Favre, key additions place Jets ahead in AFC East

by John Stewart, staff writer

Brett Favre is back in business.

Before the season and even throughout the first few weeks Favre had his doubters. After his turnaround of the Jets franchise, he has removed a lot of doubts.

The New York Jets finished with a record of 4-12 last season, led by quarterback Chad Pennington, now with the Miami Dolphins. Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens stood in after an injury to Pennington.

Neither Pennington nor Clemens performed so well, but neither did the team as a whole. Pennington’s first two seasons as a starter with the Jets were exceptional, but after that, his performance went down hill and he has suffered quite a few injuries since then.

After an off-season searching for answers, the Jets feel that they have found key additions, such as offensive guard Alan Faneca to play along side D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. Linebacker Calvin Pace, who was one on the best linebackers available in free agency, is only in his sixth season of what can be a long, promising career.

Also, defensive end Vernon Gholston was a top first-round pick who didn’t see much playing time earlier in the season, but he has registered more playing time as of late. To help the running game, the Jets picked up Tony Richardson, who has been one of the best blocking fullbacks over his career after blocking for former Pro Bowl running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.

Then Favre came out and said he wanted to play. The Green Bay Packers didn’t want him back, even offering to pay him a nice amount of money just to stay retired. But after weeks of going back and forth, the Packers sent him to the Jets.

Experts and fans doubted he could come back and be effective. So far, he has done everything to prove that even at age 39 he still can perform at a high level.

Now, the Jets are 7-3 with a four-game winning streak and are in first place in the AFC East, ahead of everyone’s favorite, the New England Patriots. The Jets beat the Patriots in overtime, 34-31, on Nov. 13. It was a winner-take-all game that definitely lived up to the hype.

Favre even has done something he has never done throughout his 18-year career, throwing for six touchdowns, in a 56-35 win against the Arizona Cardinals earlier this season. Throughout the first 10 games, he has also had a career-high completion percentage at 69.8.

The victory against the Patriots really validates that this team is up to the challenge and will definitely compete for a playoff spot come January. The Jets haven’t won a playoff game since 2004, when they earned a wild-card spot and beat the San Diego Chargers in the opening round before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round.

Favre will look to lead the Jets to what seems to be a competitive season for everyone.