Anything but third rate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The New York Jets offense has been far from down and out when reaching third down this season.

One of the keys for the Patriots today will be getting the Jets' offense off the field. The Jets finished fourth in the NFL in third-down conversion rate, picking up a new set of downs 43.8 percent of the time.

Jets quarterback Chad Pennington was fourth in the league in third-down passing with a 95.7 rating, 13.1 points better than his overall rating, and receivers Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery tied for third in the NFL in third-down receptions with 29 apiece.

The Jets, who converted 6 of 13 third downs in a 17-14 win over the Patriots Nov. 12, have yellow dotted lines on their practice field at Hofstra University -- an idea Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer brought with him from San Diego -- to help simulate third-down situations.

"Chad does an excellent job with finding the open receiver and we've had some third-down conversions throughout the year that were just sheer effort plays, guys diving over the line." said coach Eric Mangini.

"That to me is not just effort, but the awareness of where the sticks are and exactly what yardage is needed."

Jets defensive end Bobby Hamilton, who played in New England from 2000 to 2003, still has a fondness for some of his former teammates, particularly defensive linemen Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Jarvis Green. "I raised them boys when I was there," said Hamilton. But any friendship isn't going to change his approach today. "They might be like family and this and that, but when we're out on the field nobody cares about that," said Hamilton. "They're in my way and nobody gives a damn about any of that [stuff]." . . . It seems Hank Poteat always manages to land on his feet. The cornerback-for-hire has found steady work with the Jets after being released by the Patriots Oct. 9. Poteat has started the last six games at right cornerback for the Jets, who had him in briefly in September after the Patriots waived him coming out of training camp. (The Patriots re-signed him Sept. 27.) "Hank has done a good job," said Mangini. "He's a good example of when opportunity comes being able to take advantage of it."

Offensive linemen don't get much consideration for Rookie of the Year, but the Jets have two rookies up front, center Nick Mangold and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who have made a huge impact. The pair of first-round picks have helped stabilize an offensive line that allowed 53 sacks last year, third worst in the league. The Jets have allowed 19 fewer sacks this season. "They're both good kids," said left guard Pete Kendall, who lines up between the two. "Personally, I like them a lot. I've enjoyed being around them. Most of that has to do with the fact that they've played well because it's not that much fun playing next to people who aren't good."

The Jets brought in former super featherweight, light welterweight, and welterweight champion Arturo Gatti for a chat last night at the team's hotel. Five years ago, Gatti had three monumental bouts with Lowell's Micky Ward in the span of 13 months, winning two of them. He and the Jets were expected to watch a tape of the second bout, one which few gave the aging Gatti a chance of winning after he lost the first fight. The fights revived Gatti's career, and he went on to win the light welterweight and welterweight titles. Mangini, a big fight fan, enlisted trainer and motivational speaker Teddy Atlas to pump up his troops Thursday, the second time Atlas has spoken to the team this season (he brought out the best in the Jets before their Nov. 12 victory over the Patriots) . . . Jets special teams captain and former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham, who won three Super Bowls in his six seasons in New England, said that eventually the Patriots' run of success will have to end. "You can't expect them to stay on top forever," said Chatham. "They're about to make another run again, maybe. Hopefully, we stand in the way of that. It's tough to be on top in this league. What they've done is amazing. We don't know if they're still doing it. I think we're here to make sure that it doesn't happen." . . . The last time the Jets and Patriots met in the playoffs (1985), the Patriots ended up going all the way to the Super Bowl. Kendall, a Weymouth native, was a New England fan then, but doesn't remember the Patriots' 25-14 win at the Meadowlands. "I remember 'Squish the Fish' and 'Berry the Bears,' but I was surprised to hear that they had beat the Jets," Kendall said. "I really did not remember that game."

Ron Borges of the Globe staff contributed to this report.