In the words of Pro Bowl nose tackle and noted philosopher Vince Wilfork, the New York Jets’ offense is “known for powering the rock.”

The New England Patriots’ rushing defense?

Not known for being rock solid.

Take the teams’ two regular-season games, for instance.

In splitting those two decisions, the Patriots allowed the Jets to run the ball 63 times for 288 yards, a 4.6-yards-per-carry average; even while on the receiving end of a 45-3 beating from the Pats at Gillette Stadium last month, the Jets managed to churn out 152 yards rushing on 31 carries, a 4.9-yard average.

“We just have to match it,” Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich answered when asked about the physical nature of the Jets’ offense. “You have to go out there, stop the run, and get into third-down situations and that’s basically it. You have to go out there, play hard and play tough football.”

There is a ground-and-pound mentality to Rex Ryan’s team. The Jets ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing during the regular season, and their rushing attempts outnumbered quarterback Mark Sanchez’s passing attempts, 534-507.

That approach carried over to the 17-16 win at Indianapolis on wildcard weekend that propelled the Jets into Sunday afternoon’s AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. LaDainian Tomlinson picked up 82 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries while Shonn Greene added 70 yards on 19 attempts to a rushing attack that produced 169 yards and kept Peyton Manning on the sideline for 33:07.

“With the Colts having such a great offense and Peyton Manning out there, you want to keep him off the field as much as possible,” said Ninkovich. “Using the clock and keeping the ball away from their quarterback is something that worked for them.

“Obviously, with us having Tom (Brady), he’s a great quarterback, they will want to do the same thing and not let him on the field. So as a defense, we need to do our job and keep him on the field.”

In large part due to a ground game that features two backs who easily exceeded 700 yards – Tomlinson with 914, Greene with 766 – the Jets’ offense was able to remain on the field for an average of 32:03 per game during the regular season.

“One of the best,” Wilfork said of the Jets’ ground attack. “You’ve got two great backs. They’re known for powering the rock. The offensive line is known for being physical. The New York Jets are known for having a great running attack. And then you can look at their defense, they’re known for being able to stop the run. They are built for playoff games.”

En route to finishing 11th in the NFL in defending the run, the Patriots’ defense played to varying results during the tail end of the regular season.

After surrendering those 152 yards against the Jets on Dec. 6, the Patriots limited the Chicago Bears to 47 yards on 14 attempts in a 36-7 rout at Chicago six days later.

The Green Bay Packers pounded out 143 yards on 38 attempts in somehow losing a game in which they held the ball for more than 40 minutes, 31-27, and the Buffalo Bills piled up 125 yards on 21 attempts (a 6.0-yard average) in dropping a 34-3 decision one week later. But in closing the regular season out with their eighth straight win, 38-7, over Miami, the Patriots held the Dolphins to 44 yards on 16 tries (a 2.8-yard average).

That rushing defense figures to get a boost with inside linebacker Brandon Spikes’ return from his four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy against performance enhancing substances. The rookie is a stronger presence on first and second down than veteran Gary Guyton, who drew increased playing time in his absence.

“I think it’s gotten a little better,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick answered when asked yesterday about Spikes’ performance in practice since his return on Jan. 3. “There was a period of time there where he really didn’t do anything at all, at least football related.

“No matter how much you want to run around the track, do situps and all that it’s not the same as being out there with 21 other guys playing football. There’s no way to simulate that unless you get out there and do it. I think those are the kind of things that the more you do it, the more it comes back.”

***

The Patriots are listing nose tackle Myron Pryoras doubtful for tomorrow’s game with a back injury.

Six players are questionable: linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin), wide receiver Deion Branch (knee), linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (calf), tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip), defensive lineman Eric Moore (hamstring) and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (shin).

Cornerback Kyle Arrington (elbow) and Brady (right shoulder/foot) are probable.

The Jets listed defensive back Drew Coleman (knee), safety James Ihedigbo (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Brad Smith (groin) as questionable for the game. Ten Jets are probable.

(Glen Farley writes for the Brockton Enterprise of GateHouse News Service.)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady just wants to talk about football. The New York Jets won’t let him.

Day after noisy day, the mouths to the south keep moving. The quarterback tries to evade their onslaughts as if they were 300-pound pass rushers.

The latest blitz: Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie called the mop-topped leader of the New England Patriots an expletive.

“I’ve been called worse,” Brady said, brushing it off like the heavy snow that fell on Foxborough. “I’m sure there’s a long list of people who feel that way.”

Cromartie made his comment Tuesday to the New York Daily News and didn’t back off on Wednesday, although he said he’s never met Brady.

“Why should I regret it? That’s how I feel,” he said. “As long as I’m in the NFL and he’s in the NFL, there’s going to be a hatred.”

Brady just keeps plowing forward.

The Patriots most valuable motorist, who was involved in a car collision three days before the season opener but made it to practice, traveled treacherous roads and arrived at work on time Wednesday.

“It was tough conditions for everyone,” Brady said. “But everyone’s here, ready to work and get ready for the biggest game of the year.”

Does anything faze this guy?

New York’s Rex Ryan hopes to be as successful outwitting New England’s Bill Belichick on the field as he is off it when the coaches lead their teams in Sunday’s divisional playoff game.

Ryan already has opened wide his bulging playbook of colorful remarks by throwing verbal jabs at Brady, who simply shrugs them off – but may not forget.

Last Thursday, the Jets boss said “nobody” studies like Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. Brady, Ryan said, “thinks he does” but gets more help from Belichick than there is with Manning. Brady acknowledged that he gets “a ton” of help from his coach.

On Saturday night during the Patriots’ bye week, Brady attended the Broadway play “Lombardi” about Green Bay’s legendary coach Vince Lombardi and missed part of the Jets’ 17-16 playoff win over the Colts on television. Ryan said on Monday, with a grin, that “Manning would have been watching our game.”

He also said that day that Brady “took a shot at me by his antics on the field.” Did he mean Brady pointed at the Jets’ sideline or looked at them after scoring? “I don’t like seeing that; nobody does. No Jet fan likes to see that. And I know he can’t wait to do it. He’s not going to say anything publicly,” Ryan said.

He’s right about that.

“It’s certainly not my intent. I’m sure there’s 50,000 cameras on the game. If I did that I’m sure they’d show it,” Brady said, sounding innocent. “I don’t think I’ve ever pointed at anybody. That’s not my style.”

Even if he did rub it in by gesturing to the New York sideline after scoring during a 45-3 win Dec. 6, it could have been prevented – by the Jets themselves.

“He was pretty demonstrative when we played him up there last time,” Jets linebacker Jason Taylor said. “I come from the school of thought where if you don’t want someone to celebrate or be excited or say something to you or do something that you might perceive as offensive, then don’t let them score.”

Cromartie said he hopes Brady tries to pick on him Sunday for his remark.

But is there a line that can be crossed that goes beyond trash talking?

“I’m sure there is,” Belichick said calmly.

And what is that?

“I don’t know,” he said. “In my mind right now it’s the New York Jets Sunday at 4:30.”

Might all the jabbering have an effect on the Patriots performance then?

“We’ll see on Sunday night at 7:30,” Brady said. “That’s when everybody will be able to tell whether it played a role or not.”

It will be Brady’s first postseason game since the worst one in a career in which he is 14-4 in the playoffs with three Super Bowl championships. He lost in the first round last season to Baltimore, 33-14. In the first quarter alone, he threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked twice as Baltimore took a 24-0 lead. Even his home fans booed him.

He hasn’t talked much about whether that loss motivates him but he appears more driven this season. He’s thrown 36 touchdown passes and only four interceptions, just one more than the Ravens picked off in that rout.

“That’s kind of hard to do in this league,” Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said, “and he’s doing it like a piece of cake.”

Ryan keeps saying he respects Brady as a player but won’t punish Cromartie for using a nasty word.

“We don’t have to be all lovey-dovey and say he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Ryan said. “We have a right to our opinion and a comment like that, it’s no big deal.”

Belichick says his team is focused on preparing for the game. His players say that Cromartie’s characterization doesn’t motivate them and that he’s entitled to his opinion.

When asked about the unflattering description, Brady smoothly shifted the direction to praising Cromartie’s skills.

“He’s a good player,” Brady said. “Revis is a great player. They have a great secondary and they are one of the best defenses we face. We’re going to spend a lot of time preparing for them. … The way they shut down the Colts offense is pretty impressive because we know how good that offense is.”

Cromartie has one of the four interceptions Brady threw. Revis held AFC receptions leader Reggie Wayne to one catch for a yard in the playoff win over Indianapolis.

For the Patriots, the goal is to beat Cromartie and his defensive mates on the field. The talk can wait.

“I don’t think we’re spending our time figuring out what we can do to combat what people say about us,” Brady said. “Not everybody has great things to say about our team or organization or certain players and that’s the way it’s always been.”

He’s even been criticized by his own coaches. Some, he said, have used the same word Cromartie used.

“Belichick’s called me that and my offensive coordinator calls me that,” Brady said. “I know they like me so maybe he really likes me.”