Jets represent test for Titans

The New York Jets showed the nation last Thursday night that the acquisitions of Kris Jenkins, Alan Faneca and Brett Favre, among others, have made them legitimate playoff contenders.

Their game Sunday in Tennessee may determine if they can be more than that.

The Titans enter the contest 10-0, the NFL’s only unbeaten team. The Jets, who lead the AFC East at 7-3, are the most formidable opponent they will face until the final two games of the regular season, when they host Pittsburgh and then finish at Indianapolis.

Tennessee can clinch a playoff spot with a victory. As their run has continued, they’ve played down the unbeaten aspect, a good idea because New England’s unbeaten season last season was spoiled by a Super Bowl loss.

“We’ve got 10 wins,” guard Jake Scott said. “That’s a lot. To go undefeated, we’d have to win nine more. We’re just a little over halfway. You’re not even in that ballpark yet.”

The Jets look at it differently.

“You always want your guys to have the mentality that they can’t lose,” coach Eric Mangini said. “I think that’s a great spirit to have in any locker room, so I’m sure they’re really happy that they have that right now. We go into every game with the assumption that we’re going to win, as well.”

New York had its biggest win last week, beating the Patriots 34-31 in overtime after losing a 24-6 first-half lead. That gave the Jets a one-game lead over New England and Miami in the division, with Buffalo a game behind them.

In that sense, their focus has to be on the division race.

Yes, it would be great to knock off an unbeaten team. But staying in first is a higher priority.

In other games Sunday:

New York (9-1) at Arizona (7-3): The Cardinals can clinch the NFC West with a win and a loss by San Francisco at Dallas, a fact that says more about the division than the Cardinals. The Giants, after all, are two games better but aren’t within a sniff of a division title yet because the NFC East is much better.

This game may be more important though because it gives Arizona a chance to prove its legitimacy against the defending Super Bowl champion and a team that many folks regard as the NFL’s best.

Indianapolis (6-4) at San Diego (4-6): In this matchup last season, Peyton Manning threw six interceptions, and still the Colts barely lost, 23-21. Sunday night’s game is between two AFC powers heading in opposite directions.

The Colts, all but out of the race for an AFC South title, have won three straight to put themselves in the thick of the wild card race. But they again could be without oft-injured safety Bob Sanders, last season’s NFL defensive player of the year.

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