CJ Gunther/European Pressphoto AssociationThe Jets and defensive back Kerry Rhodes have had their hands full recently defending against the Patriots' and Broncos receivers, and the Niners present yet another challenge.

The Jets have the NFL's 30th-ranked pass defense, having allowed a stunning 249.2 yards per game, a number that has only grown the past three weeks as Matt Cassell of the Patriots and Jay Cutler of the Broncos each threw for more than 350 yards. Outside of cornerback Darrelle Revis, no one is making plays consistently.

RETURN OF HARRIS WILL AID DEFENSE

Coach Eric Mangini didn't make any definitive statement, but it appears that the Jets' slumping defense may receive a much-needed boost with the return of inside linebacker David Harris this week.

Harris, sidelined for five games following groin surgery, is likely to play and may start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

LOOKING BACK

Perhaps the most alarming thing about the Jets' loss to the Broncos was that coach Eric Mangini saw it coming after a lackluster week of practice. That is probably why he's so upset with his team. For just the second time this season -- the San Diego game was the other -- the Jets defense was a no-show.

David L. Pokress/Newsday via MCTShaun Ellis, left, and Eric Barton of the Jets walk off the field after the Denver Broncos scored in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at Giants Stadium.

Instead, the Jets (8-4) hold a one-game lead over the Patriots and Dolphins in the division, with the loss to Denver taking some of the luster off their back-to-back victories at New England and Tennessee.

Furthermore, the Jets' chances of getting a first-round bye also took a hit. The top two seeds in each conference get a bye. The Titans (11-1) and Steelers (9-3), who thumped the Patriots, 33-10, on Sunday, currently sit atop the AFC.

Ed Betz/Associated PressThe No. 6 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Vernon Gholston has yet to have a breakthrough game for the Jets.

On Sunday, the Jets needed rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston's pass-rush ability in the worst way. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler repeatedly scrambled to make plays and the Jets couldn't lay a hand on him.

Coach Eric Mangini turned to Gholston, drafted sixth overall, and got little.

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerThomas Jones was one of few bright spots for the Jets in their loss to Denver, running for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Jets running back Thomas Jones had yet another big day as he ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 carries in the Jets' 34-17 loss to the Broncos Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Jones, the AFC's leading rusher, scored on a career-long touchdown run of 59 yards and scored on a 29-yarder on which he appeared to be down. Jones now has 1,088 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season.

It's the fourth consecutive season he has rushed for 1,000 yards. His 11 rushing touchdowns are one shy of Curtis Martin's club record.

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerThe Jets' defense had no answer for Denver's Peyton Hillis, as he became the first player this season to run for 100 yards against them.

Fullback-turned-feature back Peyton Hillis went Star Trek on the Jets' stout run defense -- boldly going where no man had gone before. The Broncos' rookie became the first opposing player to top the 100-yard plateau in Denver's 34-17 win.

Hillis, thrust into the starting role a few weeks ago thanks to a host of injuries in the backfield, had 22 carries for a career-high 129 yards and a touchdown, gashing the most formidable piece of the Jets defensive puzzle.

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerBrett Favre did not have a good day -- here he walks off the field after fumbling the ball in the third quarter.

Brett Favre sounded like a defense attorney with a client who had been caught standing over the body, clutching a kitchen knife, blood dripping off the edge. Try as he might to defend offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Favre had no shot at an acquittal.

On critical third and fourth downs, needing only a yard, the Jets had opted to throw the ball. Call it pass, fail. And those plays, which the Jets failed to execute -- along with several other mistakes in judgment, lousy tackling and missed assignment -- dominoed into a 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday night in a rainstorm at Giants Stadium.

The Jets, still polishing their nails after the blowout of the previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans, were victimized by big plays in the first half and trailed, 27-14, early in the third quarter.

DID YOU NOTICE?

The Jets went three and out on their first drive to snap their streak of six consecutive games of scoring on their opening drive...

Damien Woody recovered Thomas Jones' first-quarter fumble on the Jets 13-yard line...

The Broncos appeared to catch a break on Vernon Fox's 23-yard fumble return for a TD in the first quarter. Jerricho Cotchery fumbled Brad Smith's flip on a reverse, but appeared to have control of the ball at the Jets 25-yard line when Wesley Woodyard landed on him and the ball squirted free. Officials ruled that Cotchery never had possession of the ball...

Paul Sakuma/Associated PressAt age 30, the Jets' Thomas Jones is enjoying a career year, thanks to time spent in the weight room and the cold tub.

But Jets running back Thomas Jones, who turned 30 in August, is just getting his second wind. He's defying the odds and running with the young pups at a time when most running backs are in the twilight of their careers.

Jones, in his ninth season, leads the AFC in rushing and is fifth in the NFL with 950 yards rushing, along with nine touchdowns on 217 carries (4.4-yard average). He's on pace for a career high in rushing yards and his 11 total touchdowns (two receiving) are tied for fourth in the NFL.

Jack Dempsey/Associated PressDenver QB Jay Cutler is third in the NFL in passing yardage (3,036), which could be a problem for the Jets' secondary.

QB Brett Favre has always been at his best when he's getting rid of the ball quickly, firing slants, working the tight end underneath and throwing an occasional deep ball, and that's exactly what the Jets have been doing the past three weeks.

Favre has thrown just one interception in the past three games and is completing 77 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and the interception. Rookie TE Dustin Keller has emerged as Favre's go-to guy with 20 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown in the past three games.

Chris Faytok/The Star-LedgerThese two guys -- Brian Schottenheimer and Brett Favre -- still have something up their sleeve when it comes to opening up the passing game.

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer readily admits that quarterback Brett Favre has gone more to a short passing game in recent weeks, but he insists a post pattern to wide receiver Laveranues Coles -- even with safety help over the top -- is still in the playbook.

Over the past four games, the Jets have gone to a short passing game that has produced five touchdowns and just two interceptions while averaging 35.2 points.

Favre has completed 79 of 103 passes (76.6 percent) for 816 yards in those games. Just six completions have been for 20 or more yards.

David L. Pokress/Newsday via MCTEric Barton of the Jets keeps it light off the field, but is all business when he nears a quarterback, as the St. Louis Rams' Marc Bulger found out earlier this season.

The other day, sporting a mohawk haircut -- he plans to get it cut -- Barton led the razzing of veteran fullback Tony Richardson, who had a 14-yard run against the Titans, his longest since 2002.

During his interview, Barton exchanged one-liners with left guard Alan Faneca, whose locker stall is adjacent to his. Later, he posed for the cameras during practice.

Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerFireman Ed gets a shout out from Jets NT Kris Jenkins.

Star-Ledger Jets beat writer Dave Hutchinson gives us some insight from practice Wednesday:

FAVRE SAYS GROUND GAME PASSES WITH FLYING COLORS

Brett Favre has made his mark flinging the ball downfield, but he insists he has no problem with going to the short passing game that is driving the offense these days.

Or running the football.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe Jets considered drafting Jay Cutler, whose quick feet will concern them more than his arm when the Broncos visit on Sunday.

Jay Cutler's arm has been the talk of the NFL since his arrival, even sparking comparisons to a young Brett Favre. And the numbers back up the hype.

The Broncos' third-year quarterback is third in the NFL in passing yardage with 3,036 yards and has five 300-yard games, third-most in the league, this season. He's fourth in completions (246) and tied for fifth in touchdown passes (19). Already he closing in on some of John Elway's franchise records.

"I think the guy can be pretty darn good," Favre said Wednesday. "He has the right mentality. Has all the physical tools. Got a real strong arm. He moves around well. ... I guess I can see the comparisons."

Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesKris Jenkins hasn't been surprised by the Jets' recent domination. "We knew we had to correct our mental mistakes," he said.

The Jets are coming off, perhaps, the biggest back-to-back road victories in franchise history with wins at New England and Tennessee, and they have won five straight games and seven of eight.

NT Kris Jenkins, for one, insists he saw it coming.

"Early in the season, when we saw some of the losses that we had, and some of the ways that we were playing, we knew that we had the potential to compete on another level," he said. "We just needed to believe in ourselves and do it.

Charles Small/US PresswireLeon Washington isn't the only one celebrating the Jets' success this season.

Center Nick Mangold heard it while getting an oil change on his car Monday as a Jets fan and Giants fan were engaged in a debate.

Fullback Tony Richardson got a taste of it when he took his SUV in for repairs and encountered an elderly man working there who had rummaged through boxes and dug out a crumpled original New York Titans hat from the 1960s.

Mark Humphrey/Associated PressQB Brett Favre isn't fond of the term "managing a game," but whatever he's doing is working for the surging Jets offense.

They seem to have found their identity as a smash-mouth running team that can throw on demand, averaging a whopping 168.5 yards rushing in the past six games.

And quarterback Brett Favre has apparently found a middle ground between gunslinger and game manager.

Who gets the credit?

AP Photo (left), Getty Images (right)Brett Favre vs. Eli Manning in Tampa? It could happen.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Now you can dare to dream a little bit. Now you can circle Feb. 1, 2009, on your calendar, start stocking up on beer and chips, and imagine what might happen that night in Tampa.

DID YOU NOTICE?

Brett Favre's touchdown pass to Laveranues Coles in the third quarter was his 20th of the season -- the 14th season Favre's had at least 20 touchdowns. He broke a tie with Dan Marino for the most seasons with 20-plus touchdowns.

Abram Elam continued to make big plays for the Jets defense, teaming up with Eric Barton to strip Chris Johnson in the third quarter. The fumble was recovered by Bryan Thomas.

Mark Humphrey/Associated PressLeon Washington celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown against the Titans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- This one was not about the quarterback.

Okay, that might be an exaggeration. The quarterback is you-know-who, so it is always about him on some level. Like when one of the Jets' flacks yelled, "Brett Favre is going to the podium!" Sunday, and about two dozen sportswriters ran to get there as if the locker room had burst into flames.

Favre is at the center of everything the Jets do, but Sunday's 34-13 romp over the Tennessee Titans was much bigger than No. 4. And that is the most important development for this team.

The Jets absolutely pounded the Titans. You could picture them coming here and winning, maybe in a low-scoring game, maybe on a late field goal. But this? This was hard to see coming. The Titans were 10-0 for a reason, with a dominant defensive line and running game.

John Russell/Associated PressTitans running back Chris Johnson is stopped by the Jets' Kenyon Coleman and Abram Elam in the second quarter.

NOTEBOOK

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With a big assist from the offense, the Jets lowered the boom on the Titans' much-ballyhooed running game.

Tennessee, which entered Sunday averaging 132.7 yards rushing per game -- seventh in the NFL -- was held to just 45 yards on 11 carries in the Jets' 34-13 victory Sunday at LP Field that knocked the Titans from the ranks of the undefeated.

Rookie sensation Chris Johnson rushed for 46 yards on 10 carries and the bruising LenDale White rushed for minus-1 yard on his only carry.

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerOpposing QBs (in this case, Rams' Marc Bulger) never know where (or from whom) the pressure is coming from when they face the Jets. Eric Barton (right) has 1½ sacks and Calvin Pace (left) has four. Sixteen different Jets have hit the QB.

From Shaun Ellis to Kerry Rhodes to Sione Pouha (who?), the no-frills sack parade has left no pass rusher behind. The Jets have had a league-high 16 players who have recorded at least a half a sack this season.

"It's just out of control," said defensive tackle C.J. Mosley (1 1/2 sacks). "Guys are coming out of nowhere."

The Jets -- who rank third in the NFL with 34 sacks -- will face their toughest challenge Sunday in Nashville, Tenn., against a Tennessee Titans offensive line that has allowed a league-low six sacks.

Mark Humphrey/Associated PressTitans' QB Kerry Collins has thrown for 519 yards and 5 TDs in the last two weeks.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL
QB Brett Favre is starting to look like the Brett Favre of old rather than an old Brett Favre. He has found his comfort zone in the Jets offense, having gone two games without an interception. Why? The running game is sizzling, with RB Thomas Jones leading the AFC with 854 yards and nine touchdowns (three short of Curtis Martin's club record for a season). And the pass protection is much-improved. During Favre's interception binge, he repeatedly was getting sacked and throwing with people in his face. TE Dustin Keller (27 catches, 341 yards, 3 TDs) is becoming to Favre what a young Bubba Franks was in Green Bay. The Jets catch a break with Titans starting CB Nick Harper (ankle) banged up -- and unlikely to play -- and top reserve Eric King (forearm) out. The Jets offensive line faces a tough challenge in DT Albert Haynesworth (career-high seven sacks and 39 tackles). Veteran Keith Bulluck leads the linebacking corps. Starting safeties Chris Hope and Michael Griffin and CB Cortland Finnegan each have four interceptions. The Titans rank first in the NFL in points allowed (13.1), are tied for second in interceptions (15), rank sixth in sacks (28) and sixth in total defense (281.8 yards per game). This bunch has no weakness.

Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerJets RB Thomas Jones, being congratulated after his 3-TD performance in the 26-14 victory over the Bengals last month, is the primary beneficiary of the team's revamped offensive line.

When the jokes are flying in the film room, nobody is safe.

Thomas Jones gets ridiculed. Nick Mangold absorbs some good-natured ribbing. Heck, even newcomers Alan Faneca and Damien Woody get lampooned.

The secret to the Jets' rushing success this season?

The running backs and offensive linemen actually like each other.

"Shoot, we love each other," fullback Tony Richardson said. "We joke. We watch film together every day. If a guy falls down, we can give him a hard time. It's fun. Because once we're in that huddle in the heat of battle, you know the work, effort and preparation that everyone's been through. There's a connection ... you know they're going to give you everything they have."

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesBo Scaife's 44 catches are more than twice as many as anyone else on the Titans, and have produced 450 yards and two touchdowns.

His name is Bo Scaife. Jets fans should be ready to hear it a few times Sunday afternoon.

And if the Jets aren't careful when they face the undefeated Tennessee Titans, Scaife -- the team's leading receiver and QB Kerry Collins' safety net -- could be another on the list of tight ends that have burned them this season. Like Ben Watson of the Patriots, Tony Gonzalez of the Chiefs, Anthony Fasano of the Dolphins and Derek Fine of the Bills.

When it comes to tight ends, the Jets have been getting a dose of their own medicine -- with rookie Dustin Keller having emerged as a major force in each of the past two games.

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerJets CB Darrelle Revis, above, began talking football with mentor Ty Law when Revis started high school in their Pennsylvania hometown.

Star-Ledger Jets beat writer Dave Hutchinson gives us some insight from practice Thursday:

LAW AND REVIS A HAPPY TANDEM

Ty Law and Darrelle Revis used to talk about one day playing together in the NFL when they would see each other at neighborhood cookouts and family gatherings in Aliquippa, Pa.

With that feat having been accomplished last Thursday night at New England, the two cornerbacks may do one better on Sunday when they start against the Titans.

Law could replace struggling rookie Dwight Lowery, who has been beaten for six touchdowns and a two-point conversion this season.

"There's a pretty good chance," Law said Thursday, when asked if he might start.

Stew Milne/US PresswireTy Law, above, could replace struggling Jets starting rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery.

Star-Ledger sports writer M.A. Mehta gives us some insight from practice Wednesday:

'D' HAPPY TO HAVE LAW AND ORDER

Plucked from his living room sofa last week, Ty Law wasted little time making an impact. The veteran cornerback said Wednesday that he was "a little shocked" to be in for 57 plays in the Jets' overtime thriller over the Patriots last Thursday.

But he certainly wasn't complaining.

"I didn't expect to play that many plays -- I don't think anybody did -- but it was good that I was able to go out there and help the team," said Law, who was used mainly in nickel and dime packages. "I was hurting for a few days after. And I think I'm still feeling some of those 57 plays.

Geoff Burke/US PresswireNow that's a game face -- Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth talks with head coach Jeff Fischer. Jets tight end Chris Baker says facing Tennessee will be like a playoff game.

The Jets' victory over the Patriots last week did as much for their collective psyche as it did for their place in the AFC East standings. Before the Jets could move forward, they had to put the Patriots behind them.

Now, the Jets face the undefeated Tennessee Titans in a game that can truly stamp them as legitimate contenders.

Defeating the Patriots "was more of a mental thing, a little bit of history," said linebacker David Bowens. "This is different."

As the Jets (7-3) returned to work Wednesday, fresh off a five-day break, they turned their attention to their matchup against the Titans (10-0) on Sunday at LP Field.

LOOKING BACK

One victory does not a season make, but it doesn't get much better than last Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. It's hard to imagine the Jets -- and coach Eric Mangini -- recovering from two losses to a Tom Brady-less Patriots team.

As it was, Patriots QB Matt Cassel had a career night (400 yards passing and 3 TDs, 62 yards rushing) but the Jets finally exorcised the demons, having lost 11 of the previous 12 meetings. The Jets have won four straight and six of seven. As a reward, the players were off until Wednesday. Nice move by the kinder, gentler Mangini.

Phil Coale/Associated PressJevon Kearse lets the numbers do the talking: his Titans are 10-0, a big challenge for the New York Jets next Sunday.

Ellis, while enjoying the moment, was mindful of the task ahead, an upcoming game against the undefeated Titans, a team that defeated the Jets, 10-6, last season in Tennessee.

There's nothing game-plan specific -- to borrow the Jets' catchphrase -- about the Titans, Ellis pointed out. They hit everybody.

"It's going to be a tough game," he said. "They beat us down there last year. We know what type of game to expect: smash-mouth. They're going to run the ball. Their defense played great. So it'll be a real good matchup."

John Munson/The Star-LedgerRemember these two guys? Wayne Chrebet and Chad Pennington were thrilled after the Jets knocked off the Packers to win the AFC East in 2002.

Star-Ledger Jets beat writer Dave Hutchinson is in his 13th season covering the team, and gives us his take on the great performances he's witnessed in that time:

Wow, what a win on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, and what a clutch performance by quarterback Brett Favre in the Jets' 34-31 overtime victory. One win doesn't make a season, but it can surely break a season and that's what the Jets were facing.

Favre was brought here to save the day and he certainly did in that game. Kudos to GM Mike Tannenbaum for making the deal to bring Favre here. And the price, a conditional fourth-round pick, is a win-win for both the Jets and Packers. The better Favre plays, the higher the draft pick the Packers receive.

I tell you, I can't remember seeing some of the veteran Jets players so happy following a victory and I was happy for them. Guys like Shaun Ellis, Chris Baker and Brandon Moore were absolutely giddy.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerThe Jets beat the Patriots for just the second time in 13 tries.

As Brett Favre walked to the podium in the bowels of Gillette Stadium on Thursday night, the text messages were pouring in. He paused momentarily to read one and smiled before placing his cell phone down.

Then, just as reporters began to ask Favre questions, his cell phone started to dance on the podium, signaling yet another incoming message.

"I'm sorry," Favre said sheepishly. "I've never gotten this many messages after a game."

Well, there was plenty to talk about. Favre had just led the Jets to a possible changing-of-the-guard, 34-31 overtime victory against the New England Patriots in an AFC East first-place showdown before a national television audience.

The Star-Ledger's M.A. Mehta and Dave Hutchinson discuss the New York Jets' win over the New England Patriots last night in Foxborough.

Box score

Newspaper Articles

Jets sit alone atop AFC East

Politi: Favre returned to do it his way

Washington makes immediate impact

Notebook: No stopping QB Cassel

Quick Takes: things you might have missed

Pats uncover another hidden gem in Green-Ellis

Stats don't show how Rhodes runs Jets' secondary

Blog Posts

All eyes on Brett Favre following Jets' win over Patriots

As They Played: blow-by-blow of all the game action

Keller key in victory

You make the call: Are the Jets now the team to beat?

Cassel: From understudy to star

Conventional wisdom doesn't hold up

As they played: Our running blog during the game

Photos

Slideshow

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerBrett Favre runs by Jerod Mayo in the third quarter.

A commanding first-half lead had vanished. A seemingly game-winning drive had left too much time on the clock -- and that advantage disappeared as well when the Patriots scored in the final second of regulation. But after winning the coin flip at the start of overtime, the Jets drove down the field thanks almost entirely to the Favre-to-Keller connection, which set up Jay Feely's 34-yard field goal 7:50 into the extra session in a 34-31 victory at Gillette Stadium.

It was the type of game -- a battle for first place in the middle of November -- that the Jets had in mind when they made Favre the final piece of their offseason talent splurge. And Keller is developing into the type of offensive threat they hoped for when they drafted him in the first round last spring.

Some tidbits from the game you might have missed.

DID YOU NOTICE?

The Patriots went out of their way to avoid Darrelle Revis for most of the night. The first time they really threw in his direction, Randy Moss couldn't break free and Matt Cassel threw high in the end zone.

C.J. Mosley doesn't get a lot of attention with Kris Jenkins being the man in the middle of the Jets' defense. But a crucial sack of Cassel on fourth-and-3 stopped the Patriots in the second quarter.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerBrett Favre is all smiles after the Jets' 34-31 win over the division rival Patriots.

Everyone else? We were trying to figure out how the Jets had survived what was nearly an epic, season-ruining choke. We were still running on the adrenaline from this amazing 34-31 overtime victory over the Patriots, one that left this team all alone in first place.

We were a sweaty, sloppy mess.

Not Brett Favre. He slipped on a thin leather jacket, flipped up the collar, and draped a striped scarf around his neck. "Like my outfit?" he asked a couple of reporters. "My wife picked it out."

Stew Milne/US PresswireMatt Cassel wasn't the reason the Patriots lost -- he threw for a career-high 400 yards on 30-for-51 passing with three touchdowns.

NOTEBOOK

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Jets won a hard-fought game, 34-31, in overtime, but head coach Eric Mangini will still have some things to discuss with the defense heading into the next game.

Primarily, the Jets allowed young quarterback Matt Cassel to tear them up for a career game, including a last-minute drive that tied the score on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss with one second left.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerPatriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski was no match for Leon Washington as he ran back the kickoff in the second quarter.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- He darted, dodged and dazzled his way through a sea of dazed defenders, proving yet again that size most certainly doesn't matter. When Leon Washington exploded down the sideline for a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter Thursday night, the message to the Patriots was clear: These are not the same ol' Jets.

Washington scored a pair of touchdowns to give the Jets an early cushion, but they had to hang on in overtime for a 34-31 win against their divisional nemesis. The 5-8 Washington emptied his repertoire -- stop-and-go moves, power, speed and elusiveness -- to help the Jets take over sole possession of first place in the AFC East and win their fourth consecutive game for the first time in four years.

David Butler II/US PresswireBenJarvus Green-Ellis wasn't drafted last season, but he signed with the Patriots as a free agent and now is their feature back because of injuries.

For a guy who became only the second player in the history of the University of Mississippi to post consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, it would seem that draft day would be a big deal. But Green-Ellis, the 5-8 running back who was been elevated to the Patriots feature back because of three injuries in front of him, knew what was coming that day.

"It was out of my control," he said. "Wasn't going to do any good sitting around and waiting."

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerIt took Kerry Rhodes until last week against the Rams to notch his first interception of the season, but the safety has an impact on the Jets beyond statistics.

In the much-hyped first meeting between estranged protege Eric Mangini and mentor Bill Belichick in Week 2 in 2006, Rhodes had a game to remember.

The then-second year pro had a strip/sack of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The loose ball was recovered by linebacker Bryan Thomas and led to a touchdown. Rhodes also recovered a fumble, had a pass defensed and finished with 11 tackles (10 solo) in a 24-17 loss at the Meadowlands.

Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerMatt Cassel had a solid outing against the Jets in Week 2, and despite some rough games after that he's emerged as a leader of the Tom Brady-less Patriots.

Four weeks ago, after the Patriots were destroyed by the Chargers, Cassel was pilloried in New England as little more than a nervous "high school quarterback" who didn't belong in the NFL.

This week, as he has been preparing to lead his team against the Jets in Thursday night's AFC East showdown at Gillette Stadium, there is mounting concern in these parts that Cassel will leave as a free agent after the season.

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerTight end Dustin Keller broke through with a career game last week. The Jets hope he can carry that effort into Thursday night's game against the Patriots.

Throughout his career, Favre has bonded with his tight ends -- including Franks -- like few quarterbacks in NFL history. Whereas many quarterbacks view the position as almost an afterthought in the passing game, it's often the first thought for Favre.

Franks spent his first eight seasons with Favre in Green Bay, catching 256 passes for 2,300 yards and 32 touchdowns before signing with the Jets this past offseason. Before him, Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson were Favre's safety valves when the Packers marched to Super Bowl XXXI.

And now, rookie Dustin Keller is showing the athleticism and pass-catching ability needed to be one of Favre's favorites -- and a key weapon the Jets will need Thursday night against the Patriots.

Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerThe Jets remember how their last meeting with the Patriots ended up -- with New England on top, as usual -- but they're making a point to look forward.

Alan Faneca isn't a history buff, but he knows the numbers aren't pretty.

Frankly, he doesn't really care.

For the perennial Pro Bowl left guard and other veteran additions such as Calvin Pace, Tony Richardson and Kris Jenkins, it'll be business as usual when the Jets try to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC East Thursday night.

Associated PressThursday night's game may be the best chance for Jets coach Eric Mangini, left, to get a step up on his mentor turned nemesis Bill Belichick.

A showdown. A defining moment. A must win. Or, if you prefer simplicity, a big game. Even Mangini has to acknowledge this trip to New England at least counts as a big game, right?

"I don't think one game ever defines a season," the Jets resident party pooper said Tuesday.