NY Jets: Questions Loom While Friend Turned Foe Returns in Week Eight

On Sunday, the New York Jets will look to brush off an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Oakland Raiders, as they welcome back Herm Edwards and his 1-5 Kansas City Chiefs. Edwards, who spent five seasons with Gang Green, returns for the second time in two years in hopes of playing spoiler, as his team is clearly the underdog this time around and probably for the remainder of the season.

The Chiefs come to town with the second-worst rated defense in the league, along with a third-string quarterback and second-string running back. Both Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard were injured in last week's loss to Tennessee and were placed on injured reserve yesterday.

Tyler Thigpen will start in their place on Sunday. Star Larry Johnson is out indefinitely, due to off-field antics and will be replaced by Kolby Smith for the second week in a row.

For the Jets, who should have been 4-2 coming into this game, the time is now to produce more than 13 points against a defense who is just asking to be pummeled. The team will be facing yet another backup QB, their third this year.

Which Jets team will we see this week? Can we expect a high-powered machine that we saw destroy the Cardinals in Week Four? Or should we already buy into the lacklusterness we saw in the past two weeks?

In order to silence his critics, Brett Favre must throw at least two TDs after throwing none in his worst performance as a Jet last week and only one the week before. Thomas Jones should have a field day with the rush defense that gave up more than 100 yards to both Tennessee running backs.

Leon Washington should see plenty of carries as well after scoring his first and the Jets only TD last week. Washington was the eventual pick in the 2006 draft by the Jets when they received a fourth round selection from the Chiefs as compensation for Edwards.

The last meeting between the sides occurred on the last week of the 2007 season, which saw the Jets squeeze out a 13-10 win in OT on a Mike Nugent 43-yard field goal. Coincidentally, if the Jets win on Sunday, it would be the second time in two years they have reached four wins in a season against the Chiefs.

Look for the Jets to be back in their traditional home jerseys after wearing the Titans throwbacks the last two home games, both of which ended up in wins. This game should feature an out-of-the-gate mentality by Gang Green to score early and often.

Even if the field-goal unit is forced onto the field, both team and fans should feel comfortable in Jay Feely, who has gone 8/10 this year, including last week's 52-yarder that sent the game to OT. Feely's kicks look strong and accurate and not much second-guessing arises when he comes on, unlike predecessor Nugent.

Prediction: Jets 35-Chiefs 10