Jets vs. Broncos
New York -7 1/2 vs. Denver
New Yorkers are getting used to being better than perfection. It's not that the citizens of the Big Apple need any more arrogance, but their football teams have done some remarkable things over the past year. First the New York Giants took to the road to win three playoff games and then upended the heavily favored and undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII this past February. Since that game the Giants have only lost once and are now tied for the best record in the league at 10-1. Just do not overlook the Jets.
If it was not for the Giants, the Jets (8-3) would be the hottest team in the NFL. By totally dominating the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans 34-13 on the road last week, the Jets at least claimed the honor of hottest team in the AFC.
The Jets return home this weekend to welcome in the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos. The two game road trip they are returning from was supposed to ruin their season, instead it has put them in the AFC East drivers seat. Before dominating the Titans in Nashville, New York also dispatched New England at Foxboro the week before in overtime. The Jets now have won five straight and six out of seven.
The Jets success has had a lot to do with the improvements of Brett Favre. Perhaps the veteran quarterback needed some time to learn the new offense, but he has excelled in it the last few weeks. During the road trip, Favre threw for a combined 51 of 65 for 482 yards with two touchdowns and only one interception. It is probably no coincidence that Favre has gotten hot while Thomas Jones has gotten on track. Jones was just four yards short of 100 yards last week and caught a touchdown pass.
You will forgive them if Favre, Jones and the rest of New York's defense is salivating for more than just Thanksgiving dinner. The Denver defense has been terrible all season long. The Broncos (6-5) are coming off a humiliating 31-10 home loss to the awful Oakland Raiders last week. However, Denver still leads the division by two games over San Diego who can not get on track this season. The Broncos appear headed for the postseason, perhaps by default and will look to shore up its defense down the stretch with the return of All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey.
The teams have not met since 2005 in Denver with the Broncos blanking the Jets 27-0. The Jets last win was in 2002 at home.
