Jenkins stealing stage from Broadway Brett

Nov 4, 2008 - 5:31 PM By Brian Fitzsimmons PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

The New York Jets thought they had improved their team most when they plucked Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers.

As it has turned out so far, the Jets received the biggest boost from an overlooked trade with the Carolina Panthers.

Newcomer defensive lineman Kris Jenkins continued his strong season with the first two-sack game of his career in the Sunday's crucial 26-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

The 29-year-old Jenkins also pressured Bills quarterback Trent Edwards into throwing a game-changing interception that Abram Elam returned for a 92-yard touchdown.

"He's a beast. He's tough to handle," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "He plays with very good technique and he's able to control the gap. He's got another gear when he's getting off the ball in a pure pass-rushing situation, and he just causes a lot of problems internally for our opponents."

Jenkins also limited the Bills to 30 rushing yards on 17 carries. Even star running back Marshawn Lynch had no answer for the three-time Pro Bowler, logging a season-low 16 yards on nine attempts.

As the Jets continue to figure out their identity, they should focus on how Jenkins' impact has them sitting at 5-3 entering this week's game against the St. Louis Rams - even with Favre scrambling for answers.

Jenkins has dramatically improved a pedestrian run defense that allowed 134.8 yards per game and 4.2 yards per attempt last season. With their new stopper, the Jets have allowed 76.0 yards per game on the ground and only 3.1 yards per attempt this season.

Jenkins refuses to take all the credit as a team leader, though.

"(Favre) and I have 10 other teammates on the field," Jenkins said. "I can't do it all myself and he can't do it all himself. We're just trying to play our part and if we can have good games, then it's great. I'm going to try my best ? but I have to do it every week."

Jenkins has recorded 27 tackles, three sacks, and is well on his way toward breaking his career highs in both categories. He made 45 tackles in 2003 and notched seven sacks the year before in Carolina.

Oddly enough, he can't pinpoint why the Jets have received such a boost.

"I don't know why the turnaround happened," Jenkins said. "I wasn't here last year. The big thing is the willingness to put the work in to try to win. Veteran leadership has been crucial also."

The Jets displayed just that in Sunday's victory, executing an eight-minute drive late in the fourth quarter to bleed out the clock and set up a field goal by Jay Feely that iced the game.

"It was a dog fight," Jenkins said. "We said all week it would be. They have a lot of weapons. It could have gone either way. What I liked about the game is we played Jets football. It's not just winning games, its how you win. The Bills played great, so we had to also."

Mangini credited the Jets' defense for a win that gave them one more than all of last season.

"It's a coordinated effort," Mangini said. "The coverage alone, the rush to get there, the rush being able to hit the right gaps, the way that we're executing some of the formation checks we have in place. I think all of those things have improved and that has allowed us to get more pressure on the quarterback."

Such is a formula that has been deemed necessary, considering how inconsistent and unspectacular Favre has been.

Favre has been intercepted 12 times in eight games. The one throw he botched this past week was returned for a touchdown by Jabari Greer and could've easily cost the Jets another win.

When trying to gauge how shaky Broadway Brett has been this season, consider this: Chad Pennington had only nine interceptions in as many games last season, while Kellen Clemens was picked off 10 times in 10 appearances.

In a way, Favre admitted Jenkins and the defense bailed him out once more.

"All I know is we won the game, it was a huge win," Favre said. "I hate to say it was different or unique or whatever. It is the way football goes, you never know what is going to happen. Until they blow the last whistle, it is not over. Our defense played outstanding, just a great win."

At this point, Favre might even agree that Jenkins has been New York's most entertaining act.