It's week 12 of the NFL season and the New York Jets are on the brink of "finding themselves."
This year’s New York Jets are the Ellis Island of the NFL, welcoming players of all ages and circumstances, from lands far and wide.
Veterans with Super Bowl experience followed the path to Lady Liberty.
Offensive lineman Alan Faneca traveled from Pittsburgh, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins trekked from Carolina, and a quarterback by the name of Brett Favre made his treacherous voyage all the way from a small, beer-and-cheese land named Green Bay.
Then there are hungry youngsters like wide receiver Chanci Stuckey, tight end Dustin Keller, and cornerback Darrelle Revis.
As of last week, the Jets even approved a last-minute visa for legendary cornerback Ty Law—a battlefield veteran not ready to give up fighting.
Since the hazy days of the preseason, the Jets have worked to build an identity.
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Alliances have been forged, roles have been found, plays have been vetted through trial and error, and an uncanny cohesiveness has begun to show itself. Yes, the Jets are beginning to cut quite a figure.
Since the season's beginning, Favre has alluded to the Jets' capability to become a fluid, high-powered offensive machine. (This reminds me of how he talked about the Packers' breadth and depth of talent last year.)
Favre has seen a lot of personnel changes around him during his NFL tenure, and there is definitely something he likes about the chemistry and potential explosiveness of his teammates in New York this year.
The Jets have stalwart lines on both sides of the ball. The necessary offensive weapons are there as well—Leon Washington, Lavernanues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Dustin Keller, Chansi Stuckey, and Thomas Jones to name the regulars.
Last Thursday's win over the New England Patriots was fantastic for the morale of the Jets, and it also happened to give them the current lead in the talented AFC East.
This week, when they visit the Tennessee Titans, Favre has an opportunity to navigate his bunch to the league's next tier—The Elite.
After the Jets' victories this year, Favre has talked about when his gifted team might "turn that corner," referring to when the gang will run on all cylinders at once, reach their potential, and enter the realm of the NFL's elite.
A victory in Tennessee this weekend would mean that corner has been turned.
But only Favre, with a mix of steady vision and burning passion, can navigate his crew to a land of greater opportunity. His body will have to slip around the pocket and his eyes will have to stay down-field.
Thomas Jones will be a target of the Titans' physical run-stop defense, but Brett can find the seams and creases in Tennessee's defense.
Favre is a leader, and the Gang of Green needs him to lead the march on Sunday.
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about 1 month ago
I'm not sure it would make them an elite team.
Cause they could win, then drop the next 5 and go 8-8.
No, I think they will have to make the playoffs for that one.
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