Jackson catches on fast

Patriots fans have been waiting a long time to see what wide receiver Chad Jackson can do. Sidelined since training camp with a slow-healing hamstring, Jackson had as many NFL catches as your typical couch-potato football fanatic -- zero -- entering yesterday's game against the New York Jets.

It turned out Jackson was worth the wait.

The former University of Florida speedster and presumed Deion Branch replacement only had two receptions yesterday, but he made them count, totaling 42 yards and a touchdown to help the Patriots to a 24-17 win at Giants Stadium.

``It was a relief to just get in the game," said Jackson. ``As a rookie, you never think you're going to get that much playing time but, at the same time, getting the catch and scoring a touchdown, that's a great feeling for me."

Jackson didn't wait long to make an impression, collecting his first reception in the first quarter and doing it in spectacular fashion. On second and 6 from the New England 37, Jackson climbed up the back of defender Justin Miller to snare a 29-yard pass from Tom Brady down the left sideline. The reception put the Patriots into New York territory and was the key play on the drive, which ended in a 1-yard Corey Dillon touchdown run, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

But as rookies are wont to do, Jackson showed he's still a work in progress a quarter later. After a shanked punt by Ben Graham gave the Patriots the ball at midfield with 1:01 before halftime, Jackson slipped behind New York corner Andre Dyson and seemed certain to expand the New England lead to 17-0, except the ball clanged off his hands.

``I lost focus on the ball when [Dyson] put his hand up," said a sheepish Jackson. ``It was a good throw by Tom. It was a good read . . . That's a play I could have made."

However, four plays later, Jackson redeemed himself, beating Dyson again and holding on this time. His 13-yard touchdown reception 14 seconds before the half gave New England a 17-0 lead.

``That's how you got to do this game," said fellow wideout and Florida alum Reche Caldwell. ``You make a bad play, you got to leave it behind you and go make another play and that's what he did."

Jackson has no problems making plays in the passing game, but has had trouble staying healthy. Jackson played his high school football at Hoover (Ala.) High, the school that is the subject of the MTV reality series ``Two-A-Days," but he was absent from almost all of the Patriots' two-a-days, as he practiced only three times during training camp.

Jackson, who rode a stationary bike between possessions to keep loose, said it was frustrating having to sit and watch for so long.

``It's been real tough for me," said Jackson. ``I thought I was feeling good back in camp. I tried to come back on it and tweaked it again a little bit.

``With that injury, it takes time to heal and that's what it did. I just took my time. It took a long time for it to get done and get healed. A good player comes out there and works hard and that's what I did. I just kept my mind focused on what I was doing and what I needed to do and I came back strong."

Yesterday was the type of performance the Patriots thought they would get when they selected Jackson with the 36th overall pick this past April. They just had to wait a little longer than they would have liked for it.

``We're going to need more of that from him," said Brady. ``I think we're going to need more of it from all the receivers. We have to find ways to execute better in the passing game."

Even though he's only played in one game, Jackson is already attuned to the Patriot Way -- you follow the leader.

``I wouldn't say we're on the same page right now," said Jackson. ``We still have a lot of work to do. [Tom] is still frustrated right now about how the offense is still struggling a little bit, especially the passing game. So, he just wants it to get back on top. He wants it to be like a Super Bowl passing offense, what it used to be. We just got a lot of work to do to get this team going."