New York, New York. World renowned for the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and, thanks to the absolute thriller that was Super Bowl XLII, Eli Manning.

But the Giants are the only ones bringing smiles to New York sports, with the Yankees getting kicked around on the diamond and the Knicks, well, is an explanation really necessary?

No team was a bigger fan of the Giants last season than the Jets, as they managed to flail through another season without too much flogging. And while fans may have ignored their 4-12 record last year, the acquisition of Brett Favre has expectations high for the first time since Namath called Super Bowl III.

But is it realistic to believe that Favre can carry this team to the playoffs, much less a Super Bowl?

Though Favre certainly has eaten up the headlines this off-season, the Jets also picked up a few other potential game-changers. The most intriguing, of course, is Alan Faneca, the seven-time Pro Bowl left guard whose name was synonymous with the Steelers. Also, Favre's former teammate in Green Bay, Bubba Franks, will provide a solid backup to Chris Baker, the team's starting tight end.

Defensively, the Jets have to be excited about acquiring Kris Jenkins from Carolina, as the Jets' rush defense was trucked consistently last season, earning it the 29th spot in the league. However, the three-time Pro-Bowler will have to adjust to a new position and defensive scheme, as defensive coordinator Bob Sutton has him starting at the nose of a 3-4 defense.

But the obvious question, the question that has Jets fans around the country sitting a little uneasy, the question on which the 08-09 season hinges, is whether or not Favre is up to the task of yet another season behind center.

He'll have some weapons to work with in Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Thomas Jones, but unless Faneca can inspire an otherwise shaky (at best) offense, Favre may experience a little more back pain than he's used to.

It's intriguing that New York fans claim not to expect Favre to resuscitate the organization; they only expect him to provide leadership, fanfare, touchdowns, jersey sales, and, oh yeah, a shiny new ring would be nice.

So let's be real. The Jets aren't winning Super Bowl XLIII, Favre or not. Shoot, they didn't even win their home opener against a Tom Brady-less New England.

But with a load of hype and support, two future Hall of Famers and a little (or lot) of luck, the Jets could find themselves dubbed AFC Wildcard champions come playoff time - given, of course, that Coles and Cotchery finally come up in big spots, and Jones averages more than 3.6 yards per carry.