The last time they played, Chad Pennington was the Jets' starting quarterback.

This weekend, however, when New York travels north to New England, second-year pro Kellen Clemens will be at the controls of the Jets offense.

"I'm growing in confidence each week and looking forward to the opportunity that we have this week," Clemens told reporters this week.

"It's a great challenge. They are the New England Patriots and they are Bill Belichick's defense. Fortunately, I've had the opportunity to watch the last four times that we've played them, and have been a part of game-planning and trying to learn about the things that they do defensively while Chad was playing. I took those opportunities very seriously."

How Clemens performs in his debut start against New England - particularly in what should be a driving snowstorm - will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

The Boston Herald today lists five other interesting aspects of this game on which to focus.

One of those, of course, will be the post-game acknowledgements between Jets coach Eric Mangini and the Pats' Bill Belichick. In the two seasons he's been in charge in New York, Mangini and Belichick have already had some memorable on-field greetings.

With that in mind, ESPN.com's Page 2 section created a humorous look back at some of Belichick's encounters with rival coaches and players.

It's good for a laugh.

QUICK HITS

Looking back on it, Eric Mangini did the right thing, according to a New York Times columnist this Thursday, who defends Mangini's decision to report his former boss to the league earlier this season.

New York *Newsday *dives deeper into the Jets' alleged improprieties with cameras when they came to Gillette Stadium last season.

S Rodney Harrison doesn't hold a grudge against Mangini, as he points out in a Boston Globe featurette about Harrison and NT Vince Wilfork.