Same old Jets

You would have thought that when the Jets swung an offseason deal to acquire Brett Favre that they'd finally secured the critical piece that had eluded them since the days of Joe Namath: a difference-making, superstar quarterback.

You would have thought that when the Jets surrounded Favre with $140 million worth of free agents and trade acquisitions that they had given Favre the supports necessary to turn a 4-11 team into a legitimate AFC contender.

You would have thought that when Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 that the stars had aligned for the revamped Jets to make a run at the Super Bowl berth that has otherwise been off limits in the Brady-Belichick era.

You would have thought that when the Jets went into Foxborough and beat the Patriots in Week 11 and that when they then went into Nashville and ended the Titans' undefeated season the following weekend that they were indeed taking advantage of their best championship opportunity in recent memory.

Nope.

Four weeks and three disgraceful losses later, the Jets have completed an epic collapse that stands alone even in their putrid history. It culminated in a downright pathetic 13-3 setback to the three-win Seahawks yesterday, a loss that all-but guarantees they'll be home come January.

Just how badly did the Jets play with their season on the line yesterday? Their defense registered zero sacks of Senaca Wallace, stymied by a patchwork Seattle offensive line of 5 (!) backups. Their quarterback, legendary for his cold-weather prowess and his cannon arm, was abysmal in the snowy conditions, underthrowing every pass except a 4th-and-4 heave with 2:21 to play that Laveranues Coles dropped. Their coach, touted as a "genius" just two years ago, showed zero faith in his team of 7 Pro Bowlers, opting for a chip-shot field goal instead of a touchdown try in the first quarter and then a punt instead of a 50-yard field goal try in the fourth.

But then again, what else would you expect but a gutless performance from a team that lost at home to the Patriots in Matt Cassel's first professional start? That fell to both Oakland and San Francisco (combined record: 10-20) this season? That made the freefalling Denver Broncos look dominant three weeks ago? That needed a gift from the football gods just to get by the lowly Bills last week?

Sp put those dreams of an all-Jersey Super Bowl (Jets vs. Giants with Bruce Springsteen performing at halftime) to bed. Start gauging Bill Cowher's interest in coming out of retirement. Don't even wait for Favre to start his annual will-he-or-won't-he retirement drama -- just show him the door.

This once-promising season is now down to a nightmare showdown against Miami in the Meadowlands next weekend. A season-ending loss to Chad Pennington, who the Jets cared so little about after acquiring Favre that they let him sign with a division rival, would be the ultimate slap in the face. Then again, a win would open the door for the hated Patriots to clinch a miraculous postseason berth. Regardless, it'll be one more punch to the gut, as if Jet fans haven't endured enough already.