FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brett Favre knows losing. Raised in the marshes of Mississippi, his beloved Saints were so awful he used to cheer for their defeat, hoping a high draft pick would flip their fortunes.
"You didn't want to get your hopes up," Favre said before practice Wednesday.
But Favre has found ways to lift Jets fans' spirits this season. Lately, his ability to lead the offense on long, sustained scoring drives has proven invaluable.
Favre said it's all about patience.
"I'm not just talking about me," he said. "I'm probably talking more so the guys around me. I mean, I want to get 50 yards right now. But we're OK getting 2, 0, 10. You know, that's what it's all about: holding the ball, eating up the clock."
That's what it was all about last Sunday against the previously undefeated Titans. The Jets (8-3) and Favre held on to the ball for an astounding 40:30, while Tennessee held it for just 19:30. It amounted to a 34-13 win, helping them preserve their one-game lead over the AFC East.
Favre profusely praised his offensive line -- Damien Woody, Alana Faneca, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold and Brandon Moore -- on Wednesday for its success in halting the Titans' fearsome front four long enough for him to generate offense.
But Sunday was no fluke. During their five-game winning streak, the Jets have had nine scoring drives of six minutes or more, averaging 12.3 plays per drive.
Favre credited his strengthening relationship with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as a factor. He said they've "narrowed down" the game plan "not only in the passing game, but runs that we hang our hat on."
That strategy has included shorter, quicker air strikes and heavy doses of running back Thomas Jones, who's en route to his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. The abbreviated passing attack has aided Favre to his best career completion percentage at this point in any season (70.6).
"So I'm getting more comfortable with what Shotty likes to call, what he feels comfortable with," he said. "I think he's real comfortable with what I like to run."
Favre said his offense is also comfortable with its identity -- a term taboo to the Jets as they struggled to a 3-3 record through seven weeks -- as a squad adept at stretching the clock.
"We've kind of established ourselves offensively, being able to -- I don't want to say do what we want to do, but it's hard to go 10 plays or use up 40 minutes," he said. "I'd love to do that every week. But more and more we're finding that we're able to do that."
Head coach Eric Mangini noted Favre's success at maintaining such lengthy series Monday, calling it "great for the defense. Gives them a chance to take a break."
Kerry Rhodes couldn't agree more.
"There was one point in the game that I ordered a drink from the stands. Then it got there, and the offense was still on the field," the safety said.
He was joking, of course. But Woody was quite serious.
"Time of possession is so huge," the tackle said. "That's when you start noticing the runs, in the third and fourth quarter, they keep getting longer and longer ... we pride ourselves on staying on the field."
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