FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan was so miffed by the circus-atmosphere perception of the New York Jets that he gathered his players last week and delivered a strong message: Let's go out and show 'em we're not a bunch of bozos.

"It seems like that's how people look at us," Ryan said Monday, commenting for the first time on his fiery speech. "I was like, 'You can think that all you want, but we see something totally different.' I do -- and I know this football team does. Our opponents will take us seriously, I promise you that."

The Jets backed their coach on Sunday, responding to his motivational ploy with a convincing 48-28 victory over the Buffalo Bills. It was a resounding statement for the Jets, who needed to change the headline after dropping their final three games last season and enduring a preseason of heavy criticism for scoring only one touchdown.

The breaking point for Ryan was a front-page cartoon last week in the New York Post, which depicted him, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow as circus clowns. No doubt, the Jets are a football soap opera, with their big personalities and ever-present drama. But a circus? That was too much for Ryan.

"It made it a bigger deal for us to go out there and prove to each other that we had each other's back," linebacker Aaron Maybin said of Ryan's speech to the team.

Curiously, the never-shy Jets refrained after the game from crowing about their "I-told-you-so" moment. That feeling carried into Monday. The locker room was unusually quiet during the media period, with only a half-dozen or so starters showing up. There was no sign of linebacker Bart Scott, who snapped at reporters after the game because "you treat us like a f------ joke."

On Monday, the silence spoke loudly.