Favre Factor in the Meadowlands
Brett Favre emerged from this Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a franchise record tying six touchdown performance. The other Jet to throw as many scores in a single game was Joe Namath in 1972 against the Baltimore Colts. Favre’s performance puts New York back on track as a competitor in the AFC East, and at an even 2-2 record, reprieves coaches and players from media and fan criticism.
“Its good to be a Jet today,” Favre said after the game on Sunday. “It was good to be a Jet on Monday, coming back on the plane.” Jets receivers looked like they were having fun on the field Sunday, running behind the young Arizona Cardinals at will. Early in the third quarter, Kurt Warner engineered two quick scoring Arizona scoring drives, throwing to his two favorite targets Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Jets coach Eric Mangini stamped out the comeback and showed some teeth by calling a twenty yard play action pass down the seam on fourth and 2 on Arizona’s thirty, resulting in the go ahead score.
Favre denied taking part in the fourth down play call. “After third down, I just stayed out there. You can’t ask me, because I always want to go for it, I think that its important that you go for it.” The feeling in the locker room was much better than on Monday night, when the Chargers firmly dominated the Jets on both sides of the ball in San Diego. This Sunday, receiver Laveraneus Coles caught three touchdown passes from Favre to spark the offense. Earlier in the year, Coles publicly expressed his displeasure about the franchise’s decision to release his friend Chad Pennington and to bring in elder quarterback Brett Favre.
On Sunday, the two were all smiles. “I have started to get Brett’s ear right after the huddle, him asking me what I’m seeing from the defense. I am not shy to tell him I am always open.” Coles suffered a thigh sprain in the preseason that limited his practice time and hindered his movement in the first few games. Favre credits their improved game-time chemistry to the greater reps they have had on the practice field over the past week.
Coles said, “There’s nothing I could do to enhance his career, but there’s a lot he can do to enhance mine with everything he brings to the table.“ The Jets reached the quarter pole on Sunday with a modest 2 – 2 record. But, the flourish that the offense displayed on Sunday suggests that with Brett under center, the Jets always have a chance to win this year.