It’s not just media hype. Brett Favre said the words:
“Must-win.”
Yes, Monday night’s game in San Diego is critical for the 1-1 Jets.
“I don’t know what [the 0-2 Chargers are] saying,” the Jet quarterback said yesterday. “[Head coach] Norv [Turner] may be saying this is a must-win. I’m sure in the back of his mind they’re all must-wins.
“I feel like we’re in a must-win situation as well. At the end of the season, when you look back, you can always say that one game or that one play may have cost us a chance at the playoffs or whatever.”
As LB Calvin Pace said, “We definitely need to win.”
It will be a challenge, because the Chargers’ 0-2 record is misleading.
First, they’ve lost their two games by a combined three points. Second, they made it to the AFC Championship Game last year.
“We know what they are capable of doing,” said Leon Washington.
The Chargers know what Favre is capable of doing, too.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Favre is 5-0 against San Diego, completing 98 of 156 passes for 1,197 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Last week Favre completed 18 of 26 passes for 181 yards, though in the second quarter the Jets had first-and-goal at the Patriots’ 3 and ran Thomas Jones three times before the Jets kicked a field goal.
Asked about the play-calling, Favre didn’t take any shots at the coaches.
“Would I have liked to have thrown it? Sure, I would. But I would much rather get the ball in, whether it be running or throwing. …
“I feel very confident in [offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s] play-calling ability. People can call [that sequence] conservative or whatever. Had we run the ball in on one of those three, they’re great calls.”
Meanwhile, RT Damien Woody echoed Favre’s thoughts about Monday.
Said Woody, “To me, every game is a must-win, because you never know at the end of the season what game could affect your situation.”
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The Jets’ punting replacement for Ben Graham is Reggie Hodges, signed yesterday. Hodges has been out of the NFL since 2005 and was just recently on the Patriots practice squad.
Coach Eric Mangini said Hodges also will hold for field goals.