National Football League

Tom Powers: Jets turn lights out on slow-starting Brett Favre

Published Oct. 12, 2010 10:19 p.m. ET

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TOM POWERS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The plan was for the Vikings to take all this commotion, all this turmoil, all these tabloid headlines and funnel them into a steady stream of creative tension that would turn them into hell on wheels against the New York Jets on Monday night.

All the ugly rumors, all the alleged, uh, glamour shots were going to be wadded together into a big ball of anger and used to bowl over those Jets. One report had Brett Favre promising as much during a Monday morning apology to his teammates. Apologizing for the distraction he had caused, the report said, he talked about playing "lights out" against the Jets as a way of paying them back.

"That's between me and my teammates, although apparently not all of them," Favre said afterward. Yeah, a couple of guys spilled details of Favre's apology.

Anyway, Favre's "lights out" prediction turned out to be partially true. For nearly three quarters, he played as if he were in the dark. Favre got off to a terrible start. It probably was due in equal parts to his bad elbow, the rotten weather and his sudden and depressing depiction as the dirty old man in a trench coat. As a result, his Monday night co-star, Randy Moss, struggled early, too.

By the time the old man heated up, it was too late. The new Favre-to-Moss combination became a factor before the game ended. But it couldn't prevent a 29-20 Jets victory. The Vikings fall to 1-3 and their season is on the verge of crumbling. The off-field headlines likely will only get worse.

"If you want to talk about football ..." Favre said, refusing to address any of the allegations.

"It's been a long week," Moss said. "I'm kind of worn out, man. I just tried to stay on the same page with the offense. It had my nerves going."

The Vikings were under some pressure over and above coming into the game with a 1-2 record. It was as if the traveling circus arrived in New Jersey on Monday night, complete with wild accusations, sordid details and a healthy dose of desperation on the gridiron. Ringmaster Brad Childress directed the show from the sideline of New Meadowlands Stadium. Favre and Moss were the star attractions.

The show was delayed about 45 minutes by wicked rains, however, perhaps in retribution from the Almighty for the alleged flaunting of human decency. Still, I can't recall a football game ever being delayed by rain. But maybe in Jersey they were concerned about bodies poking up through the soaked field turf.

It had been an interesting week for both Favre and Moss, and everyone was interested to see how they would react. Favre, an NFL icon, suddenly is being depicted as something less than a perfect citizen. The allegations of inappropriate behavior with former Jets employees have cast him in a very bad light.

Moss, never an icon in any way, shape or form, spent several days at Winter Park showing off a more mature, introspective -- even playful -- personality. Then we find out that he allegedly nearly came to blows with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, which may or may not have greased his departure from New England.

At the center of Monday's action was supposed to be the new and deadly Favre-to-Moss combination. These fellows both had something to prove. So look out now, boy. Favre to Moss is going to incinerate opposing defenses and shut everyone up. But nothing could ignite under the off-and-on downpours on Monday night, especially the passing of Favre.

"The addition of Randy Moss is a pretty good addition," Favre said appreciatively.

For most of the game, Favre looked a hundred years old. At times, his blockers looked older. Man, he got the heck knocked out of him, possibly making his bad elbow even worse. So the Vikings did not catch lightning in a bottle. However, they nearly caught lightning, period. There were several frightening flashes throughout the game. They sort of slogged along until late in the third quarter, when Favre seemed to zero in on finding Moss.

That was better. A 37-yard touchdown pass to Moss provided a hint of promise. But Favre didn't stay hot for long. And a baffling array of penalties, including illegal formation, delay of game and illegal receiver downfield, made it difficult to mount a serious challenge. By the time they got it together, there wasn't enough time left. And then Favre turned back into a pumpkin over the last few drives.

"I missed some throws on that last drive that I think I make in my sleep," said Favre, who said he wouldn't use the elbow as an excuse but also implied, yeah, it was because of the elbow.

In the end, it was Favre clutching that aching elbow and facing more scrutiny for his alleged off-field actions. And it was Moss standing in front of his locker sort of trying to catch his breath from a whirlwind week. Who knows what next week will bring?

Tom Powers can be reached at tpowers@pioneerpress.com .

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