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| New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre (4) looks for a receiver as Jets running back Thomas Jones (20) and tight end Chris Baker (86) block Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, right, in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans are unbeaten no more. Brett Favre and the New York Jets served notice they will be a factor in the AFC this season.
Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the Jets routed the Titans 34-13 on Sunday, snapping the 13-game regular-season winning streak by the NFL's last undefeated team.
The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough. They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight. The win also pulled them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.
The Titans hadn't lost since Dec. 16, 2007, in becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.
This time, the NFL's stingiest scoring defense that had been allowing 13.1 points per game had no answer for Favre and the Jets, even with the return of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.
The Jets spread out Tennessee, Favre threw fast and often, and they wore the Titans' defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes. New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee on offense 409-281.
This was only the third game in NFL history featuring two starting quarterbacks with more than 100,000 yards combined yards passing in Favre and Kerry Collins.
Favre threw for 224 yards and had much more help than Collins, whose receivers dropped at least five passes in the first half, including one by Bo Scaife in Jets' territory with room to run. Favre took advantage of a Titans' secondary featuring Chris Carr starting at cornerback in place of Nick Harper, and he was flagged twice on one drive for pass interference.
With the win, Favre broke a tie with Dan Marino for victories in the most NFL stadiums by winning in his 32nd at LP Field.
Washington scored on runs of 61 and 4 yards in the fourth quarter as the Jets padded their lead. Jay Feely also kicked two field goals.
The Jets led 10-3 at halftime and could have had an even bigger margin if not for two turnovers - the first at the Tennessee 21 at the end of the first quarter. Favre could not have started hotter as he completed his first eight passes for 89 yards, the sixth a 10-yard TD pass to Thomas Jones on the opening drive.
The Titans went three-and-out on three of their first five drives and had only 55 yards offense until a final drive just before halftime when Rob Bironas finally put Tennessee on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal. Bironas added a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter.
By the time Collins tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Ahmard Hall, it was too late.
