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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 17, 2008

Favre has success in Jets' debut

Advertiser News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre completed 5 of 6 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Washington Redskins.

BILL KOSTROUN | Associated Press

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The focus was on Brett Farve's debut with the New York Jets, but former University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan lifted the Washington Redskins to a 13-10 preseason victory last night.

Brennan's 33-yard touchdown pass to Jason Goode with 1:09 remaining put the Redskins ahead 13-10. James Ihedigbo went for the interception and missed as Goode got behind him, caught the pass and rumbled into the end zone.

Brennan, who played the fourth quarter, completed 4 of 5 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

Favre second-guessed himself at times during the last few weeks. He doubted whether he was doing the right thing by coming out of retirement and leaving Green Bay.

A successful debut with the New York Jets erased all that.

"I knew I had made the right decision," Favre said, "when I was on the field tonight."

Favre was solid in his brief Jets debut after a week of cramming to learn his new playbook. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Keller to cap his second series.

"It worked out better than I thought it would, not that I thought it would go badly," Favre said. "It was like starting all over again. I had some feelings that I haven't felt in 17 years, but that's a good thing."

Just 10 days after being acquired from Green Bay, Favre finished 5 of 6 for 48 yards and the touchdown. He said his arm felt fatigued early in the week, but looked strong in his two series. He lasted 14 plays after coach Eric Mangini said he expected Favre to take 8-12 snaps.

"I felt like I threw the ball well, moved around OK," he said. "Ten days ago, I was doing yard work."

Favre retired in March and then decided he still wanted to play, leading to a bitter divorce with Green Bay. He had his throws limited in his final two practices leading up to the game, but showed no signs of weariness against the Redskins (3-0).

"My arm feels great," Favre said. "I've been throwing the ball well. I just feel like once I get the timing down with these guys, I'll be OK."

Brennan went three and out in his first two series before the go-ahead touchdown drive.

A Jets' punt into the end zone put the ball on the Redskins 20. Brennan completed a 37-yard pass to Billy McMullen to the Jets' 43. A 14-yard run by Marcus Mason took the ball to the New York 29. After Brennan was sacked at the New York 33, he completed a pass over the middle to Goode for the go-ahead score.

New York kicker Mike Nugent missed on a 23-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.

49ERS 34, PACKERS 6

SAN FRANCISCO — J.T. O'Sullivan threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Josh Morgan and outplayed Alex Smith, his competition for the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback job. Aaron Rodgers wasn't nearly as sharp as he was in the exhibition opener, going 9 for 18 for 58 yards and failing to get the Packers into the end zone in one half of action.

COLTS 16, FALCONS 9

ATLANTA — Jim Sorgi eased some concerns at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. With no apparent timetable on Peyton Manning's return from knee surgery, the Colts were relieved that Sorgi avoided critical mistakes in their victory over the Falcons. Sorgi played two possessions, completing 7 of 12 passes for 67 yards against Atlanta. His first drive stalled when Sorgi threw into double coverage and out of the reach of tight end Dallas Clark. The next possession, covering 85 yards in 17 plays, lasted 8:30 after Adam Vinatieri's 24-yard field goal cut the Falcons' lead to 6-3.

BRONCOS 23, COWBOYS 13

DENVER — Brandon Marshall had a diving 3-yard touchdown catch with a flustered Adam "Pacman" Jones in coverage in a game that followed four joint workouts spiced by a friendly feud between the two. Marshall came out on top, catching six passes for 59 yards — Terrell Owens had three catches for 20 yards, by the way — and Jones had six tackles, none of them on Marshall.

VIKINGS 23, RAVENS 15

BALTIMORE — Tarvaris Jackson left with a knee injury in the first quarter, ruining an otherwise productive night for the Vikings quarterback. Jackson hurt his right knee on a 9-yard run, then stayed in for two more plays before leaving. He watched most of the second quarter from the sideline with his knee wrapped in ice. Jackson finished 7 for 11 for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also ran twice for 22 yards before leaving during Minnesota's second series.

TEXANS 31, SAINTS 27

NEW ORLEANS — Houston's Matt Schaub was 14 of 16 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints' Deuce McAllister made a promising return from his second knee reconstruction in three seasons in his first appearance in a game since Week 3 of last season. Gaining positive yards all six times he touched the ball, McAllister strung together several short gains and converted three first downs during a touchdown drive that helped New Orleans take a 20-17 lead at halftime.

CARDINALS 27, CHIEFS 17

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie running back Tim Hightower had a short touchdown run and Matt Leinart shook off a bad start and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Steve Breaston. Kurt Warner, the 11-year veteran who's trying his best to unseat Leinart as the No. 1 quarterback for the Cardinals, started the game and hit 6 of 9 passes for 54 yards. He directed a 13-play, 78-yard touchdown drive on his second possession, capped by Hightower's 4-yard touchdown run around right end.

SEAHAWKS 29, BEARS 26

SEATTLE — Rookie Brandon Coutu made all five of his field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 36-yarder in overtime.

DOLPHINS 19, JAGUARS 14

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chad Pennington led two scoring drives in his Dolphins debut a week after signing with the team. Pennington, cut by the New York Jets to make room for Brett Favre, was 5 for 6 passing for 55 yards.

RAMS 7, CHARGERS 6

ST. LOUIS — The Chargers' defense made some big stops despite missing more than half its starters. The Rams won on a touchdown run by Travis Minor with all backups on the field.