That the defense forced the Colts to punt and the Patriots scored on the ensuing possession has been conveniently ignored in the aftermath of Indy's stunning, 35-34 victory. Rather, Maroney has been blamed for failing to execute on his second-and-2 run, setting in motion a sequence that led to the infamous fourth-and-2 play.

Also overlooked is the fact that Maroney hardly ever fumbles.

"I'm not going to say it's shocking because it happens," fellow running back Kevin Faulk said yesterday. "You can be the guy that hasn't fumbled the ball, the guy who hasn't thrown a pick in 500 attempts. It's going to happen. It's human nature."

Maroney has appeared in 45 games, regular season and postseason combined, since the Patriots drafted him out of the University of Minnesota with the 21st pick in 2006. He has had 663 touches - 574 rushes, 40 receptions and 49 kick returns - and fumbled exactly three times.

The other two fumbles took place Maroney's rookie year. He had one in the regular season that was lost, and one in the postseason that he recovered.

Wayne a handful for Wilhite

The Patriots typically don't match up their cornerbacks on receivers, but second-year pro Jonathan Wilhite frequently found himself covering three-time Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne on Sunday.

Or at least trying to.

Wayne finished with 10 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He toyed with Wilhite on the winning score, a 1-yard grab with 13 seconds to play.

"You wouldn't be a Football player if you didn't think about it," Wilhite said. "But Wayne made a good catch. Peyton (Manning) made a good throw. It happens in Football."

Wayne's best catch was an over-the-shoulder grab along the left sideline against double coverage that was good for 25 yards in the first quarter.

"Probably the best play I've seen all year," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

Faulk: `A catch is a catch'

Faulk appeared to have a first down on that fourth-and-2 play, but officials spotted the ball a yard shy. The apparent reason was that he didn't initially have control of the pass from quarterback Tom Brady.

Faulk would have none of the bobble talk.

"A catch is a catch to me," he said. "I don't know how you want to define clean. A catch is a catch.

"I understand exactly what you're saying, but I don't make that judgment. The ref does."

It was pointed out to Faulk, who is regarded by many as having the best set of hands on the team, how rare it is to see him not pull a pass right in.

"Hey, I'm human, too," he replied.

Not the crocodile kind

Jets coach Rex Ryan, you may have heard, had an Oprah-like moment Monday during a private meeting with his team that ended up as public fodder.

Ryan, predictably, has been getting razzed for the waterworks display.

Rather than downplay the episode, he has embraced it, and showed up for his news conference yesterday with a box of tissues.

The Jets have lost five of their last six to fall to 4-5, but Ryan denied he was trying to motivate his team.

"No, that's just straight from my heart and all that kind of stuff," he said. "Anybody that's ever been around me knows that's the way I am. You can ask people in Baltimore and the team. It's just that it's never got out before.

"I'm like that. I'm an emotional guy. I'm a passionate person, but my main message is that I came here to be a champion and I believe in myself and I believe in this Football team."

Nine out of practice

The Patriots listed 19 players on their injury report, including nine who sat out practice.

The non-workout newcomers were receiver Sam Aiken (hip), guard Stephen Neal (head) and linebackers Tully Banta-Cain (groin), Gary Guyton (illness) and Rob Ninkovich (knee). Jarvis Green, Fred Taylor and Ty Warren remain out with lingering leg woes while Randy Moss, as usual, got Wednesday off for non-injury reasons.

Left tackle Matt Light and running back Sammy Morris were limited participants. Light has missed the last four games, and Morris the last three, with knee injuries, but there's a growing sentiment both are close to returning.

The Jets did without safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker Vernon Gholston, neither of whom is expected to play Sunday.