Transcripts of selected interviews with Jets players during locker room media availability Monday afternoon:
LB ERIC BARTON
On how important it is to show that the Jets are a real contender…
We don't have to show anybody anything. We know what we have in this locker room. We are going to go out there to try to execute and play Jets football.
On how to stop a guy like LaDainian Tomlinson…
I don't know. We'll try to figure that out during the week. He is a great player. He is explosive. He can score anytime. You have to know where he is at all times. I don't think he would have all those records if people knew how to stop him.
On what his overriding thought was when he left the stadium…
Right after the game it stinks like it always does. You have to calm down, look at the tape, take the good and the bad, learn from your mistakes and try to build on it.
On his thoughts from the game…
I think we played hard. No one gave up. We played 60 minutes of football. We came up short.
On after watching the video…
When we needed to make big stops, we didn't make them. It's as simple as that. We didn't force any turnovers. We needed to get the ball in our offense's hands more and we didn't do that.
On how close he thought they were to winning…
Yes, we were close, but we have been close a lot. It doesn't really matter in this league. You don't accomplish anything by being close.
On if playing San Diego is like going into a hornet's nest…
Playing them anywhere is dangerous. They are a dangerous team. They have been in the playoffs the last couple of years, AFC Championship. Going there, it's going to be difficult for us. We have to focus and play our football.
LB DAVID BOWENS
On if has had a chance to study any San Diego video…
Not really. Today is a corrections day. I'll start my filmwork on San Diego tonight. Tomorrow I'll come in and talk to the coaches about game plans.
On what the feeling is like today…
One thing my father used to tell me back when I was young was "Things aren't as bad or as good as they seem." And as bad as we thought we played, and we did, especially at times with the penalties, when you look at the tape, they are all correctable mistakes. Even at times in the game where we had the momentum, we showed a lot of flash of what we can be.
It really wasn't all that bad. It wasn't like guys aren't giving the effort or guys are out of place. There were a few mistakes here and there that we can correct. Those are things that won't necessarily kill us, but we can correct them and be a hell of a team.
On if he felt they were close to winning…
Yes, and field position wasn't all that great. Our kicking game needs to improve, the presnap penalties and things like that that backed us up a little bit. It changes the complexion of the game if we can get some good field position. Those few things here and there can easily win that game. We don't coach it like we think we can win, we hope we can win. We know we can win and a few of those mistakes hurt us.
WR CHANSI STUCKEY
On if he sees the game as a missed opportunity…
You have to take for what it is. The Patriots are a really good team. We played really well, but we have to clean up some things. We need to learn from this loss and try to win the rest of the games we have on our schedule.
On if he thinks the playbook will open up more…
No, I think we have to continue with the progress we are having. We watched the film and saw the plays that we need to correct and work on. A couple things went the other way. The game could have been different. Whatever the decision the coaches go with, we are going to follow them and make the best plays we can.
