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"There's not a lot of good quarterbacks, younger quarterbacks out there," he said Wednesday morning before practice.

Of course, Favre was joking. He knows he shares a stadium with the Giants' Eli Manning, who at 27 is one of the league's top passers.

But at 39 years old, Favre admitted to seeing the game through wiser eyes.

"For the most part, I don't think there's any substitute for age and experience," he said. "But the bottom line is being productive and winning games, however that may be."

Favre has been a winner since taking Green Bay starting job, and his first year with the Jets (7-3) has followed the trend. Through 11 weeks, his squad has already won three more than it did in all of 2007. But he can't take all the credit.

Thomas Jones is bruising toward his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. The revamped offensive line has kept the taste of mud and grass from Favre's mouth. And the high-priced additions of Kris Jenkins and Calvin Pace have provided plenty of defensive zing.

But to that end, Favre has thrown for 18 touchdowns and 2,237 yards. And although he leads the league in interceptions (12), he's become the offense's caretaker, completing a career-best 69.8 percent of his passes.

He's got his share of admirers, too.

"He's an inspiration to me," Jets veteran cornerback Ty Law said, "that he's still doing it at a higher level."

Eric Mangini has watched Favre's influence spread throughout the team like a virus, from the running backs to the wide outs and even to the seasoned O-line.

"He's the first one at the stadium," the head coach said. "He's so consistent in everything that he does, whether it's rehab, taking care of his body. ... He's just a model of consistency.

"That's such a great example because here's a guy that's been decorated multiple times and honored individually multiple times, but it doesn't change. He's the same exact guy every single day."

Favre will face Collins on Sunday and notice a lot of himself in the 35-year-old. Neither is scared of the long ball. Both have overcome personal demons.

But the 18-year veteran has spotted something else on Collins, too. "I see a little gray on his face," he said.

However, Favre isn't exactly lacking in the gray-hair department either.

"I'm 39 years old. I know the better days are behind me, for the most part," he said. "There won't be 16 more years. ...I'm trying to enjoy and help this team win now."

Nor is Favre lacking in the good-times department.

"No one has as much fun as me," he said. "And I've had more people tell me that throughout my career. Man, we love to watch you play. Your enthusiasm and stuff like that. I mean, it's not fabricated. I love to play the game."

Favre said he plays as if he's "on scholarship still." Meaning that he's learned to "just appreciate the moment a lot more because you realize it won't be there forever," he said.

"I know what everyone else is thinking: At some point, he's got to fall off," Favre said. "And I agree, at some point. I don't know when that point will be."