Gettin' Ready for NFL Game Time!

Favre fights for division tie

The New York Jets take on the Buffalo Bills for the division tie and Eli Manning gets ready for the Romo-less Cowboys.

The Jets:

The Jets' first seven games haven't been pretty, especially the recent efforts against the Raiders and Chiefs, but as we near the midway point of the 2008 season, Gang Green sits at 4-3, good for second place in the division behind co-leaders New England and Buffalo.

And while there are concerns about the state of the team, starting with quarterback Brett Favre and his predilection for drive-killing, game-deciding interceptions, there is also reason for optimism. At least according to safety Kerry Rhodes.

"The whole NFL is crazy right now," Rhodes told the Newark Star-Ledger. "Especially in the AFC. We've got a lot of teams that can get on a roll (and) can take over this division. We have a chance. As bad as everybody thinks we're playing right now, we're still in the mix. So we're not that bad off."

New York's schedule complicates matters. According to Football Outsiders, the over their first seven games, the Jets had the 31st easiest schedule; the final nine games constitute the ninth-toughest.

Still, if New York can pull off the upset in Buffalo tomorrow, and the Patriots fall to the Colts, they'd be alone in first place, which goes back to Rhodes' point: the Jets are far from out of it. Of course, this assumes a lot of "ifs." Probability suggests that New York will get some of the breaks due to dumb luck, but at some point, hopefully starting Sunday, the players signed this offseason to get New York back to the postseason will put forth more consistent efforts. And in case it wasn't obvious: yes, that's directed at Brett Favre.

The Giants:

Certainly no one in the Giants locker room believes that the Cowboys' offense is virtually the same high-powered unit with 40-year-old Brad Johnson under center instead of Pro Bowler Tony Romo, but that's those are the talking points coming from Team Coughlin.

"Obviously Tony is going to do a lot of improvising," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck told the Daily News. "As a D-line, you don't have to worry about a guy outrunning you or running away from you, but your moves have to be more precise because (Johnson) is not going to give you as much time as Tony did."

Fair points, all of them, but for all of Johnson's experience (including a Super Bowl ring with the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers), his on-field presence makes the Giants defense's job much easier. Plus, there weren't any Cowboys' fans clamoring for Brooks Bollinger after a particularly unimpressive Romo outing. It took just 60 minutes for the "We Want ... Brooks?!" chants to start once Johnson was forced into the starting role.

During Dallas' last must-win game, a 13-9 victory over the Bucs, Johnson threw for 122 yards and a touchdown, managing just 3.7 yards per pass. That's a 1.3 yards less than what Brandon Jacobs averages per carry.

Oddsmakers have the Giants favored by nine points, which seems high. Until you remember Johnson's the starter, he struggles to complete passes of more than 10 yards in length, has the mobility of a statue, and the New York features one of the best defensive lines in the NFC. On paper, it could be a blow out, but that was the consensus heading into the Monday night affair in Cleveland. But let's be honest: Brad Johnson isn't even Derek Anderson.

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