeted Hernandez a team-high 11 times. Gronkowski only caught four passes for 53 yards and had his touchdown streak end at six games. But Hernandez also is a top-10 tight end. He's just not as consistent as Gronkowski and had a few drops this season. But Hernandez needs to stay ready, especially in the playoffs, if future opponents decide to put most of their attention on Gronkowski.
• The Patriots won convincingly, but their run defense in the first quarter was atrocious. The holes, missed tackles and not getting off blocks Sunday was the worst I’ve seen from New England all season. Fortunately, quarterback Tom Brady and the offense scored enough points to force Denver to throw the ball in the second half. The Broncos rushed for 252 yards, including 167 in the first quarter. If it was a closer game, New England’s defense could have allowed 300-plus yards on the ground.
• The New York Jets clearly missed injured safety Jim Leonhard in Sunday's 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. New York blew a lot of coverages over the middle and could not guard Eagles tight end Brent Celek. Philadelphia’s tight end had a monster game, with five receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown. Celek’s longest catch was for 73 yards. Teams have been attacking New York’s defense over the middle this season, because its corners are so good. But there is a big drop off at safety, especially when Leonhard is out of the game. The Jets need to consider this in the offseason when Leonhard becomes a free agent.
• Right tackle is definitely a spot the Jets need to upgrade next season. Right tackle Wayne Hunter has struggled in nearly every Jets game I’ve seen in person. Philadelphia defensive end Jason Babin took Hunter to school Sunday to the tune of three sacks. Hunter does not have quick feet and gets pushed around too often. New York drafted Vladimir Ducasse in the second round in 2010 with hopes that he could develop into a starter. But Ducasse remains a raw project, and the team cannot afford to wait another year. The Jets need to find someone on that side of the offensive line to protect Sanchez.
• The Buffalo Bills' were horrendous on third downs in a 30-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Bills were 0-for-11 on third-down conversions. Buffalo also was 0-for-12 on third downs against Miami in its first meeting in Week 11. It's scary to think the Bills couldn’t get a third-down conversion all season against the Dolphins.
• The Buffalo News reported this weekend that Bills receiver Steve Johnson could be seeking a contract worth $8.5-$9 million per season. If that's the case, the Bills should let Johnson test the open market. I expect Buffalo to make a push to keep Johnson this offseason but only at a price the team is comfortable with. The Bills know Johnson's strengths and weaknesses, and they most likely agree he's not a $9-million-a-year player. Johnson is a good player and a good teammate. But he's not an elite No. 1 receiver who can single-handedly take over games. Johnson only has one 100-yard game all season. Plus, receiver is one of the easiest positions in the NFL to replace.
• If the season ended today, both the Dolphins (5-9) and Bills (5-9) would have top-10 picks. Buffalo would own the 10th overall pick. The Dolphins would draft ninth, despite sweeping Buffalo this season, because they had the easier schedule. Both teams would be in position to land a top prospect. But Miami is starting to hurt its chances of landing a top quarterback.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Jets finished the preseason at 2-2 after a sloppy, 24-14 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Our advice: Erase those numbers from your memory because they don't matter anymore; it's time to focus on the season opener against the Cowboys. The only significant development from the annual Backup Bowl was a potentially serious thumb injury for rookie QB Greg McElroy, the Jets' No. 3.

QUARTERBACK ISSUES: With Mark Sanchez resting and Mark Brunell recovering from a pulled calf, the Jets started McElroy -- and he didn't make it past the second quarter. McElroy left the game after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand; he appeared to bang it on the helmet of right guard Matt Kroul on a follow-through. One preliminary report said McElroy dislocated his thumb, which would mean a long-term injury. The team didn't provide an immediate diagnosis.

Rex Ryan has said he expects Brunell to be ready for the opener, but it's still a precarious situation, considering Brunell missed all four preseason games and a lot of practice time. If something were to happen to Sanchez, they'd be in big trouble. One move that makes sense is re-signing Kellen Clemens -- assuming he's released by the Redskins. He knows the Jets' system and would be able to play in an emergency.

PHILLY'S QB ISSUES: Naturally, Michael Vick -- the $100 million man -- didn't play. His backup, Vince Young, pulled a hamstring just before halftime and didn't return. In came third-stringer Mike Kafka, who was drilled by linebacker Mattias Berning in the third quarter and nearly came out of the game. They have no other quarterbacks, so it would've been interesting if Kafka hadn’t been able to return. Andy Reid probably would’ve used the Wing-T before using Vick.

DREW WHO?: McElroy was replaced by fourth-stringer Drew Willy, an NFL journeyman who has bounced around on a few practice squads. He also played in the UFL. Willy did well for himself, throwing a 14-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Scotty McKnight on his first pass. Not bad, huh? Willy showed some mobility, running for his life on a few occasions. Willy was going to be released Friday or Saturday; maybe he earned an extended stay.

WOE-LINE: The Jets started their second-team offensive line and it was ugly. McElroy was under heavy pressure from the outset, suffering two sacks in the first quarter. That he got hurt on a freakish play was stunning, considering the pounding he took. Right tackle Vladimir Ducasse was a mess, committing three penalties -- two false starts and one holding (declined).

Clearly, the depth is a problem on the offensive line, with backup center/guard Rob Turner (leg) is down for at least two months. GM Mike Tannenbaum needs to get on the horn and bring in an experienced backup.

RUNNING IN PLACE: The coaching staff was hoping to see some big things from backup running backs Joe McKnight and rookie Bilal Powell, but they did virtually nothing -- a combined total of 10 rushing yards. Worse, McKnight lost a fumble, conjuring up memories of his mistake-prone preseason in 2010. So much for McKnight’s positive momentum.

POSITIVE AUDITIONS: Rex Ryan said they went into the game with three roster spots still up for grabs. Three defensive players helped their chances -- cornerback Ellis Lankster (67-yard interception return for a TD), outside linebacker Aaron Maybin (1.5 sacks) and rookie linebacker Nick Bellore. Outside linebacker Eddie Jones also flashed some potential. Ryan will have some difficult decisions to make at linebacker.

No one on offense really stood out, but rookie tight end Josh Baker showed some pass-catching ability and versatility. Baker, an H-Back in college, also lined up as a fullback. The Jets have only one fullback on the roster, John Conner, who is nursing a sprained ankle.

Thoughts from the Jets' 20-16 loss to the Texans in a preseason version of "Monday Night Football."

WHAT IT MEANS: Seven months after their crushing loss to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, the Jets began another Super Bowl quest Monday night. Rex Ryan’s cast of characters hasn’t changed much since then and, despite a loss to the Texans, there were enough positives to make it a successful preseason opener. They should’ve pulled it out, but rookie reciever Michael Campbell dropped a potential touchdown pass in the final minute.

ON THE MARK: After some spotty practice performances, quarterback Mark Sanchez (6-for-7, 43 yards) stepped up in prime time and was on point with every pass. His lone incompletion was a drop by backup tight end Matt Mulligan. With two starters missing from the offensive line, the Jets kept it conservative, calling only quick throws for Sanchez. But give him credit for his accuracy; that’s an area he’s working to improve. Sanchez was pulled after one quarter and, no, he didn’t want to fight Ryan to get back on the field.

KEY INJURY: The Jets lost backup center Rob Turner (lower leg) to a potentially serious injury. This injury won’t grab big headlines, but it’s costly because of Turner’s versatility. He can play center, guard, tight end and blocks in the wedge on kickoff returns. Turner, who started for the injured Nick Mangold, was carted off in the first quarter and replaced by third-stringer Robby Felix. Luckily for the Jets, Mangold should be back to practice this week.

THIN LINE: Just the other day, Ryan boasted that the Jets’ top seven offensive linemen are the best in the league. It’s not looking that way now. Not only is Turner out, but second-year lineman Vladimir Ducasse was awful.

Ducasse, who started for injured lineman Brandon Moore, allowed a sack at right guard and another at right tackle. The first sack came on the play in which Turner was injured; Ducasse’s failure to hold off defensive end J.J. Watt put Turner in a vulnerable position. Ducasse also got some work at left guard, where -- hooray -- he didn’t allow a sack.

If Turner’s injury is long term, the Jets will have to sign an experienced backup center. It’s a thin market. In fact, the best available center might be former Giant Shaun O’Hara.

THE PLAXICO VOID: The biggest story of the game -- Plaxico Burress -- wasn’t at the game. He was home, nursing an ankle injury and schmoozing with ESPN’s Mike Tirico in a phone interview during the fourth quarter. (In case you’re wondering, Burress reiterated that he expects to practice full on Wednesday.) Without Burress, the other new receiver, Derrick Mason, was in a prominent role. Mason caught all three passes thrown to him for 21 yards -- a solid debut, considering his lack of practice time with Sanchez.

THE ROOKIES: It was a nice start for the Jets’ draft class, especially nose tackle Kenrick Ellis (one batted pass), QB Greg McElroy (208 yards passing) and WR/KR Jeremy Kerley (32.5 average on kickoff returns). Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson started the game, but didn’t have any wow moments -- although he did have an offsides penalty. Running back Bilal Powell (nine carries, 25 yards) also played well and could push Joe McKnight for the No. 3 tailback job. McKnight left with a possible concussion.

KID QB: With backup QB Mark Brunell (finger) sitting out, McElroy played the second, third and fourth quarters, leading the offense to three field goals and a touchdown (2-yard scoring pass to Patrick Turner). McElroy lost a fumble on a strip sack, but he kept his composure and demonstrated some of the attributes that led the Jets to draft him in the seventh round -- smarts, poise and accuracy. Too bad he doesn’t have a gun.

WHAT A COMEBACK: Eight months removed from breaking his shin in a freak practice collision, safety Jim Leonhard was back on the field, back in the Jets’ starting lineup. It was a welcomed sight for the defense, which relies on Leonhard to make calls on the field.

INJURY WATCH: Linebacker Bart Scott hurt his left ankle/leg on the first play of the game. The replay looked bad, but he returned on the second series. He watched most of the second half with a huge wrap on his leg. Stay tuned.

INACTIVES: QB Mark Brunell, WR Plaxico Burress, C Nick Mangold, RG Brandon Moore, LB Brandon Long, G Trevor Canfield. The Texans played without RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson, their offensive stars.

While yakking with a key starter from last year's New York Jets squad this week, I asked a question I posed on the AFC East blog last month and have addressed regularly in my weekly chat.

What team is the class of the division? The New England Patriots, coming off 14 victories and another title? Or the Jets, who knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs and reached their second straight AFC Championship Game?

"Until we dethrone them," he said, "the Patriots are the class of the AFC East. That's the bottom line. There's no other way to slice it. You've got to knock them off the pedestal. That's goal No. 1, winning the division. That's the easiest way to get to the ultimate goal of the Super Bowl."

That comment alone wasn't enough for the player to request anonymity, but the next part of our conversation made him feel it was necessary for the sake of diplomacy and because he wants to keep his job next season.

I wanted to know more. To extract his veteran insight on the state of the Jets, I asked what his game plan would be if I could appoint him general manager for the next couple months.

How would he get the Jets over the hump from runners-up to AFC East champs and into the Super Bowl? He must have pondered that very question over the past few months because, without much thought, he rattled off six key steps to propelling the Jets upward.

Here they are, in order of what he felt was most important, along with his reasoning:

1. Re-sign receiver Santonio Holmes.

"You have to do that," our embedded analyst said. The Jets have three prominent free-agent receivers, but Holmes must be the priority over Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith. Holmes missed four games while serving a suspension but made 52 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns. He was a clutch performer and added a couple more touchdowns in the playoffs.

"If I had to choose between Santonio, Braylon or Brad Smith -- I don't think you can re-sign them all -- I'll take Santonio because of his body of work," the Jets insider said. "He's more established."

Smith averaged 28.6 yards on kickoff returns and scored two touchdowns, and was the club's third-leading rusher with 299 yards and a TD as a gadget quarterback. The Jets led the NFL in average start position after a kickoff (at the 31.5-yard line). But the insider said revamped kickoff rules would neutralize Smith's impact in 2011.

The possibility of signing Plaxico Burress is intriguing and could help the Jets cope with any inability to re-sign Edwards or Smith. As for whether Burress would be a problem for head coach Rex Ryan, the insider laughed.

"With everything we have in our organization, he'd be just one of the guys," he said. "He wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb.

"Guys just love playing for Rex. With Rex's personality and the way he runs the show, Plaxico would just fit right in. Rex doesn't have problems with guys who have so-called character issues or big personalities. Rex is a big personality himself. A guy like Plaxico would do well with the Jets."

2. Get inside linebacker David Harris signed to a long-term contract.

Harris led the Jets with 119 tackles. He recorded three sacks, 14 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a recovery.

He signed his franchise tender and is under contract for next season, but he'll be a free agent again next offseason unless the Jets broker another deal before then.

"I've got to lock up David Harris," the insider said. "He's one of the more underrated defenders in the league. I've got to get him signed long-term."

3. Re-sign cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Another significant free agent, Cromartie helped limit opposing quarterbacks to a 50.7 completion percentage -- lowest in the league by far -- and a 77.1 passer rating. He notched 42 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high 18 passes defensed.

Besides, the Jets invested too much in him to let him stroll for nothing this summer.

"If I gave up a second-round pick for the guy, I don't want to see him walk out the door," the insider said. "That would be a high draft pick I'd wasted.

"Plus, with no offseason to monitor the young players, I don't know what I have with Kyle Wilson. The team hasn't had a chance to coach him up. He didn't do the things the team expected last year. So I need to get Antonio Cromartie back to make sure I shore up the secondary."

4. Find a pass-rusher or two.

One of the Jets' biggest perceived weaknesses heading into the offseason was their inability to generate a more formidable pass rush last season.

"This team has a defensive scheme that can be dangerous with a pass rush," the insider said. "We had a great group, but that'll make my defense even stronger."

Outside linebacker Jason Taylor's status is in question. The Jets cut him, but it's not unfathomable he could return. Last year's regular starters, Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas, are under contract. Thomas recorded a team-high six sacks last season, while Pace had 5.5 sacks. Taylor added five more. Those aren't fearsome numbers.

Football Outsiders charted the Jets for 117.5 hurries (seventh in the NFL), but just 38 quarterback hits (tied for 23rd).

5. Sign a free-agent right tackle.

The Jets released Damien Woody after the season, but published reports before the lockout indicated the club was interested in bringing him back.

Woody can't provide many guarantees in what would be his 13th NFL season. Although he has been to the Pro Bowl, is one of few players on last year's roster who owns a Super Bowl ring and started 13 games last season, there are injury concerns. He battled knee problems before an Achilles' injury landed him on injured reserve in the playoffs.

There don't appear to be any solutions on the roster. Last year's second-round draft choice, Vladimir Ducasse, was a tackle at Boston College but was unable to win a job at guard. Woody's reliable backup, Wayne Hunter, is a free agent.

6. Identify a safety to solidify the secondary, looking first at Brodney Pool.

The Jets' best safety, Jim Leonhard, is coming off a broken shin that had him limited to a scooter during rehab. Pool, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo all are free agents.

Pool started 12 games. He ranked fourth in tackles with 63. He registered a sack, an interception, nine passes defenses, a forced fumble and a recovery. Smith started six games and was fifth with 57 tackles. He also made an impact on special teams (19 tackles), as did Ihedigbo (27 tackles).

"I would try to get Brodney Pool or Eric Smith back," the Jets insider said. "Both played well down the stretch, but I think Brodney Pool was a guy who, as it got later in the season, really picked up the scheme and became a playmaker at the safety position."

I found the insider's opinions to be insightful. Nowhere among the list of issues to address were quarterback Mark Sanchez, left guard or kicker Nick Folk. The obviously aren't major concerns with this veteran player.

Once the lockout concludes, we'll see how much the anonymous player's wish list jibes with Mike Tannenbaum's.

Winners for the Associated Press 2010 Rookies of the Year will be announced Friday. Both appear to be foregone conclusions.

What a shock it would be if St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh didn't represent his side of the ball.

Still, it's an appropriate time to recognize a few remarkable rookie campaigns in the AFC East.

New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez should get a few votes.

McCourty was forced to grow up fast when Leigh Bodden suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp. McCourty lined up against the opposition's top receivers and finished second in the league with seven interceptions. He was voted to the Pro Bowl.

Gronkowski had 10 touchdown receptions, a Patriots record for tight ends of any age and for rookies of any position. He came two touchdowns short of Mike Ditka's NFL record for rookie tight ends. Gronkowski broke another Patriots rookie record with three touchdowns in one game.

Hernandez broke the Patriots record for receptions from a rookie tight end. He had 45 catches for 563 yards and six touchdowns.

None of the three other teams had particularly stellar rookies, but let's take a look at each team.

C.J. Spiller generated a lot of praise in the preseason. He was the ninth overall pick at a position favorable to rookie awards. But Spiller rushed for 283 yards and no touchdowns and added 157 receiving yards with a touchdown.

Some Bills fans might argue linebacker Arthur Moats was their best rookie. The sixth-round pick gained fame for the hit that essentially ended Brett Favre's career. Moats had 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He added 10 special-teams tackles.

But I submit the Bills' best rookie wasn't drafted. David Nelson caught 31 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't get on the field regularly until late in the season. Fourteen catches and all of his TDs came in a three-game stretch in December before an injury wiped out his last two games.

The Miami Dolphins caught a bad break when first-round pick Jared Odrick suffered a hairline leg fracture in the season opener. Second-round outside linebacker Koa Misi had a strong campaign with 4.5 sacks.

Defensive back Nolan Carroll, a fifth-round choice, had a wonderful year. Aside from being known as the guy Sal Alosi tripped at the Meadowlands, Carroll was a regular contributor in the secondary and was the Dolphins' top kickoff returner. His mother also was elected Florida's lieutenant governor.

For all the impressive things the New York Jets did in 2010, rookie production didn't rate. They drafted only four players, and all were disappointments to varying degrees.

First-round pick Kyle Wilson played every game but didn't become the nickelback Rex Ryan said he'd be. Second-round offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse was healthy all season but played in three games. Fourth-round running back Joe McKnight became a punch line for his lack of conditioning and will be known as the player who led the Jets to cut Danny Woodhead. Fifth-round fullback John Conner didn't live up to his "Hard Knocks" hype and was deactivated at the end of the year.

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum held a news conference Friday to wrap up the 2010 season and address several issues moving forward.

Some highlights with my thoughts:

The Jets probably won't re-sign any of their players before the collective bargaining agreement expires March 4. This probably is the most prudent approach. The Jets would benefit from knowing the new salary cap structure rather than simply guessing on whether or not their players will fit under it. Teams also would prefer to know how free agency will be determined under the next CBA. Right now, we can't say for sure who will be restricted or unrestricted or what veteran minimum salaries will be.

Tannenbaum hopes to keep all three free-agent receivers: Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Brad Smith. I'm skeptical the Jets can pull it off. All are coming off big years, and it will be difficult to match all offers from other teams. But if the Jets can pull it off, the happiest man in the organization will be Mark Sanchez. Tannenbaum declined to speculate on whether or not the Jets would be interested in a post-prison Plaxico Burress.

Free-agent inside linebacker David Harris "remains a top priority for us." Harris, to me, is the most important free agent for the Jets. It's much easier to find a receiver in free agency than a stud linebacker such as Harris. He has led the Jets in tackles each of the past two seasons and makes all the on-field defensive calls. I highly doubt the Jets let him get away.

Brian Schottenheimer will be back as offensive coordinator. I realize some Jets fans are disgusted with Schottenheimer's play-calling in the AFC Championship Game, but he's a gem. Deep back-to-back runs into the postseason with a raw quarterback is a major accomplishment. And let's not forget he had the Jets humming with Brett Favre at quarterback until Favre's right arm started falling apart in 2008.

Sanchez will get "a couple of opinions" on his injured throwing shoulder before deciding if he'll have surgery. The Jets don't want to cut on their quarterback unless they have to. But the sooner they make a decision, the better so Sanchez can begin the rehab process. One of the overlooked traits Sanchez has developed in his two years is toughness. He has taken quite a few shots in the pocket and on the run, but he stays on the field.

Tannenbaum expects LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor to be on the 2011 roster. Tomlinson and Taylor are under contract, but the Jets could release them. Tomlinson lost effectiveness as the season wore on, but he can be a quality backup for Shonn Greene and adds value in the passing game as a receiver and in blitz protection. Taylor clearly is nearing the end of the line, and he knows it. But he wasn't a liability and provided leadership Tannenbaum said was "really hard to quantify."

First-round draft choice Kyle Wilson's future is "one of our paramount objectives for the offseason." The day the Jets drafted Wilson 29th overall, head coach Rex Ryan declared Wilson would be their nickelback and a great punt returner. Even with Darrelle Revis absent all summer because of a contract dispute, Wilson couldn't seize the opportunity and fell behind Drew Coleman on the depth chart. Tannenbaum cited inconsistency as Wilson's biggest problem.

Right tackle Damien Woody and fullback Tony Richardson probably won't be back. Tannenbaum didn't make those statements, but that's what I read between the lines. Woody turned 33 during the season and recently underwent Achilles surgery. He also missed games with a knee injury. Wayne Hunter or Vladimir Ducasse could take over for him. The Jets cut Richardson before the season and brought him back. They also have fullback John Conner waiting in the wings.

Vernon Gholston sounds like a goner. The sixth overall pick in 2008 was a healthy scratch in the playoffs. Tannenbaum diplomatically said the Jets "are going to see if there's anything else to try, but he has been given his share of opportunities, and it could be time to move on." Move over Mike Mamula.

How much will the loss of right tackle Damien Woody impact the New York Jets?

Experience is the most obvious subtraction. Woody just finished his 12th NFL season. He has two Super Bowl rings.

His replacement, seventh-year pro Wayne Hunter, had two career starts before December.

Hunter started the Jets' final three games while Woody rested a right knee injury for the playoffs. Woody started Saturday's first-round victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but he couldn't finish because of an Achilles injury that required surgery this week.

But Woody's season-ending injury might not be as troubling as the next one that befalls their offensive line.

I reached out to ESPN contributor and former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker for his thoughts on how problematic Woody's absence will be for the Jets in Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"In and of itself, Wayne Hunter probably will do fine," said Tucker, who played for the Patriots and Buffalo Bills during his seven-year career. "But my biggest concern is their depth."

The Jets' depth chart doesn't list anybody at tackle aside from Woody and Hunter. Backup guard Robert Turner played right tackle at New Mexico. Rookie backup guard Vladimir Ducasse was a tackle at Boston College, but he has been a disappointment at guard.

"What if somebody else gets hurt?" Tucker said. "Nobody thinks about that, but let me tell you, if Wayne Hunter goes down or [left tackle] D'Brickashaw Ferguson goes down in the first or second quarter, then that becomes a real issue and a real problem."

Hunter is a capable lineman. Jets head coach Rex Ryan called him "the best backup tackle in the league," a remark Tucker deemed "hyperbole on Rex's part." But Tucker did rate Hunter among the NFL's top 10 swing tackles.

"From a natural ability standpoint Wayne Hunter is off the charts," Tucker said.

Hunter has seen a lot of action in the Jets' jumbo and goal-line packages, frequently reporting as an eligible receiver because he's lined up on the outside of another tackle.

Tucker liked what he saw from Hunter against some solid defenses. Hunter started against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills last month.

But expect the Patriots to dial up some special plays to see if they can exploit Hunter's inexperience and get to quarterback Mark Sanchez. Hunter also might find himself lined up against Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who migrates along the line.

"The Patriots may try to test his football acumen, his football intelligence," Tucker said. "I would imagine Bill Belichick will test his faculties pretty early. There are things you can do, whether it's a stunt or a blitz, to see how comfortable he is picking up the right guy.

"Ninety-five percent of the time he'll be blocking either the defensive end or outside linebacker, although most teams with their pass protections tend to slide the protection to the left to protect the backside of the quarterback. Usually, the other team's best pass-rusher is on that side. So Wayne Hunter will have that guy one-on-one more often than the left tackle will. He'll be isolated."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Most notable among the scratches for Saturday night's wild-card playoff game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium are Colts right tackle Ryan Diem and linebacker Clint Session.

The biggest' names for the Jets (but not earth-shaking surprises) are running back Joe McKnight and defensive end Vernon Gholston.

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Running back Joe McKnight
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Defensive end Vernon Gholston
• Defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Cornerback Isaiah Trufant

Indianapolis Colts

• Running back Javarris James
• Guard Jamey Richard
• Guard Jaimie Thomas
• Tackle Ryan Diem
• Tackle Joe Reitz
• Defensive tackle Antonio Johnson
• Linebacker Clint Session
• Safety Al Afalava

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall is back in the lineup Sunday and will play against the New York Jets. Here are the inactives at the Meadowlands:

Miami Dolphins

• Tight end Mickey Shuler
• Right tackle Vernon Carey
• Tackle Matt Kopa
• Center Eric Ghiaciuc
• Defensive tackle Chris Baker
• Defensive end Ryan Baker
• Outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis
• Cornerback Nate Ness

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Tight end Matthew Mulligan
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Linebacker Jamaal Westerman
• Cornerback Marquice Cole
• Safety James Ihedigbo

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are the inactives for Monday night's game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Receiver Laveranues Coles
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Tight end Matthew Mulligan
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Defensive tackle Matt Kroul
• Linebacker Jamaal Westerman

New England Patriots

• Running back Thomas Clayton
• Receiver Taylor Price
• Guard Rich Ohrnberger
• Tackle Mark LeVoir
• Defensive end Mike Wright
• Defensive tackle Myron Pryor
• Outside linebacker Eric Moore
• Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite

CLEVELAND -- Here are the inactives for Sunday's game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns:

New York Jets

• Quarterback Jake Delhomme
• Quarterback Brett Ratliff (third QB)
• Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell
• Wide receiver Demetrius Williams
• Tight end Alex Smith
• Center Steve Vallos
• Defensive lineman Bryan Sanford
• Defensive lineman Jayme Mitchell

Cleveland Browns

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Tight end Matthew Mulligan
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert
• Linebacker Josh Mauga
• Cornerback Marquice Cole

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Here are the inactives for Monday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets at the Meadowlands. No surprises.

Minnesota Vikings

• Quarterback Joe Webb
• Running back Albert Young
• Receiver Hank Baskett
• Center John Sullivan
• Defensive tackle Fred Evans
• Defensive end Everson Griffen
• Cornerback Chris Cook
• Safety Tyrell Johnson

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Running back Joe McKnight
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Defensive tackle Matt Kroul
• Inside linebacker Kenwin Cummings
• Outside linebacker Jamaal Westerman

It doesn't take a shrewd scout or seasoned offensive line coach to recognize left guard as a problem for the New York Jets.

The Jets released perennial Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca in April and opened a competition between second-year pro Matt Slauson and second-round draft choice Vladimir Ducasse.

Slauson won by default, and he has been at fault a number of times through three games. The Buffalo Bills, desperate to generate any kind of pass rush, certainly have noticed Slauson as the weak link of an otherwise solid offensive line.

"Matt's not great right now, but he's working like heck to get better," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said Wednesday on a conference call. "I think he's about as good as most guards in our division."

The competition is a bit diluted this year. Faneca is gone. New England Patriots left guard Logan Mankins is an unsigned restricted free agent and hasn't reported. The Miami Dolphins cycle through guards every season. The Bills have sophomores Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.

Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata steamrolled Slauson for a sack on opening night.

Slauson was flagged three times in Sunday night's victory over the Miami Dolphins, twice for holding on one drive to prevent a touchdown. One of his holds erased an 11-yard pass play that would have given the Jets first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. The next hold nullified a Mark Sanchez touchdown run. The Jets settled for a field goal.

I asked Ryan if Ducasse was ready to step in.

"No," Ryan said. "If he was, he'd be playing.

"Ducasse, I'll tell you, this young man is going to be a player. There is no question. He's really a natural tackle. We're trying to put him in there to compete with Slauson, but he's not ready for that job right now."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New England Patriots have scratched running spy -- I mean, running back -- Danny Woodhead and will dress receiver Julian Edelman for Sunday afternoon's game against the New York Jets.

New England Patriots

• Running back Danny Woodhead
• Receiver Taylor Price
• Guard Nick Kaczur
• Guard Quinn Ojinnaka
• Tackle Steve Maneri
• Defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick
• Linebacker Dane Fletcher
• Cornerback Terrence Wheatley

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Running back Joe McKnight
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Tackle Patrick Brown
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Defensive tackle Howard Green
• Outside linebacker Calvin Pace

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Inactives for Monday night's opener between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets at the Meadowlands:

Baltimore Ravens

• Receiver Donte Stallworth
• Tackle Jared Gaither
• Nose tackle Terrence Cody
• Defense end Paul Kruger
• Inside linebacker Jason Phillips
• Cornerback Lardarius Webb
• Cornerback Bryan McCann

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Running back Joe McKnight
• Tight end Jeff Cumberland
• Guard Vladimir Ducasse
• Tackle Patrick Brown
• Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
• Outside linebacker Calvin Pace
• Safety Brodney Pool