A Tale of Two Favres

The New York Jets won another ugly one on Sunday, coming from behind to beat the struggling Kansas City Chiefs 28—24.
A Tale of Two Favres
BIG DAY: Jets all-purpose back Leon Washington had two TDs including a 60-yarder in the second quarter. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Rahul Vaidyanath
10/26/2008
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/83443875.jpg" alt="BIG DAY: Jets all-purpose back Leon Washington had two TDs including a 60-yarder in the second quarter. (Al Bello/Getty Images)" title="BIG DAY: Jets all-purpose back Leon Washington had two TDs including a 60-yarder in the second quarter. (Al Bello/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1833221"/></a>
BIG DAY: Jets all-purpose back Leon Washington had two TDs including a 60-yarder in the second quarter. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The New York Jets won another ugly one on Sunday, coming from behind to beat the struggling Kansas City Chiefs 28–24. They were back in their familiar green and white at the Meadowlands, having worn their New York Titans uniforms during the last two home games.

Brett Favre had probably his most erratic performance of the season, throwing three INTs. But he still led the Jets to victory in his 41st fourth quarter comeback.

Chiefs third-string QB Tyler Thigpen, who wears #4 like Favre, began the game on fire, completing his first 10 passes including a touchdown toss. He would end up completing almost 70 percent of his passes for 280 yards and two TDs. Without running back Larry Johnson, and therefore, a running game, the Chiefs relied on Thigpen to carry the offense.

But the Chiefs defense has been giving up the big play all season and running back Leon Washington ripped them apart on several occasions. He was the Jets star performer on this day.

Washington ran for 67 yards and a score, caught three passes for 34 yards and a score, and returned four kick offs/punts for 102 yards.

Coming into Sunday’s game against the Jets, the Chiefs had the by far and away the NFL’s worst run defense, giving up 207 yards per game. That was 40 yards per game more than the next worst run defense (Detroit Lions). But, oddly enough, the Jets chose not to attack the Chiefs on the ground. With the exception of Leon Washington’s 60-yard TD run late in the second quarter, the Jets only ran the ball for 75 yards.

Brett Favre had an up and down day, to put it mildly. His second interception was the result of throwing the ball into double coverage while his third INT was returned 91 yards for a TD.

Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson should have picked off Favre when the Jets were knocking on the door late in the third quarter. But instead, he dropped the ball and later, Thomas Jones rammed it in for the go-ahead TD. “All I can say is Brett Favre is lucky today,” quipped Boomer Esiason on CBS. Favre has thrown 11 INTs so far this year.

Despite the INTs, Favre completed 70 percent of his passes for 290 yards and a TD. But more importantly, his TD pass was a game-winner, perfectly thrown to Laveranues Coles’s back shoulder, with only a minute to play in the game.

“He always gives you a chance to win,” said Coles after the game.

“We had our mistakes…we overcame adversity. That’s football,” said Favre quietly after the game.

“I’ve been on both sides. It sure feels better to be on the winning side.”

The Jets fell into a similar pattern against the Chiefs as they did against the Bengals and Raiders. Heavily favored against the Chiefs, the Jets failed to generate consistent offense and found themselves in a nail-biter.

Thet Jets have unconvincingly come through a very easy part of their schedule, having faced the Bengals, Raiders, and Chiefs who are a combined 3–19. Now things will get more difficult.

Over the next four weeks, the Jets will travel to Buffalo (5–2), New England (5–2), and Tennessee (6–0). The Jets will also face the resurgent Rams who gave the Patriots all they could handle on Sunday.
Rahul Vaidyanath is a journalist with The Epoch Times in Ottawa. His areas of expertise include the economy, financial markets, China, and national defence and security. He has worked for the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., and investment banks in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles.
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