Jets-Titans Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Leon Washington Carries Jets Past Titans

SCOUTING REPORT

Haynesworth and Jenkins will be in the spotlightThe Jets, coming off a huge win at New England last Thursday and leading the AFC East by a game, have an extra couple days to prepare for this matchup. Tennessee pretty much has the AFC South wrapped up and now looks to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This will pit a Titans offense that wants to run the ball effectively to set up the pass versus a Jets team that will throw the ball to set up the run.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
NYJ	9-7	405	356	5-3	4-4	4-2	7-5
TEN	13-3	375	234	7-1	6-2	4-2	9-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

NY Jets Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Sanche... 53.8 2444 12 20 Clemen... 50.0 125 0 0

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Young 58.7 1879 10 7 Collin... 55.1 1225 6 8

NY Jets Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones 331 1402 4.2 14 Greene 108 540 5.0 2

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 358 2006 5.6 14 Young 55 281 5.1 2

NY Jets Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Cotche... 57 821 14.4 3 Edward... 35 541 15.5 4

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 42 701 16.7 3 Washin... 47 569 12.1 6

Full Player Stats: NY Jets | Tennessee

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	NYJ	332.0
	TEN	314.0
Yards Passing	NYJ	206.4
	TEN	176.2
Yards Rushing	NYJ	125.3
	TEN	137.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	NYJ	329.4
	TEN	293.6
Pass Yds Allowed	NYJ	234.5
	TEN	199.8
Rush Yds Allowed	NYJ	94.9
	TEN	93.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
NY Jets leads 3-1
Dec 23, 2007	NYJ 6, TEN 10
Sep 10, 2006	NYJ 23, TEN 16
Dec 1, 2003	NYJ 24, @TEN 17

Not so long ago, Brett Favre and Kerry Collins weren't even expected to be starting this season. Now two of the NFL's oldest and most experienced quarterbacks will square off in the most highly anticipated game of Week 12.

With the New York Jets having ridden Favre's arm to first place and the Tennessee Titans only recently relying more on Collins to stay unbeaten, the team that wins Sunday might be considered the AFC favorite to reach the Super Bowl.

The only AFC team hotter than the East-leading Jets (7-3), winners of four straight and six of seven, and the only one with a better record is their opponent this week. The Titans are looking to become the 13th team in NFL history to open a season 11-0 and the eighth since 1970.

"I think it's a measuring stick for us to find out who we are and what we're capable of doing," said the 39-year-old Favre, who will make his 264th consecutive start.

While this offseason saw Favre retire before his decision to come back led Green Bay to trade him to New York, Collins was preparing to be Vince Young's backup in Tennessee. An injury to Young gave Collins the starting job and he's managed to hang on to it by keeping the Titans undefeated.

The result is Favre, the league's all-time leader in passing yards (63,892) and completions (5,597), going against the man who is third on those lists among active players. Collins, who turns 36 next month, has shown the last two weeks he can still be a difference maker after Tennessee mostly counted on its rushing attack for offense.

Collins has thrown for 519 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in road wins over Chicago and Jacksonville. He hadn't thrown for 200 yards in any of his previous eight games, during which he totaled three TD passes and three interceptions.

"I think he's doing a great job," Favre said. "I can remember playing against Kerry in the championship game in '96, I think, and here we are facing off again. ... I give him a lot of credit."

That meeting in the NFC title game following the 1996 regular season, Collins' second in the league, was the first of four matchups between these quarterbacks and Favre has won them all.

While Tennessee was happy with Collins just managing the offense in most weeks, Favre has become a more efficient signal-caller lately after doing some gun-slinging. He has completed nearly 77 percent of his passes in the last two weeks and did not throw an interception in either game after doing so in seven straight -- he had 12 in that span.

"You can never afford to take a deep breath as long as Brett Favre is on the opposite sideline, that's just how he is," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "You can get up by 45 and he'll come back and beat you by seven, that's just the way Brett's been throughout his career. Not that I'm saying we're going to get up by 45."

Favre's been able to rely more on the rushing attack, which has averaged 163.8 yards and scored eight touchdowns over the last five games. Thomas Jones tops the AFC with 854 rushing yards and will be seeking his third straight 100-yard game after running for 104 in a 34-31 overtime win over New England last week.

That road victory over a Patriots team which had won 10 of the previous 11 meetings has the Jets brimming with confidence heading into Tennessee.

"We're playing the best team in football right now. It'll be a tough test for us, not any tougher than last week based on what's happened here in the past," Favre said. "The most important thing is to have confidence that you can win every game no matter what happens or who you're playing or where you're playing 'em, it can be done."

Favre will be challenged by a Titans defense which has given up the fewest points in the league, is tied for second with 15 interceptions and ranks third in the AFC with 28 sacks -- 10 in the last three weeks. Star defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has seven sacks and keys a defense which has allowed one 100-yard rusher all season.

Tennessee's defense could be welcoming back two starters this week after defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin) had missed the last three games and cornerback Nick Harper (ankle) sat out last week.

The Jets' 34 sacks are second-best in the league behind Pittsburgh (36), though Collins has been sacked only five times all year. He'll be protected by former Jets center Kevin Mawae, whose matchup with New York Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins could be key.

The Titans, who beat New York 10-6 last year to end a three-game skid in the series, have an outside shot to clinch a playoff berth Sunday if they win while Miami, Baltimore and Pittsburgh all lose.

"You know, the Jets are playing real good right now and we're going to have our hands full," Fisher said. "Despite the fact that we've played them the last couple years, they're different. They have a different quarterback under center that makes them special."

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Pasquarelli: Practice-squad player contributing to Colts' cause

Taj Smith won't suit up for Super Bowl XLIV, but he's played an important role in the Colts' defensive preparations, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Leon Washington ends boycott, shows up for practice

You step away from your desk for a few hours and stuff happens. Disgruntled RB Leon Washington apparently isn't disgruntled anymore , as he decided to show up today for practice at the Jets' off-season program.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Jets' Rhodes Won't Talk About Investigation

Relieved he is not a suspect, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes says he cannot discuss the investigation of a possible rape at his New Jersey home.

Jets' Jones worked out while he sat out

Sporting huge forearms and looking ripped, Thomas Jones was back on the field for a second straight day Thursday during the Jets' next-to-last week of offseason training activities.

Jets Pro Bowl RB Thomas Jones practices at OTA after sitting out in contract dispute

New York Jets running back Thomas Jones rejoined his teammates Wednesday after boycotting voluntary workouts while in a contract dispute.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.