Jets-Titans: Can Brett Favre Turn Jets Into Legitimate AFC Contender?

This article has been taken from JetsDaily.com.

Last week, the talk was of the New England Patriots’ visit into the Meadowlands being the game of the year for the Jets. New York won an exhilarating game, one that might have been the best game the NFL has seen all year.

But for the Jets, there is no break on the schedule, as they now must travel to Tennessee to face the undefeated Titans. At 10-0, they are just six games away from an undefeated season, but the Jets might be the best competition they have faced all year.

Gang Green can afford a loss here, as they will likely be favored in their last five games, but that would give the winner of the Patriots-Miami Dolphins game a share of the division lead. A win validates the Jets as not just a favorite in the AFC East but as one of the best teams in the NFL.

The Oakland debacle will be history if the Jets can pull off the upset here. No longer can analysts dismiss this team, and people will have to take notice of players not named Brett Favre.

But even for Favre, a win this Sunday will be validation, not just for him but the entire organization as well. A win virtually assures the team of a playoff spot barring a total collapse down the stretch, and that was the minimum this year. Anything else would have been a failure for this team, with their nemesis Tom Brady on the sidelines this year.

To get to that point, however, the Jets need to win this week, and that will be a tall order. The Titans did not start 10-0 because of smoke and mirrors: they can both run the ball and stop the run, and they rarely lose games in the trenches.

The Titans will almost certainly try to establish the run first, even against the Jets' stout front seven. Chris Johnson is a dynamic rookie with the speed to break open any run. LenDale White is the thunder to his partner’s lightning, and the Titan offensive line has opened holes almost all season.

When teams sell out to stop the two backs, Kerry Collins has been able to burn teams down the field to No. 1 target Justin Gage. Brandon Jones and Bo Scaife handle the underneath balls.

Most importantly, Collins hasn’t been able to make mistakes. And nothing has contributed more to the Titans start than turnovers. They are No. 1 in the league in turnover ratio, a stat that the Jets must take note of.

Favre hasn’t thrown an interception in three weeks, and Jones rarely fumbles. If the Jets can stay mistake-free, they will have a good chance to win, but Tennessee won’t be giving out gift turnovers.

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