Yet he didn't know until Friday that he'd be active for the game. Regular kicker Mike Nugent, out since opening day with a thigh injury, returned to practice the week before the St. Louis game and the two kickers ended daily practice with a kicking contest.

"It hasn't been nerve-racking," Feely said of the contest. "It's fun to compete. It's not something that you usually do during the middle of the season. The team had even more fun with it than Mike and I did because we were having a kick-off at the end of each practice. They were giving us each a hard time. ... You just have to try to do your best and be ready and be prepared."

Eric Mangini declined Monday to say whether Nugent or Feely would kick at New England on Thursday.

--The Jets' problems garnering takeaways have disappeared this season whenever they face the NFC West. In a 56-35 win over Arizona on Sept. 28, they forced seven turnovers. They had five takeaways against St. Louis, leading to 27 points. They've forced six turnovers in the other seven games.

Included in Sunday's tally was Calvin Pace's 50-yard fumble return after blitzing safety Abram Elam's strip sack of Marc Bulger. "I thought it wasn't going to happen, or that it was a dream," sixth-year linebacker Pace said of his first NFL touchdown. "I heard the crowd roaring. I saw the end zone, and I was slow getting there, but I finally made it."

Also included was safety Kerry Rhodes' long-awaited first interception of the season. He also had a fumble recovery and an acrobatic deflection to set up Hank Poteat's pick.

"I wish I could say I was trying to tip it to Hank," Rhodes noted, "but I can't say that."

--Veteran CB Ty Law has agreed to terms with the Jets on a one-year deal, according to nfl.com. Law also played for the Jets in 2005, when he had 10 interceptions, the third-most in team history in a single season. He played for New England from 1995-2004. Jets coach Eric Mangini coached the New England secondary from 2000-04.

Law, a five-time Pro Bowl corner, sat out the first nine games of the season as a free agent after being released by Kansas City last winter.

"Things appear to be headed in that direction," a source close to the team said about the signing, which the Jets would not confirm. Law's signing is believed to be pending a physical.

"This is going to be different playing Thursday night against the Patriots, matching up against my former team and the players I'm used to practicing against," Law told the NFL Network, adding that he expects to be used at both cornerback and safety.

Law, 34, has 52 career interceptions, more than any active NFL player. The Jets have been looking for help in the secondary. Third-year player Drew Coleman has struggled at covering slot receivers and rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery has been picked on recently by opponents.