Jets-Dolphins: Brett Favre Holds Off Late Push from Chad and Fins

Sunday's season opener finally saw Brett Favre's long-awaited debut with the New York Jets, and it was against a familiar face in Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins in South Florida. Even in front of an away crowd, Favre got a rousing ovation as he led his new team on the field for the first official time.

The Jets' first drive was lackluster, but their follow-up was vintage Favre all the way. On the first possession, Favre tossed a 56-yard TD bomb to a wide-open Jerricho Cotchery, giving the Jets a 7-0 lead, and he proceeded to run down the sidelines as if he was still a 22-year-old kid.

He would go on to lead the team down the field on their next drive, only to give way to Ted Nugent, who would miss a 32-yard field goal. This miss was eerily similar to the one against the Redskins in the preseason, except the fact that Nugent completely missed the netting.

However, this time the kicker was excused with an alleged thigh injury he suffered in the opening kickoff.

The second quarter opened up with a Dolphins TD, tying up the game, 7-7. Pennington would find Anthony Fasano for a five-yard toss, giving him his first career TD pass as a Dolphin. The Jets responded immediately, again in total Favre fashion.

With Nugent being temporarily unavailable, and backup QB Kellen Clemens trying out for a new position on the sideline, the Jets opted to go for a 4th-and-13, resulting in a play of the year nominee.

Favre shrugged off a defensive end and managed to release the ball as he was sandwiched by two other defenders, resulting in a TD catch to Chansi Stuckey.

The play was even heralded by their opposition, as Dolphins fullback Boomer Grigsby said, “He’s a miracle worker; he threw that thing in the air and God said, ‘Brett Favre will have a touchdown pass.’ And he did. That’s Brett Favre being Brett Favre.” The Jets, however, would fail to score on the two-point conversion, making the score 13-7.

Thomas Jones had an impressive showing, rushing for 101 yards including the TD that would put his team up 20-7 late in the third quarter. The Dolphins would not go quietly, as Pennington completed five-straight passes on their second possession that would lead to a score, an 11-yard TD pass to David Martin, making the game a one score affair.

The Jets had a first down reversed, which would have given them enough time to kill the clock. Instead, they would hold onto their caps, as they watched their former QB show signs of leadership, as he effectively led his new team within one catch of an upset.

Instead, it was the Chad of old who would be picked off by Darrelle Revis to end an almost flawless drive and give Brett and the Jets their first win of the season.

Next week, Gang Green will have their home opener against the reigning AFC Champions, the New England Patriots, who will be without Tom Brady, who suffered a torn ACL against the Chiefs in first quarter of their opening game.