FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- The hype has finally died. So what if Bill Parcells is coaching against his former team? He's already been gone three years.

Besides, Monday night's meeting between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets, where Parcells took over in 1997, looms as a mismatch. The Patriots (6-2) are eyeing the playoffs. The Jets (2-6) are hoping to go 3-6.

After Tuna Bowls I, II, III, IV and V, there is hardly enough buzz about the game to call it Tuna Bowl VI.

"I wish it was alive, because it was the coolest thing going on around here," Patriots defensive tackle Chad Eaton said, smiling at reporters. "You guys haven't found anything neat to conjure up."

How about the renewal of the Keyshawn Johnson-Ty Law rivalry in the passing game? "We always talk a lot of trash," the Patriots cornerback said. "I feel if we go one-on-one, I'm going to bet on me."

Or maybe the return of Curtis Martin. The former Patriot has rushed for 128, 123 and 131 yards in his last three games.

No, New England comes back from its bye week with the focus on another ex-Patriot, Ray Lucas, making only his second NFL start as a quarterback while New England goes with AFC passing leader Drew Bledsoe.

"Let's make it a Lucas and Bledsoe thing," said Law, mocking the media's tendency to build up a game. "He was Bledsoe's understudy. I think it's the makings of a good story."

Parcells, 3-2 against the Patriots, hopes it results in a good game for the Jets, who have struggled since Vinny Testaverde was lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon in the opening 31-28 loss to the Patriots.

So much for preseason portrayals of the Jets as a Super Bowl contender.

Dissatisfied with Rick Mirer after last Sunday's 12-7 win over Arizona, Parcells is going back to Lucas, who started Oct. 17 against Indianapolis, but sprained his ankle on the final play of the 16-13 loss and missed the past two games.

"Any time you start in the NFL, you should be happy," Lucas said. "It shows the coach's confidence in me."

Or his lack of confidence in Mirer, who has thrown for five touchdowns and nine interceptions while the Jets have averaged only 14.1 points in his six starts. Parcells is turning to the scrambling Lucas, although he might make more mistakes than Mirer.

"Ray may not be able to be as judicious as Rick was and that may eventually cost us games," Parcells said, "but I have to try to find that out because, on the present course, we're not scoring enough to win. So I think the risk is worth it."

The contrast with Bledsoe is obvious. He's thrown 13 touchdown passes and just four interceptions and might be at the top of his game in his seventh season.

"I don't see anyone who's playing better right now," Parcells said.

The Patriots are coming off their most dominant win of the season, 27-3 at Arizona, and Bledsoe said, "we haven't played our best football yet."

Lucas could benefit from his familiarity with some Patriots defenders. He played against them in practice in his one season with New England in 1996.

"The things that he used to do to us on the scout team, he used to make us look bad sometimes," Law said. "So we knew he had the ability."

He just doesn't have the experience. But he can cause problems with his running ability.

"Last game he added a spark to the team," Martin said. "We moved the ball pretty well."

Against Indianapolis, Lucas completed 16 of 30 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. But with the Jets threatening to break a 13-13 tie, he threw an interception in the end zone that led to the winning field goal with 14 seconds left.

Eaton remembers a Patriots team meeting in 1996 at which Parcells said, " `I like this Ray Lucas kid, and I don't know why, but I like him.' He said that in front of everyone and Bill doesn't do those kind of things, so you know he trusts him."

"We just need much better balance," Parcells said, so Martin wouldn't have to carry the ball 38 times. "We need a couple of big plays in the passing game."

Even if Lucas and the offense play well, the Jets must contend with the NFL's fourth most productive attack, led by Bledsoe, receivers Terry Glenn and Shawn Jefferson and running back Terry Allen.

Despite their poor record, the Jets have a strong defense that has held six opponents below their season average in points. Four of the Jets' losses have been by seven points or less.

"It's a very, very talented defensive group and we don't look at them as anything but problems and disruption," New England coach Pete Carroll said.

Every game is important for the Patriots, who are in the NFL's best division, the AFC East, with Miami (7-1), Indianapolis (6-2), Buffalo (6-3) and the Jets.

Even a game like Monday's that lacks the electricity, and possibly the competitiveness, of past Patriots matchups with Parcells.

"That's over and done with," New England strong safety Lawyer Milloy said. "I'm not even going to talk about it."

NY JETS Season schedule and results

NEW ENGLAND Season schedule and results

September 12 New England L 28-30 September 19 @Buffalo L 3-17 September 26 Washington L 20-27 October 3 @Denver W 21-13 October 11 Jacksonville L 6-16 October 17 Indianapolis L 13-16 October 24 @Oakland L 23-24 November 7 Arizona W 12-7 November 15 @New England 9:00pm ET November 21 Buffalo 1:00pm ET November 28 @Indianapolis 4:15pm ET December 5 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET December 12 Miami 4:05pm ET December 19 @Dallas 4:15pm ET December 27 @Miami 9:00pm ET January 2 Seattle 1:00pm ET

September 12 @NY Jets W 30-28 September 19 Indianapolis W 31-28 September 26 NY Giants W 16-14 October 3 @Cleveland W 19-7 October 10 @Kansas City L 14-16 October 17 Miami L 30-31 October 24 Denver W 24-23 October 31 @Arizona W 27-3 November 15 NY Jets 9:00pm ET November 21 @Miami 1:00pm ET November 28 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET December 5 Dallas 8:20pm ET December 12 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 19 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 26 Buffalo 1:00pm ET January 2 Baltimore 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.