HOUSTON — Since the moment Rex Ryan arrived as their head coach, the Jets have talked and talked.
Finally yesterday, in their season-opening win, they played and backed up the talk and later offered no apologies for their bravado.
“That’s what we believe,” safety Kerry Rhodes said. “We were not talking just to talk. We know the talent we have in this room. It doesn’t matter what anybody on the outside says or thinks. They think we’re going to finish last in the division. We’re not.”
Linebacker Bart Scott, the team’s vocal leader, said: “People see the talk, but they don’t see the work. We know that puts a bull’s-eye on it. We know when we talk we have to back it up. One thing about talking is you’ve got to work harder because you know you’re the hunted.”
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In one of the key matchups in the game, Jets CB Darrelle Revis held Texans Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson, who led the NFL last season with 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns, to only four catches for 35 yards.
In another key matchup, Jets LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson held DE Mario Williams, who has 26 sacks in the last two seasons, sackless.
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CB Donald Strickland had a huge game in his Jets debut, forcing a fumble that was recovered by DE Mike DeVito and helping cause CB Lito Sheppard’s second half interception with a hit on Texans QB Matt Schaub.
For DeVito, it was his first career fumble recovery. For Sheppard, making his Jets debut, it was the 19th interception of his career.
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WR Chansi Stuckey caught 4 passes for 64 yards — all in the first half — and that included a 30-yard TD catch from Mark Sanchez — Sanchez’s first career touchdown. . . . LB David Harris, who led the Jets with 11 tackles, had a sack. So did rookie LB Jamaal Westerman, the first of his career.
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RB Leon Washington made one of the plays of the game and it had nothing to do with a rush, catch or kick return. He broke up a sure interception of an errant Sanchez pass by Texans LB Zac Diles in the first quarter. Had Washington not broken the interception up, Diles probably would have returned it for a touchdown. . . . LB Vernon Gholston made his first NFL start, replacing suspended Calvin Pace, and had three tackles, one for a loss.