09/13 — Pick an adjective out of the hat to properly describe the Jets’ defensive effort against the Texans today — nasty, relentless, scary, violent …

Awesome certainly would apply. In their first game under head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the Jets’ defense held the Texans’ offense without a point over four quarters in the Green & White’s 24-7 season-opening win.

“They were ranked third last year in the league. I think we made a great statement,” said cornerback Darrelle Revis. “We shut them out. They scored on our offense, but as a defense I think we accomplished a lot of things today. We didn’t get a lot of turnovers — we got that one when DeVito got the fumble recovery — but it was great. We got pressure, we stopped their running game and we stopped their passing game.”

Houston's only points came courtesy of its defense as S Dominique Barber scooped up a fumble and ran 48 yards following a John Busing interception of rookie QB Mark Sanchez. But that was it on this afternoon as the Jets held the Texans to just 183 total yards and 38 yards rushing. And Revis shined in the spotlight, holding Andre Johnson, who many consider to be the best receiver in football, to just four catches for 35 yards.

“We put a lot of pressure on Darrelle to be isolated out there against what I think is the best receiver in the game,” said ILB Bart Scott. “I think that’s quite a challenge and I think the rest of the NFL will start realizing that he’s one of the brightest young talents at that position in the game.”

Scott, one of three former Ravens defenders who followed Ryan to the Jets and started Sunday, set the tone on the game’s second play from scrimmage by delivering a big shot on QB Matt Schaub. Even though the Texans’ passer completed a ball to Johnson for 7, the message was sent. It was going to be a long, painful day for an otherwise explosive offense.

“You have to set the tone. We’re a physical defense and we dare you to come up and butt heads with us,” said the “Madbacker.” “That’s what you have to do — you have to come up and make guys know it’s not going to be a comfortable pocket.” 

Schaub finished 18 of 33 for 166 yards and one INT. And while he was sacked once apiece by ILB David Harris and rookie LB Jamaal Westerman, Schaub prevented a much larger number with his quick delivery. The heat was turned up inside Reliant Stadium.

“He just got off the ball so quick — it destroyed our stats,” said NT Kris Jenkins. “I think we could have looked so much better on paper, but at the same time we don’t care because sometimes the stats have to disappear in order for you to prove what it takes to get a win.”

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to sack him. He was one of the hardest quarterbacks to sack last year,” added Ryan. “I think we only got him twice, but we had a lot of hits on the quarterback. We knocked him around a little bit and no quarterback likes to get hit.”

That middle interior of the Jets defense, with Jenkins on the line backed up by LBs Scott and “Hitman” Harris (11 tackles, six solo), was better than advertised. The Texans could not run the football as Steve Slaton, who gained 1,282 yards as a rookie, was held to 17 yards on nine carries.

“Whenever you hold an explosive offense like this under 200 yards, it’s a team effort,” Scott said. “It may not be the guy you see finalizing the play or the guy you see making the tackle. You have to give credit to that defensive line for keeping guys off the linebackers.”

The Jets held the Texans to just 3-for-10 on third down conversions and they also collected a couple of takeaways. Nickelback Donald Strickland’s perfect pop of Slaton and DeVito's subsequent recovery not only stopped a second-quarter scoring threat but the Jets also cashed in with their first touchdown 78 yards later when Sanchez hit Chansi Stuckey for a 30-yard score.

Then the Jets didn’t hold onto a 24-7 lead in the fourth — they went for the jugular. Overloading the left side of the line, Strickland was one of the blitzers coming free and Schaub threw up a prayer that Lito Sheppard hauled in.   Sheppard, brought in to man the corner spot opposite Revis, was solid throughout and had a couple of nice open-field tackles.

Oh, yeah, the Jets also did this without OLB Calvin Pace and DE Shaun Ellis. Both were serving suspensions and that put Vernon Gholston (three tackles) and Sione Pouha in the starting lineup. Ellis, one of the most productive D-linemen in franchise history, will return next week for the home opener while Pace, who is the Jets’ top rush and cover 'backer, will miss three more games.

You wonder what the rest of the league is thinking right about now. This defense was completely dominant against one of the NFL'’s best offenses and reinforcements are coming.

Here’s another adjective for you: menacing.

“I think it’s the most balanced defense that I’ve been on since I’ve played and that’s saying a lot,” said Jenkins, who’s in his ninth pro season and was dominant again. “ I think this is the most complete defense I’ve played on. I think it’s expected of this unit to do what we did today every week. This is what we’re aiming for.”