Earlier this week, Jets head coach Eric Mangini offered quarterback quarterback Brett Favre some advice: steer clear of costly turnovers and take fewer risks. For nearly 50 minutes Favre obliged, managing the offense, dutifully getting the ball to Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, and avoiding sacks or interceptions.
It was a refreshing change, really.
And then the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer had a momentary lapse, heaving a ball toward the sidelines in Jerricho Cotcherty's general direction, which, predictably, ended up in the hands of Bills cornerback Jabari Greer, who promptly ran 42 yards for a touchdown, cutting New York's lead to 23-17 with just over 10 minutes to go.
That glaring miscue aside, Favre was serviceable, which is an improvement over recent efforts, but certainly nowhere close to what the Jets were expecting when they traded for him late this summer.
Quarterback issues aside, New York pulled out the victory because of a great defensive effort. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was sacked four times, he threw a 92-yard first-half pick-six that gave the Jets an early 13-7 lead, and, fittingly, cornerback Darrelle Revis's interception in the end zone with a minute to go sealed the game for Gang Green.
While execution is certainly important, a win is a win, as they say. And for New York, they are 5-3, and depending on the outcome of tonight's Patriots-Colts tilt, could be tied atop the division. Much of it hasn't been pretty, but after a four-win campaign a year ago, fans, players, coaches and the front office will take it. The schedule is unrelenting going forward, but if New York can stay competitive in the division, they should be positioned for a postseason run.
Brett Favre or not, nobody had such expectations last January.
