big joe

Loyal New York Jets fans are torn between staying patient with a team that has gone to the playoffs three of the past four year under coach Herman Edwards, or throwing in the towel.
The Jets come limping into Atlanta for a Monday night showdown with the Falcons trying to remain competitive without a full deck. Edwards was forced to coax 42-year-old Vinnie Testaverde out of retirement to help at quarterback after Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler went down with injuries.

New York Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae was lost for the season last week when he suffered a torn left triceps muscle. That forces the Jets to shuffle an offensive line already in disarray. Pete Kendall, who will make his first start at center since 2003, will be in charge of making all the line calls and providing smooth snaps for Testaverde.

Though Atlanta is in the thick of the NFC South race, coach Jim Mora admits his team is just a fraction off. The Falcons were lucky to escape with a 34-31 road victory last week against New Orleans. They allowed 456 yards, including 211 rushing to a Saints team that was without leading rusher Deuce McAllister.

The Falcons are yielding 133.5 rushing yards per game, almost 30 more than last season when they reached the NFC championship game.

That doesn't mean the anemic Jets will be able to take advantage. Curtis Martin did explode for a season-high 148 yards last week when New York lost at Buffalo, 27-17. But the Jets have averaged just 80.5 yards per game on the ground this year, 25th in the NFL.

Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick enters the game having thrown 100 passes this season. He has 55 completions for 607 yards, five TDs and three interceptions. Vick has also run 40 times for 283 yards and a TD.

Vick is getting healthier after battling injuries for most of the season. Warrick Dunn has emerged as the Falcons most consistent and reliable offensive threat. Dunn has rushed for 577 yards and two touchdowns for the league's top running team. His 5.2 yards per carry are the second highest of his nine-year career.

T.J. Duckett, Atlanta's short-yardage banger, is questionable for Monday's matchup. That means more work for Dunn against a Jets defense almost as deficient versus the run as the Falcons.

Atlanta upset defending NFC champ Philadelphia in the first Monday night game of the season. The Falcons had faltered in 13 of their last 14 against the spread under the spotlight and they had flunked eight straight Monday tests at home ATS.

New York has fared better when ending the week, getting the green in seven of eight as road dogs.

New York has been on the high side in eight of its last 11 on artificial turf and in nine of 12 as underdogs of three points or more versus the NFC. Atlanta has been on the low side in five of seven at home against AFC opposition.

Most offshore books opened the Falcons as seven-point favorites, with the total set at 39 1/2.