FOXBOROUGH – Every year, there’s a mantra in Foxborough, and often it fits the general conditions in which the New England Patriots find themselves.Two years ago, when the Patriots struggled to score points due to a noticeable lack of quality receivers, it was “complimentary football,” which meant that the offense, defense and special teams had to leave each other in the most advantageous positions possible.Last year, when the Patriots marched like reckless marauders over the rest of the National Football League, it was “humble pie.” Don’t just assume you’re better than everyone else just because you are.This worked until the Super Bowl, when the Patriots either forgot to eat their weekly slice, or the New York Giants ate twice as much.This year, it’s “just do your job.”This is a variation of “complimentary football” in that – of course – if both the offense, defense and special teams do their jobs, they’ll put each other in the most advantageous position possible.But there’s a twist to it because the team is decimated with injuries. There’s no Tom Brady. The Patriots are down to running backs Kevin Faulk (who’s really more of an all-purpose back) and an undrafted rookie named BenJarvus Green-Ellis. There’s no Rodney Harrison on the defensive backfield. And, after the second quarter of yesterday’s 20-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, there was no Adalius Thomas.Yet here we are, nine games into the season, and the Patriots are 6-3 and playing for sole possession of first place Thursday, at home, against the New York Jets.One can’t be faulted for asking how.Here’s how. Whoever the Patriots put on the field knows enough to do his job.The aforementioned Green-Ellis, whose name sounds more like a law firm than a football player (which is why that’s his nickname – “Law Firm” – in the locker room) seized the day yesterday, running for 105 yards, 34 of them on the team’s 92-yard, nine-plus-minute drive in the fourth quarter.Fullback Heath Evans – Mr. Grunt Work himself – has his locker next to Green-Ellis’, and in deference to his breakout game, Evans beat feet to get out of the way so the rookie could face the horde of reporters waiting for him. But before he did, he offered this appraisal of Green-Ellis: “He’s Mr. Humility. That’s what we love about him. He fits in so well here. He’s a guy who just comes to work hard and he is so smart for a young guy. You rarely see that.”Other teammates were lining up to sing his praises too.”He’s been a good runner for us the last few weeks and today’s another example,” said all-pro guard Logan Mankins. “That’s good for a rookie to get over 100 yards. He came in and he stepped it up, and did a good job.””He’s been doing a great job of just getting down field and getting positive plays for us,” said receiver Wes Welker, who caught 10 passes for 107 yards. “He’s been playing really well for us, so we’re excited about how well he’s been coming along.”Green-Ellis, being a rookie (and an undrafted rookie at that) understands the unwritten role in the Patriots locker room: rookies are like children ? better to be seen than to be heard.But when you run for 105 yards and score a touchdown for the third straight week, unwritten rules come second to media needs. So he spoke.But humbly.”I don’t know how many times (I carried the ball),” he said. “Whatever they call, I just run. Whether it’s pass plays, blocking plays, or running plays, I just try to do whatever I can to help the team.”I have to tip my cap to the offensive line, and the other backs,” he said. “They’ve been a big help to me. We just have fun as a running back unit. We uplift each other.”There were other examples of “just doing your job.” Early in the game, Richard Seymour sacked Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards for a loss, a play that clearly set the tone for the defense that stymied the Bills until their garbage-time touchdown at the end of the game.”We thought it was important that we get off to a good start,” Seymour said, “and we did.”Ellis