Undefeated no more — Favre, Jets hand Titans first loss

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brett Favre gave the Tennessee Titans a painful reminder Sunday. He will pick apart the best NFL defenses when given too much time.

Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the New York Jets served notice they will be a factor in the AFC this season by routing the Titans 34-13, ending the perfect start by the NFL's last undefeated team.

"I'm not going to sit here and say we've established ourselves as the best team in football," Favre said. "All it says is I think we beat the best team in football today, definitely if you go by record and the way that they've played. They have been the best team in football."

The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough. They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight. The win also pulled them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.

Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas called it a statement to the rest of the NFL.

"Now people are going to start looking at us and say, 'They are a team you have to reckon with,"' Thomas said.

New York coach Eric Mangini said he was proud of his team for playing, and winning, in a challenging environment. The Titans sold out their 101st consecutive game.

"We've been down here the last three years. It's loud, and it's always been a tough place to play," Mangini said.

The Titans had won 13-straight regular-season games dating to Dec. 16, 2007, in becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.

"It was a great run, and we've got to win our next game," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of playing Detroit on Thursday.

This time, the NFL's stingiest scoring defense that had been allowing 13.1 points per game had no answer for Favre and the Jets, even with the return of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.

The Jets spread out Tennessee, Favre threw fast and often, and they wore the Titans' defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes. New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee on offense 409-281.

"We really didn't have an answer for it today," Vanden Bosch said. "Favre had a really good game. Give him credit. We knew what to expect from him. He's a great player, and he beat us today."

Not that they got any help from their own offense.