N.Y. Jets at Denver


Breaking down the Jets and Broncos


Focal Point: Shanahan vs. Parcells


AFC: Tuna stocks the cupboard


Tackling the Tuna


Broncos line stays in tune


Even success wears on Parcells


Keyshawn getting the damn ball plenty


Conversation with Terrell Davis


Jets win the Parcells way

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets were either paying the Denver Broncos a great tribute Sunday afternoon or starting the mind games a little early.

To hear the Jets say it, there is no reason to go to Denver. The Broncos are the defending Super Bowl champs and after coldly stomping on the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, the best thing the Jets can do is hide the kids and lock the doors.

"Denver is a hell of a team, as we all know," said New York wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who was instrumental in the Jets' 34-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I watched (Denver's game on Saturday) and for a minute there, I was like, 'Ohhh, I don't want to play them.' They've got (running back) Terrell Davis and if we struggled a little with (Jaguars running back Fred) Taylor today, I don't know. Davis is going to be tough on us."

The major theme Sunday, and rightfully so, was that the Broncos are still the reigning champs and have to be feared.

"They're a Super Bowl team and they've got the edge right now," Johnson said. "I think one of the things that helped them out was them losing and then getting their confidence back. If they continue to play the way they're playing, it's going to be tough to beat them."

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde said he knows little about the Broncos because he hasn't watched any film yet. But he's heard rumors.

"Going out to Denver is going to be tough," he said. "It's a tough place to play and a tough place to win."

But Testaverde echoed everyone's statement when he said the road to the top runs through Denver.

Asked what the Jets need to do against the Broncos, Testaverde said they can't make any mistakes.

"And we can't give up the big plays like we did (against Jacksonville)," he said. "If we lose this one, we're going home."

Testaverde isn't concerned about Denver's home-field advantage, that he's played in other tough towns.

"We've played in some hostile environments in New England, Kansas City, Miami, Buffalo," he said. "We've played well in those types of situations.

"There are a lot of things that can go on during the course of a game on the road that can be a distraction to your team, but we're able to stay focused and we've won a lot of big games."

Running back Curtis Martin said he watched the first half of the Broncos win over Miami. It was all he needed to see.

"It's going to be a tough game," he said. "I thought Denver was hitting on all cylinders and if they continue to play like that, we're going to have a tough road ahead of us."

Martin said he has struggled in the past against the Broncos. But the reason is obvious. They're a great team.

"They have great talent all around," he said. "They have good team speed, they have good team power, they have good defensive backs that come up and meet you in the hole. They're just an all-around great defense. There's no excuses. They just stopped me."

(Rick Folstad writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver.)