QB Brett Favre threw a career high six touchdown passes as the New York Jets beat the Arizona Cardinals, 56-35, and improved to 2-2 going into the bye week. Favre also tied Joe Namath's record for the most touchdown passes thrown by a Jets quarterback in one game.
The Cardinals went deep into the Jets' territory on their first possession, but a sack by DE Shaun Ellis and a fumble recovery by CB Hank Poteat gave the ball back to the Gang Green who gave it up just three plays later when Favre threw an interception. Arizona instantly found themselves in a field goal position. However, the Jets' defense held them up and then blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt. Favre and Co. got the ball close to midfield and on the third play of the second quarter the Jets quarterback connected with WR Laveranues Coles on a 12-yard touchdown strike. Just a bit over a minute later CB Darrelle Revis intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0. The rout continued four minutes later when Favre connected with Coles again on a 34-yard TD pass. Later in the quarter New York scored two field goals and Favre threw another pass to Coles, making the score 34-0 at the half.
After generating five turnovers in the first half (2 interceptions and 3 fumbles) the Jets defense came out totally lifeless in the third quarter, allowing the Cards to score on their first possession, 34-7. The offense then quickly went 3 and out and five minutes later Arizona scored again and added a 2-point conversion, 34-15. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Arizona whose seemingly unstoppable offense went right down the field and scored another touchdown. This time, however, the two-point attempt failed, 34-21. What looked like a blowout all of a sudden became a competitive game that put many Jets' fans on the edge of their seats. Luckily, it was Brett Favre's afternoon, as he led the team 80 yards down the field and threw another touchdown - this time to WR Jerricho Cotchery, 41-21. But just two minutes later the Cardinals scored another touchdown, cutting the lead to two scores again, 41-28. The Jets got the ball back close to midfield and then, on a fourth and one, we finally saw a gutsy playcall from the Jets. Instead of the expected run, Favre threw a 40-yard strike to a wide open Cotchery, 48-28. The shootout continued as the Cards quickly scored another touchdown, 48-35. The ensuing Jets' drive got stalled deep in Arizona territory but PK Jay Feely botched a 44-yard field goal attempt. There was still three minutes to go in the fourth quarter and plenty of time for the high-flying Cards offense to score again. Fortunately, all of a sudden the defense came alive again, sacking Kurt Warner and recovering another fumble. After the two-minute warning Favre threw his 6th touchdown pass of the afternoon - a 24-yard strike to rookie TE Dustin Keller. Then with 27 seconds remaining in the quarter Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin was carted off the field after a helmet-to-helmet collision with New York S Eric Smith. Boldin was moving all his extremities on the field and was talking to his teammates, but was immobilized and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York for precautionary reasons.
QB Brett Favre finished the game 24 of 34 for 289 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT. WR Laveranues Coles caught a career-high three touchdown passes. He had 8 receptions for 105 yards. WR Jerricho Cotchery caught 4 balls for 67 yards, 2 TDs. RB Thomas Jones averaged only 2.6 yards per carry - 18 runs for 46 yards.
Rookie CB Dwight Lowery led the team with 9 solo tackles and also forced a fumble. MLB David Harris had 8 tackles (6 solo) and recovered a fumble. LB David Bowens recorded two sacks. CB Darrelle Revis intercepted two passes and scored the first touchdown of his NFL career. LB Bryan Thomas recorded a sack, increasing his season total to four.
The run defense was stellar once again, limiting the Cards to only 42 yards on the ground (2.8 yards per carry). But Kurt Warner's 472 passing yards are definitely something to think about. The defense once again was unable to consistently pressure the quarterback and the Jets just don't have enough quality defensive backs to play well in the prevent defense. There will sure be plenty to discuss and practice during the upcoming bye week, but for now the Gang Green is 2-2 and will host the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) on October 12th.