11/09 — It was a smorgasbord in the Jets' locker room late this afternoon. So many tasty stories, so little time.

Safety Kerry Rhodes' first interception of the season ... LB Calvin Pace's first touchdown of his career ... rookie tight end Dustin Keller's first 100-yard receiving game as a pro ... Jay Feely's 4-for-4 game, including a franchise-tying 55-yard long ... the team's 40-0 first-half lead (tied for third-largest in NFL history) and 44-point margin of victory (largest in franchise history).

But one theme was the first among equals after today's 47-3 vanquishing of the Rams and it goes by two initials: TJ.

Thomas Jones had another hard-running, high-production game as the Jets' featured back. He carried 26 times for 149 yards. He scored three rushing touchdowns, setting a personal high and tying a franchise record.

And when it was all over, Jones could only talk about his teammates.

"They did a great job," he said of his blockers. "I'm lucky to be able to run behind those guys. They're one of the best offensive lines in the league. They came off the ball well. Tony Richardson is one of the best fullbacks in the game, so I'm lucky to run behind him, too.

"Everything worked out well today. They did a great job."

His teammates and his coaches reflected all that praise back on him.

"It's good for the linemen to have your homeboy have stats like that," right tackle Damien Woody said. "He has great vision. He found holes and he exploited them."

"He had great eyes today," Robert Turner, a four-position player vs. the Rams, agreed.

Said fellow back Leon Washington: "He can really carry the team all four quarters."

"Thomas is a tremendous running back," added Richardson. "I don't know why anyone would think any different."

That, of course, is a part of the Jets chapter of the TJ story. Last season was a downer for everyone, but Jones, despite good numbers, sure wasn't getting the love. And one area that seemed to catch reporters and fans by surprise — indeed, was greeted with some disbelief — was when head coach Eric Mangini and others talked about Jones' leadership skills.

Guess what. Jones has got tons of leadership. That's been apparent to one of the newest and youngest Jets from the get-go.

"Thomas, not only by his play during the game but pregame, he's the hype-man," said Keller. "He gets everybody's juices flowing. He gets everybody excited. It's what you look for from your leaders."

Jones comes out of the tunnel for pregame introductions that way, spinning, jumping, punching the air dangerously close to the last offensive player to be announced, QB Brett Favre.

Then on the Jets' first offensive play, Jones was shot from a cannon, taking the draw toward the line, bouncing it out left and muscling upfield for 20 yards.

"It gives you confidence," Jones said of that first strike, "as you go into the next couple of quarters of the game."

It also shows that you may be able to impose your will on your opponents. That's a big part of the maturing, growing offense. Jones and the Jets were leaning on the Rams all game as he was on his way to a 13-yard run to open the scoring and a 2-yarder to up the ante to 24-0 and 11 first downs on the day.

But Jones' will and the Rams' couldn't was never clearer than on his third TD which came on first-and-goal at the St. Louis 6 with 13 minutes left, when the score was 40-3 and it would be understandable if the Jets would want to ease on down the road toward Thursday's date with the Patriots.

No such luck for the visitors.

"There was a crack and I just tried to get skinny and get in there," Jones said. "Someone from the backside hit me but I just kept my feet and my legs going. I know Tony Richardson and a couple of other guys came from behind to help me out. I guess anytime you can get in a situation like that, impose your will on the other team and push into the end zone like that, it's kind of demoralizing to the other team."

You could say that. Rams head coach Jim Haslett said, "I thought they took it to us pretty well." Guard Richie Incognito said the Rams "got taken behind the woodshed."

When Jones got up after having broken the plane, he was every bit the dervish he was before the opening kickoff. He headbutted Woody — "I love it," said the tackle — and leaped in the air to give his fullback a leaping butt bump.

"Obviously," said Richardson, "having a quarterback like Brett Favre, you'd like to throw the ball into the end zone. But there's something about running the football into the end zone that energizes the stadium, the players."

For one final imposition, the Jets ran their "four-minute offense" for the last 11:03 of the game, the team's longest drive by time since 1999 at New England. Washington got most of the work and ripped off three third-down conversion runs, all for at least 10 yards. But Jones came back in for the final three carries of his tour de force, for 3, 12 and 3 yards.

There's no guarantee that the Jets' 206-yard running game will make the trip up I-95. But it's time to appreciate that TJ is a little more than OK, as a ballcarrier and as a team leader. But the coach doesn't have to be convinced.

"I think the way Thomas has been running throughout the season has really been a tone-setter," said Mangini. "It's fun to watch his style of play."

Here are the five largest margins of victory in franchise history (all Jets home games):

Jets-Rams: First Half

Jets-Rams: Second Half

One for the History Books: Jets Slam Rams, 47-3

What Slump? Rhodes Erupts with Pick, Big Plays