Head Coach Norv Turner

How challenging is it designing plays against New York's defense?
"They're playing great on defense. When you can defend the run the way they are, and then they're first in the league in scoring defense, you're doing a lot of things real well. Everyone talks a lot about the blitz but they're doing a great job of playing defense when they're not blitzing. Their coverage is outstanding. They're a press, tight, cover-type team. You have to work to get open and you have to protect."

Did practice have a different feeling today knowing who you're going to face?
"It helps to get into more detail in terms of who you're playing. I thought we had great work last week. We need to work on things that have given us problems, things that we thought we could do better. We got work on that last week. Now you zero in on a team."

Given how many injuries you had this season, can you talk about A.J. Smith's role in building depth and getting players to fill in?
"I've talked about it all year: adding players as we've gone along, having depth in our lineup. I always go back to first of all getting those guys here. Obviously we've done a great job of that. Then the position coaches getting those guys ready to play. Then those players stepping up and doing what they've had to do."

How do you prepare for an attack like Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene?
"They only play one of them at a time, so that's a good thing. They're a good running football team. That's the way they've been built. They do mix in the pass. Obviously they got big plays in the passing game last week against Cincinnati. Those were the two big plays late in the game and the bootleg for the touchdown early. You have to play it honest. You have to play the run but you know that at the right moments they're going to come up with those play-action passes that can hurt you."

Do you approach things any different defensively when facing a rookie quarterback in the playoffs?
"We really have to prepare for what they do. Then if we have opportunities, the way you get after young guys is if you have opportunities to get them in those longer down and distances, get them backed up, get them in some situations that are tough for all guys, then you try to get in those situations."

What do you see from Darrelle Revis?
"I'm really impressed. We played them here last year. I thought he was outstanding. This system really fits what he does. They do put him on an island and he handles it extremely well."

How does he compare with Champ Bailey and some of the other great cornerbacks in the NFL?
"He's playing at a real high level. He's probably more physical than the other guys we've seen and still does a great job with the coverage."

QB Philip Rivers

What did you think of the Jets' performance this weekend?
"They're a good team. Anybody you face, we said last week, is going to be a really good team. I think they're just that. They played really good football down the stretch, which is what you want to do: be playing your best ball at playoff time. As far as their defense is concerned, it's going to be a challenge. They'll be as good as any we've played so far and again, that's what you expect. You get to this point in the season - the playoffs - and it's going to be a lot of good versus good out there."

What is the biggest challenge with playing the Jets' 46 defense?
"I think that's probably a term that you guys keep using more than it actually is. This defense is a multiple-look defense. They line up every way you can possibly line up. As you see and as you watch on TV, and obviously we watched the tape, they're fundamentally sound. Defensive football, when it's played the right way, there's a soundness to it. You can line up as many ways as you want, guys still have their gaps and the coverage schemes can only be so drastic. They give you multiple looks, they try to create confusion and obviously they've had a great deal of success doing it."

Do you try to force them out of their formations?
"I think as an offense you always want to go out and dictate to the defense, but at the same time, this defense, you've still got to be smart. It's a cat and mouse game, as it is in every game. You can try to line up and try to do whatever you want to do and they're going to have a response to it. We'll put together a plan that fits our personnel that gives ourselves the best chance to succeed and they'll do the same."

Is Darrelle Revis as good as you've seen?
"As far as we've played this year and I've seen, he stacks right up there with the best of them. He's just very patient, for as much press as he plays he's a very patient corner. Obviously you see when he gets his hands on the ball he catches it. That's not always the case for those defensive backs, but if he gets his hands on it he usually come out with it."

It doesn't appear necessarily that you will stay away from a guy?
"Again, you're smart. You know where they're best, and they know where we're at our best and you're smart with those guys and who you attack. We're pretty confident with the guys we have sideline to sideline that we can go out and execute."

What do you think of Mark Sanchez' performance and what he's going through right now?
"Just watching him back in his USC days, he plays the game with a lot of passion and excitement, and at the same time has a calmness about him that you need this time of year. I thought he played really well the other day, had a few big time throws that obviously kept drive alive and got points on the board. Like it is for any quarterback in any game you play, it's about winning, but in the playoffs nobody cares how or how you do it, it's just about winning. Obviously they went out and got a win last week."

Do you see any similarities with the way New York is handling him and the way the Chargers handled you in 2006 in your first season as a starter?
"A little bit. I think it was more early on. It was more the first couple weeks of the season, but you think back to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver, we threw 30 plus passes. I don't know if there is a real valid comparison there."

In terms of atmosphere, how important is it for the crowd to be loud?
"Our fans have been awesome all year. Unfortunately we lost two home games early, but since then we've won six. We're going to need those fans to be at their best. I think they were unreal at the Cincinnati game. You think back to the past playoff games we've had here; Indianapolis last year, Tennessee the year before that; it's been some pretty amazing atmospheres. We're going to need the same on Sunday to get the true home field advantage."

Is there a warm weather advantage?
"I think certainly, depending on what the temperature is, heat can certainly be a factor. We're a little more used to it. But when you get out there in a playoff game for four quarters, I think unless there are some key elements - snow, wind, rain - you get out there and it's going to be two good teams playing to their fullest for 60 minutes to see who moves on."

How is this team growing with the playoff experience the last few seasons?
"We've certainly grown each year. We've got a lot of guys who have played in playoff games, multiple playoff games, in every different situation. So certainly we do have some experience. Once the ball is kicked off it's a football game, in between the lines it will be played the same as it's played any other time. We need to be at our best. Obviously the Jets have some momentum and are playing really good football and we need to be at our best on Sunday, I'm sure they'll be. That's all you can ask for in a playoff game."

LB Shawne Merriman

What are your thoughts on this week's opponent?
"They are a physical bunch of guys. We've seen that in their last few games. We saw it again in their last playoff game. We have to come out and be physical. That's where the game will start and finish at."

The defense has made a lot of strides throughout the year by improving against the run. Is this going to be the ultimate test?
"I think so because they are pretty good at running the ball and that is something that they lean heavily on. They've been pretty good at it and it's going to be a big test for us to be able to come out there and stop it early."

Their rookie quarterback had an efficient game this past weekend but is him being a rookie something you think that you guys can exploit?
"He makes pretty smart decisions. I think he was 12 for 15 in the game. In some of those cases, he didn't have to do much but just make a good decision and I think he's been able to do that for them. He's probably part of the reason why they are in the position that they are in now."

What is it about their running game that makes them dangerous?
"They are very physical. I just heard something recently that their offensive line has started 32 straight games together as a group. The continuity is there for sure. It's a big reason why they have had success running the ball. They've been able to be physical against guys up front. They have a few first rounder's that they rely heavily on to go and make some plays for them and be good blockers."

How do you step it up now with this new season of playoffs?
"When you play in the playoffs, everything is faster. Just when you think that you are running as fast as you possibly can, you have to pick it up. Dive for the extra inches and finish every tackle. That's what it's been about for us. We got a chance this weekend to sit back and watch and get the feel of other guys playing to get a feel for the tempo out there. The bye week has helped us a little bit with that."

How do feel physically?
"I feel pretty good. The last four or five games I was pushing through so we could get in the position that we are in right now where not only myself, but some of the other guys were able to get some rest. I feel good and I'm ready for a great week of practice."

Do you feel 100%?
"I really don't put a percentage on it because I can go out there and say that I'm 100% but you just never know. But I feel pretty good though."

When's the last time you've felt this good?
"When did the football season start? (Laughs) No, probably four or five weeks ago. Right before I had the foot injury and then the groin earlier in the season for two games so this is probably the best I've felt in a while."

How excited are you to play in a playoff game again? It's been a while for you.
"I'm excited because it's a long season. And to start the way we did and to have this winning streak and go on that run like we did and to even win against Washington to keep our momentum going like we did makes it great. I'm excited to go out and play some football."

Personally, are you at all concerned about reps just because you haven't been involved in the atmosphere for a while, especially in the playoffs where you said it's a whole different speed?
"Well I just missed Washington. I played in the game before that and in other games this season. I didn't sit out the whole year and am getting ready to play my first game of the season this week. It's more like I got some rest that was well needed. I think we needed it as a team to go out there and perform in this tough physical battle. We're getting ready for a fight period. We know what kind of guys are coming to our house and we have to be ready. And we will be."

Did you see any one common trait in this past weekend's game?
"Games coming down to three or four plays. That Green Bay game, both teams scored a combined 90 something points scored. But there was three to five really big plays where they put up points that you can't let happen in this league, especially in the playoffs because in the playoffs it gets that much more important. So when it comes down to three or four big plays that can change the result of the game, you have to be more conscience of every play and not take one too lightly than the next."

How important is a fan atmosphere like it was during the Bengals game?
"Very important. Our fans have been great and specially down the stretch. In the Bengals game they had Bengals had three or four penalties just because of the loudness of our fans. It's going to help at the end of the day and hopefully they keep getting louder out there for us."

How important is it to get pressure on Mark Sanchez early on?
"It's important because we expect them to run the ball first because they are one of the best teams in doing so. But when it's time for them to throw the ball, it's time to get after him and make him make some decisions that he doesn't want to make. Going 12 for 15 last week means he can be pretty accurate so we have to change that up a bit."

Do they use him pretty smartly?
"Yes because he's athletic and can move and get out of the pocket. They are using his skills to their advantage rather than having him sit back there like a sitting duck and then take a big hit. He's able to move and get out of the pocket a little bit."

Yesterday we saw a team come back from three touchdowns. How important is it as a defense to keep that pressure on in the playoffs no matter how big of a lead you might have?
"It's very important because you were watching that game and you thought that Arizona was going to win that game by a landslide. But it was a fight all the way down to the end of the game and situations like that happen in the playoffs where things become that much more important. Because there's no quitting in the playoffs; because everyone on the team knows if you lose, you go home. There's no getting ready for the next week if you don't win. Every play counts at this point."

RB LaDainian Tomlinson

What are your thoughts on the Jets defense?
"I think they're the best defense we're going to play. They do a lot of things well, but they've got the winning formula. They run the ball well. They play good defense. You look at teams throughout history who have done well, the ones that have that winning formula are the ones who have been successful."

Why are they so good against the run in particular?
"They know what they want to do. They know their assignments. They don't mess up. They're not out of position a lot of times and they play hard."

How important will it be to get the run going this week?
"I think it will be big for us to play ball control and keep the ball moving down the field. I'm sure they're not going to give up a lot of big plays in the passing game, so it's going to be up to us to grind out yards, get the tough yards and put points on the board."

Can you talk about the dance video that's making the rounds on the internet?
"It was something that Nike wanted to do showing a different side of me. It happened a couple years ago. We came up with it. Nike put it together and I went in and did it and had a great time."

Were you happy with your dancing?
"Oh yeah. That wasn't a question. I knew I could pop a couple of moves."

Is this an internet only release?
"Yeah, right now. They can do other things with it. Nike has the rights to it, so they have the option to do whatever they want."

You did catch some grief?
"Oh yeah. Guys were repeating the song. I was surprised that guys remember the song. They were repeating the words, the dance moves. Kris Dielman was out on the field showing me all the dance moves from the video. I was surprised they remembered it."

WR Vincent Jackson

What do you see in Darrelle Revis?
"I see a talented young football player. He's had some success against some of the best receivers in the league. I think part of that comes from teams try to say, 'Hey, if you're going to try to take this away, that's fine because we should be able to beat you in other areas.' I would love to have a great game against him, but if I don't have 100 yards or something, I might only get the ball thrown to me twice, but that's okay. We've got Malcom, LA, Buster, Sproles, LT, Antonio. I'm not really focused on the 1-on-1 matchups."

Is his physicality unique?
"He is a more physical corner. I think he likes to get up and touch you, feel you as you're running around and get some contact at the line of scrimmage. I'd expect that, but I think with our size and our speed that it's not going to be any different from what we faced with other defensive backs."

How hard is it to get off that press coverage?
"That's part of the game. I've been facing all kinds of corners. There are a lot of good football players in this league. Obviously he's getting more of the attention right now, but I think press coverage is something I can split."

How do the Jets use Revis in their defense?
"He's pretty much just on their best receiver, pressing him. In a few situations, I notice where they move receivers around and he actually doesn't go with them. For the most part they say, 'Hey, it's you one on one.'"

Are you looking forward to facing him?
"Absolutely. That's why you play. You train to be the best; you play to be the best. Obviously right now he's considered one of the top guys in the league. I'm looking forward to it."

This offense isn't one that stays away from one side of the field if there's a player of Revis' caliber over there. Would you expect to see that?
"I hope not. I don't want to. I would love to just go out there and do what we've been doing, play to our strengths and go after it."

Do you expect to see Revis across from you the whole game?
"Who knows what they're going to do. I would assume that's what they're going to do with me, but we've got weapons all over the field so they may just play him on the side that he likes to play on. That is the strength of our team though. We can beat you with anybody."

What do you like about playing with Philip Rivers?
"He's a big, strong athletic guy and he plays with a lot of fierceness. He has a little swagger to him. That's one of the things I love about him. When you get in that huddle, he believes each and every time that we're going to score on the drive. To have somebody with that confidence and that desire to be successful, he wants to be good individually as well as help us win games. It's fun playing with a guy like that.

Does Rivers act like a coach on the field a lot of times?
"I'm pretty sure his dad is a big-time high school football coach and you see a lot of that in him. He can call back plays. We'll be doing something on the field or in the meeting room and he'll say, 'Remember that third quarter in 2006?' He can tell you everything. The way he can recall plays like that is amazing to me. He's definitely a football junkie."

Was there a point in the last couple of years where the light just came on for you?
"There was no light. I've always had the belief that if I work hard I can be successful at this game and I've developed more with opportunity. My third year, Norv came here and started using me more in the passing game was well as a vertical threat mentality and my numbers started to go up."

What's impressed you about the job Norv Turner has done leading this team?
"Norv has done a great job. He's provided the same message for us and that's key. Especially dealing with young players, you need consistency in your coach. That's what he's been. He's said, 'We can't worry about anything outside of this locker room, outside of this building. All we can do is focus on us.' Denver was 6-0 but we couldn't sit there and worry about what Denver was doing. He brought everybody together and said, 'We're going to focus on us. We're going to win the games we need to win and the rest will take care of itself.' Since everyone has kept that same belief and mentality each and every week we've come out and worked, it's no looking back."

How nice was it for you to get a chance to rest last week?
"I did get some rest. We're still working on it. I'm hoping to be closer to 100 percent by Sunday but obviously it's hard for anybody at this point in the season to be 100 percent. That's not what I'm focused on. I'm trying to be as prepared and as healthy as I can be to help this team. The bye helped a lot of guys on our team."

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