The numbers have been stark for Chad Pennington and the Jets in recent match-ups against the Patriots — but now Pennington has a secret weapon: Chad Pennington.

The numbers:

* Pennington is 0-3 against the Pats since 2003, with one touchdown and seven interceptions.

* Under Herm Edwards, the Jets were 2-8 overall against the Pats, including losing the last six.

* Under Edwards, the Jets averaged 13 points against the Pats.

So what reason do Penny and the Jets have optimism? I’ll give you two.

First, the Jets have new insight into how the Pats have defended Pennington in recent years. From the NY Daily News’ Rich Cimini:

Mangini, a Belichick disciple who helped write the New England playbook, spent extra time with Pennington this week, teaching him the darkest secrets of the New England system. Linebacker Matt Chatham, another ex-Patriot, also talked with Pennington, reciting from memory old scouting reports and game plans that were used against the Jets in previous years.

Granted Belichick is well-known for custom-designing new game-plans each week, but information is power and Pennington will be newly  empowered.

Perhaps more important, Pennington will be liberated.

For the first time in his tenure as the starting quarterback, Pennington has been entrusted with the ability to call checks at the line of scrimmage, many times out of the no-huddle.

…

In the past, Pennington was handcuffed by systems and coaches that afforded him little leeway. Now, under rookie coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, he’s like a coach on the field, moving players and calling plays at the line.

Will the Jets win today? Probably not. But it may well be a closer game than has been the case in recent years.