Statement day in NFL
Favre, Jets knock off Tennessee
Monday, November 24, 2008 10:16 AM PST
TENNESSEE (AP) — Brett Favre and the New York Jets made their statement to the league by toppling the NFL’s last undefeated team.
Now that they’ve knocked off Tennessee — something no one else this year has managed to do — what other AFC titans might they be ready to slay?
If the Jets can hang on to their division lead, they might just find out — especially with more games like they had Sunday. Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the New York Jets routed the Titans 34-13.
‘‘It felt like we were on the sideline forever just watching Brett Favre play,’’ Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said. ‘‘The defense, I felt bad that we on offense couldn’t get anything going and keep them off the field.’’
One perfect team does remain in the NFL, though: The Detroit Lions came close to ending their unbroken run of losses to start the season by taking an early 17-point lead, but they managed to lose to Tampa Bay 38-20.
The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough.
They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight.
The win also got them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.
‘‘Now people are going to start looking at us and say, ’They are a team you have to reckon with,’’’ Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas said.
The Titans had won 13 straight regular-season games dating to Dec. 16, 2007, becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.
‘‘It was a great run, and we’ve got to win our next game,’’ Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.
That shouldn’t be too hard: The Lions are up next for Tennessee.
Favre threw fast and often, and the Jets wore the Titans’ defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes.
New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee by a large 409 to 281 yard margin.
‘‘I’m not going to sit here and say we’ve established ourselves as the best team in football,’’ Favre said. ‘‘All it says is I think we beat the best team in football today, definitely if you go by record and the way that they’ve played. They have been the best team in football.’’
Colts 23, Chargers 20
Adam Vinatieri made a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift Peyton Manning and the Colts to a heart-stopping win over the hapless Chargers.
Manning threw two touchdown passes for the Colts (7-4), who won their fourth straight.
San Diego (4-7) has lost four of five and remains two games behind division leader Denver.
Raiders 31, Broncos 10
Ashley Lelie returned to Invesco Field and helped lead Oakland to a stunning win over the Broncos by catching a touchdown pass and setting up another with a spectacular 51-yard reception.
Darren McFadden ran for two touchdowns and the Raiders (3-8) snapped a four-game losing streak and avenged their 41-14 thrashing at the hands of the Broncos (6-5) in the opener.
Redskins 20, Seahawks 17
Clinton Portis darted and pounded for 143 yards on 29 carries, including key runs late that helped preserve the Redskins’ first victory in almost a month.
Portis was questionable after missing most of practice this week because of his sprained knee.
Then, the NFL’s leader in yards from scrimmage injured a muscle near his hip late in the first half, when he rushed for 69 of his yards.
He kept running, finishing with his first 100-yard day since the Redskins’ last win, on Oct. 26 at Detroit, and helping end a two-game losing streak for Washington (7-4).
Seattle (2-9) lost its fourth straight at home and is off to its worst start since 1992.
