It’s pretty hard to assess the Jets’ performance in their 30-21 loss to the Patriots yesterday without a firmer sense of how good (or bad) New England’s defense really is.

If it’s as awful as it played in the first few games of the season, so is this loss. Though Nick Mangold’s return helped the Jets’ offense look a hell of a lot better than it did last week against the Ravens, Gang Green still couldn’t sustain many long drives and managed only 97 yards on the ground. Bill Belichick and the Patriots countered the Jets’ attention to stopping their passing game by letting BenJarvus Green-Ellis run wild, and the Jets didn’t appear apt to adjust in turn.

If the Patriots’ defense is actually closer to that team’s normal (excellent) standards, then the Jets’ loss Sunday is not all bad. Mark Sanchez, afforded a bit more time to throw the ball, played well in spite of some butter-fingered (and allegedly mutinous) receivers. Shonn Greene flashed some of the bruising ability he hasn’t shown much of in almost two years. And the Jets’ defense, for better or worse, managed to rough up Tom Brady a bit.

Maybe I’m being a bit too optimistic, but this didn’t feel like a game that belongs in the same category as the losses in Oakland and Baltimore. It seemed more like the type of football game that could have easily gone the other way had a few close calls fallen in favor of the Jets: If Deion Branch had lifted his knee off the ground before being touched on the would-be fumble, for instance, or had Plaxico Burress’ toe landed an inch short of the sideline instead of an inch over it.

But they didn’t, so the Jets sit below .500, with critics beating their chests and hooting with glee.

And again: If the Patriots’ defense is actually terrible, this game could forebode an awful season for our blustering heroes. I strongly suspect that it isn’t.

Also: Seems pretty clear that opposing offensive coordinators are going to try to exploit Eric Smith’s lack of speed. Smith can tackle anybody, but he’s vulnerable in coverage. Of course, he’s hardly the only guy to fault in the loss.