FOXBOROUGH - The longest-tenured member of the Patriots' defense stood in front of his locker, satisfied with the effort of a unit that allowed just 3 points. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi has experienced different types of victories over his 12-year career with the club, and he agreed that this one had a distinct old-school flavor to it.
Call it a throwback win, delivered by the 'D'.
As the Patriots were rolling to Super Bowl victories in the 2001, 2003, and 2004 seasons, they were a team defined by its defense in many ways. There were certain characteristics that always seemed to show up.
It was bend, but don't break. When teams entered the 20-yard line, the defense usually closed the door.
The defense also dominated in other critical situations, specifically third and fourth down. When it was time to get off the field, as they say in football lingo, they delivered.
And when big plays needed to be made, it was often the biggest stars that made them.
So the question was asked to Bruschi shortly after yesterday's 20-10 victory over the Jets: On a day when the explosive Patriots offense couldn't find its groove, and the defense was relied upon perhaps more than any other game this year, did this one remind him of the good ol' days?
"Maybe a little, maybe a little," he answered. "I think we realized that no matter what it was going to be, it was going to be ugly."
Simply put, the Patriots haven't had to win ugly this season, primarily because the offense has been so lethal. Entering yesterday, it was a fair question to ask if the off-the-charts offensive production was masking problems on the other side of the ball, specifically the run defense following back-to-back subpar efforts.
The defense was called upon to rise up at a few critical times through the first 13 games, most notably against the Colts and Eagles. But the difference in those games was that the offense still took control in key situations.
Not yesterday.
"You kind of get overlooked with the type of offense that we have," cornerback Ellis Hobbs said. "They're a juggernaut, but I think we hold our end also."
In holding down the fort, the Patriots' defense turned to their old formula.
They held the Jets without a touchdown in four trips inside the 20-yard line. They owned the critical situations, limiting New York to 3 of 14 on third down and 1 of 3 on fourth down. Finally, when the big plays were needed, their two biggest-ticket items delivered - defensive lineman Richard Seymour and linebacker Adalius Thomas.
It was Seymour who plowed through the line and forced quarterback Kellen Clemens into an ill-advised, first-quarter throw that Eugene Wilson picked off and returned 5 yards for a touchdown. Seymour previously acknowledged he hasn't been 100 percent since returning from offseason knee surgery, but like the overall defense, he turned back the clock to the time when the words "five-time Pro Bowler" were regularly attached to his name.
In-game statisticians credited Seymour with three quarterback hits and one pass deflection, but that doesn't account for the countless times he seemed to be pressing the pocket, his 6-foot-6-inch, 310-pound frame exploding through an overmatched Jets offensive front.
It's easy to spot an explosive offense, but a bit more challenging to spot an explosive defensive lineman. Seymour played the part yesterday, his signature play the crushing blow on Clemens that knocked him out of the game.
"He's such a dominant force in there and whenever he explodes on someone like that, is able to finish a quarterback like that, you take notice," Bruschi said.
As for Thomas, he finished tied for the team lead with nine tackles, added 1 1/2 sacks, and forced two fumbles. No play was more important than his third-quarter effort, jarring the ball free from Jets tight end Chris Baker. The Jets had just intercepted Tom Brady and were looking to slice into a 17-7 deficit, having advanced to the Patriots' 19.
"He just came in and made a great play," Baker said.
The defense had several of them, holding the Jets to 236 net yards. Tactically, they encountered a unique situation in which different quarterbacks were being shuffled onto the field. After Clemens was knocked out, the Jets introduced a package in which receiver Brad Smith played quarterback and executed a run-based option package.
The option is seldom seen in the NFL, but the Jets felt that playing horizontally and making the Patriots' linebackers move laterally could open seams to exploit. So they sprinkled it in, having Smith replace Chad Pennington from time to time.
"It kind of took you back to college, when Nebraska used to run option quarterbacks," said Thomas, who looked as comfortable as he has all season at outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment. "Whoever was in the game, it kind of gave you a different type program. It wasn't hard or difficult, but you just had to be aware of who was in the game."
The Patriots had a few breakdowns against the option, but nothing that truly hurt them, the biggest dagger a 49-yard first-quarter run by Leon Washington. And while the Jets strung together an impressive 17-play drive in the fourth quarter, some members of the defense still left Gillette Stadium yesterday feeling as if they'd played their best game of the season.
Linebacker Junior Seau, who tied for the team high with nine tackles and added two sacks, called it a building block. Bruschi pointed to improvements in areas the unit had harped upon, namely in the red zone.
So after 13 weeks in which the offense was so powerful, this was a day for the defense.
"That's what a team is about," Thomas said. "I think our offense has carried us so much, but you need to win in different ways."
Yesterday, the Patriots went the old-school route.
Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.
