JET NOTES

Just when you thought the Jets would have their offensive line back together this week to face the Patriots after injuries sidelined starting guards Pete Kendall (toe) and Brandon Moore (hamstring) against the 49ers last Sunday, Moore was downgraded to questionable yesterday.

“The hamstring is still sore and bothering him,” Herm Edwards said. “We’ll make a decision [today] whether he’ll go or not.”

If Moore cannot play, Jonathan Goodwin will get the start at right guard. Kendall, listed as probable, is expected to play for the first time in his career against his hometown Patriots – fresh off watching his Red Sox knock off the Yankees this week in the ALCS.

However, the prospect of being without the upstart Moore again this week is not good. The offensive line will need to be at their best against the Patriots’ defense, while Curtis Martin needs only 30 yards to pass the legendary Jim Brown for seventh all-time on the NFL rushing list.

*

The Jets know it won’t be your run-of-the-mill football game tomorrow against the undefeated Patriots. From the beginning of the week, they have all seen the lights get a little brighter and have felt added attention from the sports world for the first time this season.

“I think we’re all trying to look at it in perspective,” Kendall said, “regardless of the outcome, we still have more football games left to play and so do the Patriots.”

What changes in the atmosphere have they noticed most of all?

“We’ve had some people in here with funny accents asking questions,” Kendall said, poking fun at his own Boston enunciation. “I vaguely detect the accent. But I don’t think that we’ve had outside media in the locker room for any other game.”

“It’s going to be one of those, I guess you could say, playoff-type atmospheres,” Santana Moss said.

*

No black jerseys were awarded this week in practice. They are regularly given out to the hardest working defensive players on the team . . . In other injury news, CB Derrick Strait (foot) and LB Sam Cowart (knee) remain out.