OPINION

By Mike Florio

updated 2:12 a.m. ET Aug. 7, 2008

Caught between the New England Patriots in their own division and the New York Giants in their own back yard, the Jets needed to make a big splash in 2008. And they saved the biggest splash for last in Brett Favre.

The Jets hit the ground sprinting in March, spending millions to bring in players like Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and Calvin Pace. Breaking dramatically from their usual build-through-the-draft approach, the Jets opted to buy veterans in an effort to win now.

Adding Favre answers the biggest question about a team that's trying hard (some would say desperately) to become contenders in the AFC. Even at age 38 and with no offseason practice and more than a week behind in training camp, Favre is a huge upgrade over incumbent QBs Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens.

Will Favre make enough of a difference for the Jets to become playoff contenders? Absolutely. Though the AFC is generally viewed as a conference of powerhouses, there's a gap between the top four teams (Patriots, Chargers, Colts, and Jaguars) and the other 12.

Last season, the Titans were the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. Their schedule included four games against the weak NFC South and four against the mediocre AFC West, and they sneaked into the field via a Week 17 game that the Colts didn't really try to win. So, assuming the Colts or Jaguars will take the top wild-card berth, the last spot in the AFC field will be up for grabs.

Whether Favre's presence allows the Jets to knock off some of the upper-echelon teams come January remains to be seen. But there's reason to think they can be competitive with Favre running the show. Faneca fills a gaping hole at left guard, between tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. Running back Thomas Jones is capable of moving the chains, especially if the safeties are concerned about getting burned by Favre's fastballs. The receivers, led by Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, are relatively solid. And Favre's old pal Bubba Franks joined the Jets earlier this year to play tight end.

To get in position to challenge the AFC's best teams, Favre and the Jets will have to navigate a schedule that contains some suddenly compelling matchups. Week 2 gives Favre his first taste of the Patriots, whom Favre last saw two years ago when they were beating the Packers, 35-0. Week 3 provides Favre a Monday night stage against the Chargers. In Week 7, Favre will return to Oakland, the site of that memorable Monday nighter the day after his father died. In Week 11, Favre gets another shot at the Pats, on a Thursday in prime time. And in Week 16, for what will be Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren's final regular-season home game, Favre will visit his mentor in Seattle.

So Favre's arrival in New York instantly adds spice to the coming campaign, and it should make us all even more eager for the games to get started.

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