FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -The stress of the last few games has taken its toll on Kerry Rhodes.
“I went into the locker room and I had about three or four more grays pop up,” the New York Jets’ 26-year-old safety said with a laugh Monday.
His teammates and coaches could probably say the same. Heck, even the fans might be reaching for the tweezers these days.
The Jets escaped with a victory Sunday, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 despite a poor performance by Brett Favre that had the home crowd booing the iconic quarterback.
“We didn’t play as well as we could,” Rhodes said. “We know that. The fact that we didn’t play our best and we still got a win, it could be a good thing. If we would’ve lost, it would be a whole different conversation right now.”
ing back Larry Johnson and started third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen.
“The most disappointing thing was the amount of points we gave up, knowing the caliber of the players on this defense,” defensive end Kenyon Coleman said. “We stepped up at the end.”
Favre had his third straight shaky game, throwing three interceptions in a game for the first time since 2006. After the third was returned 91 yards for a touchdown by Chiefs rookie Brandon Flowers to put Kansas City ahead, the crowd voiced their dissatisfaction.
Favre finished 28-of-40 for 290 yards and two touchdowns, but has thrown seven interceptions in his last three games and is tied for the NFL lead with 11.
“I think there’s a lot of years gambling going on in terms of making some unbelievable plays and making plays that you would like to have a chance to do it over again,” coach Eric Mangini said. “But, that’s what he’s done and he’s been very successful.”
Despite the mistakes, Favre was at his best with the game on the line. He completed all four passes he threw, including a 15-yarder that Laveranues Coles snatched with one arm in front of the end zone for the go-ahead score.
s able to make a play at the end to get us a win.”
A second straight loss to a team that previously had one win would’ve been a devastating setback to a team that spent over $140 million in the offseason on free agents and trades, and then brought in Favre.
“I can tell you that it’s a lot better feeling this week than it was last week,” Mangini said. “Any disappointment should be channeled into work to improve.”
The 39-year-old Favre was knocked around a bit by the Chiefs and acknowledged after the game that he was feeling sore.
On his first interception in the second quarter, Favre was slammed in the back by Tamba Hali and the quarterback appeared to knock his right forearm against guard Alan Faneca. Favre stayed on the turf for a few moments and was checked out on the sideline, but stayed in. Mangini doesn’t expect his quarterback to be limited in practice this week.
“It doesn’t look that way,” Mangini said. “I don’t anticipate it being that way. I think that he’s got general soreness that he usually has. It wasn’t really anything specific. Nothing that I talked about with the medical staff where we were really pinpointing anything. It was more overall soreness.”
A few other Jets are nursing injuries, including running back Jesse Chatman, who injured his left knee covering a kickoff in the second half and left the stadium on crutches.
said. “This could be season-ending.”
Tight end Chris Baker never made it into the game after a hip injury acted up in pregame warmups, while linebacker David Harris, the team’s leading tackler, left with a hip/groin injury. Safety Eric Smith, who has had two concussions in the last month, was taken out of the game in the second half as a precaution.
Mangini was uncertain of those players’ availability for the Jets’ game Sunday at Buffalo, where New York could potentially claim a share of first place in the AFC East with a victory.
“We are fortunate to be where we are,” Rhodes said. “We’re not playing the way that we think and the way we expect to play. We’re still in it and we still have a chance, and that’s all we can ask for.”
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