Brett Favre

By JEFF CAPELLINI, WCBSTV.com Senior Sports Producer
NEW YORK (CBS) ― If the season ended today, the Jets would make the playoffs. While that is the goal, this team hasn't made up its mind yet if its serious about winning the AFC East.

Gang Green is 5-3 and currently tied for the division lead with New England and Buffalo, just a game ahead of resurgent Miami. Though they are the beneficiaries of a last-place schedule, the Jets have recorded some impressive wins, most notably last week's 26-17 victory in Buffalo.

Maybe that win was the one that will springboard them on to bigger and better things.

The Jets have won four of their last five and are about to embark on a crucial three-game stretch they can't afford to butcher. It all starts Sunday against visiting St. Louis (2-6) and then quickly segues to New England for a showdown next Thursday night. It will end with a trip to currently unbeaten Tennessee in Week 12.

As good as the Jets feel about themselves right now, they could easily be 6-5 or worse and fighting for their playoff lives by Thanksgiving. However, a win Sunday over a team they should beat would make the Jets feel a whole heck of a lot better heading into a short week of practice in preparation for the Patriots.

Regardless of what the future holds, it's hard to argue with the financial investments the Jets made in the offseason. Right now, GM Mike Tannenbaum looks pretty smart and owner Woody Johnson's money looks like it was well spent.

That said, here are the Jets first-half grades:

QUARTERBACK – C+: Brett Favre has gotten a pass most of this season because he's had to adapt to different surroundings and learn a new and complex system, but the honeymoon is now officially over. Favre had moments of brilliance in the first half, throwing for six TDs in the Week 4 win over Arizona (which, by the way, is now looking like a very big win), and sometimes looked completely lost. He has tossed 12 interceptions this season, including a pick-6 in each of the last two games. He's on pace for 3,600 yards, 30 TDs and 24 INTs. While that would be great for most quarterbacks, Favre isn't most quarterbacks. Much more is expected from him.

OFFENSIVE LINE – B: Considering all the new faces that were brought in, the unit has developed nicely. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have had plenty of holes to run through and Favre has been fairly well protected, getting sacked 16 times. So far, the signings of guards Alan Faneca and Damien Woody have turned sweet dividends. Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold are quietly becoming two of the Jets' better picks in club history.

RUNNING BACKS – A-: Jones caught a lot of heat from the fans during the offseason after rushing for just 1,100 yards and one TD last season, his first with the Jets. Things are different this year. He already has 601 yards, five TDs and a sparkling 4.5 yards-per-carry average, well above his career mark of 3.8 coming into this season. Washington may be the most explosive player in the division. Forget that he has just 363 yards from scrimmage because he is averaging 6.3 yards per touch. Washington is also averaging 27 yards per kickoff return and 13 per punt return. If he's failed at anything this season it has been convincing coach Eric Mangini to get him the ball more.

WIDE RECEIVERS – B-: If Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles play even a little better than they did in the first half (each was inconsistent), they'll both catch about 80-85 passes, finish with more than 1,000 yards and have 7-10 TDs. Normally, Jets fans would be pleased if they had just one guy who could do that. Give Favre credit here. He has spread the wealth around. Chansi Stuckey has become a favorite of sorts, making 19 grabs for 225 and 3 TDs.

TIGHT ENDS – C: So much for Bubba Franks' rapport with Favre after all those years together in Green Bay. Franks has been a major disappointment, recording just six receptions in six games. First-round pick Dustin Keller looks like a player, but has just 13 receptions to go along with 2 TDs, and Chris Baker has just 12 catches and has not yet visited the end zone. Baker had 41 receptions last year.

DEFENSIVE LINE – A: The improvement here has been incredible. The line's makeover may be the single most important reason why the Jets are where they are this season. Behemoth tackle Kris Jenkins is probably the team's MVP at this point. The Jets are good this year because they can stop the run, something they haven't been able to do in YEARS. Jenkins has spearheaded a run D unit that is currently fourth in the NFL, allowing just 76 yards per game. Shaun Ellis has 6.5 of the Jets' 29 sacks. New York is ranked third in that category after recording just 29 all last season.

LINEBACKERS – B+: The Jets appear to have the 3-4 scheme down pretty well. Calvin Pace has 3.5 sacks coming off the right edge and Bryan Thomas has 4.5 coming off the left. Eric Barton is quietly having a stellar season, with 46 tackles, and, when healthy, David Harris is a tackling machine. He is expected to miss the next couple of games with a groin injury. This unit needs to continue complementing Jenkins up front against the run.

SECONDARY – C+: Darrelle Revis is fast-becoming one of the best cover corners in the NFL. Last week against Buffalo, Revis had a sack, fumble recovery and INT, his fourth of the season. The Jets, however, are not great against the pass, allowing 236 yards per game, just 24th in the NFL. For whatever reason, All Pro safety Kerry Rhodes is not having a typical Rhodes season.

SPECIAL TEAMS – B: Washington may be a one-man field position show, but the kicking game has struggled. Jay Feely, who was signed after Mike Nugent got hurt in Week 1, is 12-for-16 on field goals this season, but has missed three between 30-39 yards. Punter Reggie Hodges is averaging just 41.6 per attempt, which is somewhat disturbing considering he replaced Ben Graham, who was averaging 43.3. Hodges, however, has dropped six boots inside the 20.

COACHING – C+: It remains to be seen how good an NFL coach Mangini will be. He is 19-21 in two-plus seasons with the Jets. It's unclear if the Jets are winning because of Mangini's approach or because of Tannenbaum's smarts. One thing is certain: Mangini will at some point have to outcoach the opposition to win, not rely on a future Hall of Fame QB and two bought and paid for lines to win on talent alone.

BIGGEST SURPRISES: Stuckey, tackle Brandon Moore.

BIGGEST BUST: Vernon Gholsten. Who?

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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