It didn’t take long for the first controversy of the Brett Favre Era in New York to spring up.
Three running plays at the 5-yard-line – no touchdown and no chance for Brett Favre to use his skills to get his team into the end zone. The Jets settled for three points and instead of a 7-6 lead they still trailed 6-3 and would never take the lead in a 19-10 loss to the Patriots. That landed the Jets at 1-1 heading into a Monday night game against the 0-2 Chargers.
But Favre, at least publicly, has steadfastly agreed with the decision to run the ball in that situation.
“It was frustrating that we didn’t get the ball in,” Favre said. “Hopefully these questions will subside at some point. I have the utmost confidence in our offensive line. Would I liked to have thrown it? Sure, I would, but I would much rather get the ball in, whether it be running or throwing.
“Any quarterback who would sit up in front of you right now and tell you, in that situation, he didn’t want to throw the ball would be lying. I feel very confident in Brian’s (Schottenheimer) play-calling ability. We made some offseason acquisitions as far as the offensive line. I’m one of those (acquisitions), too. We had chances to get the ball in on those three running plays.”
But even in agreeing, Favre admitted they were challenging the most dominating part of New England’s defense.
“For whatever reason, we didn’t execute it,” he said. “You give those guys credit across from us. That’s what they’re good at. Their front seven is as good as anybody’s in football. It was a bad angle, lining up on the wrong side, whatever it may be, that cost us not getting in.”
Favre joined the Jets in early August and there is something to be said for him gaining familiarity with his receivers and the rest of the offense.
“There’s a mixture of different things that you’re doing,” head coach Eric Mangini said. “You’re trying to play to the strengths of the group. You’re trying to play to the strengths of Brett, as well. You’re trying to take into account the development between him and the skill players.”
But the argument that most Jets fan would make is that if they were willing to put the franchise in Favre’s hands for the season in August then you have to be willing to do it in September.
“I feel confident that I can go to them at any point and ask for (them to) install something that maybe we don’t have in, and that it will get done,” Favre said. “Just because I’m here, we don’t change our offense.”