11/29 — Darrelle Revis had good fortune on his side Sunday.

The Carolina Panthers took the ball after the opening kickoff and methodically marched to the Jets’ 39-yard line, converting three third-and-longs in the process before facing No. 4 on a third-and-9 play. Then Lady Luck went to Revis as Jake Delhomme threw low to Steve Smith, the ball hit Smith’s foot and caromed right to Revis.

Sixty-seven yards later, Revis celebrated an easy touchdown with his teammates and the Jets took a 7-0 lead.

“We’ve been working on that play, that deflection-off-the-heel play, for a while. It’s great coaching,” said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. “But it’s funny. The same players are always lucky, whether it’s Revis or whatever. The great ones are lucky. The play was there and he made the play.”

Revis, who entered this contest with 10 career interceptions, admitted No. 11 was child’s play.

“That was the easiest one. It bounced off Steve Smith’s foot and landed right in my hands,” said the third-year corner. “I just made a play and went down and scored.”

In the Jets’ 11th game under Rex Ryan, it was fitting that Revis provided the D’s first touchdown of 2009.

“We’ve been preaching that for a while and we haven’t made plays that scored touchdowns on defense,” Revis said.

“That was a big play by Darrelle,” said S Eric Smith. “We had to get off to a fast start and there’s no faster way than that.”

Jay Feely’s extra point following Revis’ score was all the Jets would need on this glorious afternoon as the Green & White held the Panthers to six points and picked off Delhomme four times. Revis got his second of the day, fourth of the season and 12th of his career when Delhomme attempted to go long to Smith late in the second.

“I caught back up to him,” Revis said of the speedy Smith, who actually appeared to be a step in the clear. “I just closed to him as fast as I could and saw where the ball was to judge it, high-pointed it and got the ball.”

What else is there to say about Revis? This amazing talent had two interceptions and held Smith to just one catch for 5 yards. Don’t take for granted what you have here, folks, because it’s not every day you see a player in the special category.

“Steve Smith is a heck of a football player," Ryan said, "and like I've said, we have the only corner in the league that can cover him."

“I’ve been around him for three years and he’s been doing it since his rookie year,” said ILB David Harris, who was drafted a round after Revis back in 2007 in one of GM Mike Tannenbaum’s finest hours. “You see it every day in practice, so when the game comes you’re not surprised.”

Delhomme completed only 14 passes to non-Jets and was sacked three times. The front seven was buzzing, but don’t forget to add Revis into that equation.

“It makes things a lot easier because sometimes the quarterback has to hold the ball a little bit longer because Revis is matched up on their best wide receiver and he’s just not getting open,” Harris said. “He takes the best receiver away from them and it helps out the entire defense.”

Smith finally appeared to beat Revis on a fade early in the fourth, acrobatically hauling in a pass form Delhomme for an apparent 10-yard score. Revis didn’t have bad coverage on what appeared to be a perfect play, but the Jets challenged and claimed Smith didn’t have possession before he went out of bounds. The play was reviewed and the score was taken off the board.

“I didn’t know if it was a completion or not," Revis said. "I said to him right after the play, ‘That was a great throw and catch.’ I tried to defend it the best way I could and he ended up with the ball. It was a relief when the ref said it was an incomplete pass.”

In just four days, Revis will be asked to keep the suddenly hot Terrell Owens in check. Owens had five receptions for 96 yards and a TD in the Bills’ 31-14 win over the Dolphins today. But T.O. was limited to three catches when the Jets and Bills faced off at the Meadowlands in Week 6.

Every week there is a challenge and Revis can’t get enough.

“I just look at it as fun. It’s my job. I love to compete. That’s one thing I love to do — I love getting up in receivers’ faces and challenging them,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I can shut a receiver out and he’s going to have zero catches and zero yards.“

But after he nearly held Steve Smith to 0-for-0, I asked Revis if Smith said anything to him before they went their separate ways.

“He just said, ‘You’re a good player. Just try and get better as a player and I’ll see you in the future,’” recalled Revis.

If Smith returns to the Pro Bowl anytime soon, he’ll see Revis in Hawaii. After receiving a fortuitous bounce, Revis was simply dominant again. Rex is right — the great ones are lucky, but there are only a few great ones out there and Jets Nation can celebrate that they have one in their midst.