... And a Million Patriots Fans Cursed Brett Favre

The Ravens, needing a win over Jacksonville to ensure they had tickets to the postseason, jumped out to a 24-7 lead by the break and stifled the Jags in the second half. By the time the fourth quarter of Jets-Dolphins began, it seemed basically certain New York would be eliminated from playoff contention by a Ravens win. But the Jets kept fighting.

Some solid fourth quarter defense held N.Y. within a touchdown of Miami. The Patriots, winners earlier in the day, needed a Jets win to capture the division. Brett Favre drove the Jets down the field, with repeated completions to Chansi Stuckey and friends. With four minutes left, Favre hooked up with Laveranues Coles to get to the Miami 29. Patriots fans could see a world in which the Jets, led by old Bill Belichick protegé Eric Mangini, came back to beat the Dolphins to punch N.E.'s ticket.

And then, as he is so often wont to do, Favre tossed a duck right to a defensive back. Interception Miami, game basically over, season over for the Patriots hundreds of miles away. Everyone predicted New England fans would grouse about their 11-5 team missing out on the postseason while an 8-8 AFC West team sneaks in. But to have the destiny sealed by the largely hated Favre? Perfect.

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