New York Jet fans had this game circled on the calendar ever since ex-Jet Brett Favre’s latest “unretirement” this past summer.

Although they waited a little longer, through a weather delay at the start, and then through some tenuous moments in the fourth quarter, Jet fans finally got what they waited for – a victory over their former quarterback and his Minnesota Vikings (1-3), and a fourth straight win for the Jets (4-1), by a score of 29-20, on Monday Night Football at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

For more than 2½ quarters, in a driving rain, it appeared that Favre and the Vikings would go very quietly and do very little, with Jets’ kicker Nick Folk accounting for all of the scoring on four consecutive field goals to give the Jets a 12-0 lead.

Given the way the Jets’ defense contained Favre and the Minnesota offense to that point, Jet fans were more than happy to wait 45 minutes for the opening kickoff due to lightning being spotted in the area, and to see running back LaDanian Tomlinson (20 carries for a game-high 94 yards) single-handedly gain more yards (50) on the ground than the Vikings amassed in total (40) in the opening quarter.

Tomlinson would slightly edge Vikings’ star running back Adrian Peterson (18 rushes for 88 yards) for the game, to help the Jets to 155-96 rushing advantage, as Minnesota allowed its most rushing yards since December, 2006.

By halftime, the Jets held a dominant 206-51 advantage in total yards, along with a 9-0 lead, while holding Favre to only 31 yards passing on just 3 completions in 7 attempts. Favre also mishandled a snap with 4 minutes left in the half, leading to Folk’s third field goal. The miscue was the 162nd of Favre’s 20-year career, tying him with Warren Moon for the most NFL fumbles ever.

Favre then broke that record on the Vikings’ first possession of the third quarter, when he fumbled again, a turnover than led to Folk’s fourth field goal in as many attempts, with 8:49 left in the period.

By then, the Minnesota offense was doing so little (starting the game with six punts, Favre’s two fumbles, and a total of 58 yards on the Vikings’ first eight possessions), it didn’t matter that the Jets’ offense settled for nothing but fields goals despite already starting three possessions in Minnesota territory, and running 35 of the first 37 plays of the game to occur in an opponents’ end of the field.

But, when the rain stopped and passing conditions improved, Favre and the Vikings’ offense finally made the necessary adjustments to the Jets’ relentless blitz packages, and quickly got back in the game.

Favre rebounded from his miserable first half to throw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, despite a going an inaccurate 11-for-27 in the second half.

He also achieved two milestones while trying to rally the Vikings during the second half. On Minnesota’s ninth possession, Favre became the first player in NFL history to surpass 70,000 passing yards, and later on the same drive, he became the first NFL player to throw 500 touchdown passes, capping a 10-play, 72-yard possession with a 37-yard strike up the right sideline to wide receiver Randy Moss (4 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD), who made some history of his own.

Moss became the first NFL player to play on Monday Night Football in consecutive weeks, after rejoining the team that drafted him in the first round in 1998, after helping New England to a MNF win in Miami last week.

Simply having a fellow future hall of fame weapon like Moss, whom Favre coveted since Moss’ days in Minnesota, meant more to Favre than the milestones he reached. On those, Favre said after the game, “It’s all about the wins,” regretting the loss to the Jets and the Vikings underachieving 1-3 start more than relishing his landmark accomplishments. But, on the touchdown to Moss, Favre admitted, “I’ve been thinking about that for 8 to 10 years.”

Kick returner Brad Smith immediately got the Jets back in business after Moss’ touchdown, with an 86-yard kickoff return to the Minnesota 19 yard-line. But, all that led to was the Jets starting a fourth possession in Viking territory without a touchdown, as New York settled for Folk’s fifth field goal, which put the Jets ahead, 15-7, heading into the final quarter.

Starting a 5-play, 65-yard drive in the final minute of the third quarter, the Vikings closed to within 15-13 with 12:47 left in the game, on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Favre to wide receiver Percy Harvin (5 catches, game-high 97 yards, 2 TD).

Minnesota didn’t need to go for a two-point conversion at that point, and things might have worked out better for the Vikings later on, had they opted to kick the extra point, instead. After lining up for the PAT, Minnesota called a timeout, then went for two, and failed.

That became significant, because after the teams traded punts, the Jets drove 66 yards on 6 plays, to lead 22-13 on a 23-yard touchdown burst by running back Shonn Greene (10 rushes, 57 yards, 1 TD), with 4:30 left.

Favre would again answer, taking the Vikings 54 yards on 5 plays in just 1:11, finding Harvin for an 11-yard score with 3:09 remaining. Had the Vikings kicked the PAT after they previous touchdown, they could have gone for two, to tie the game at 22-22, but having failed on the earlier two-point attempt, Minnesota could only kick the PAT to pull to within 22-20.

The Jets then had their own brain lock with time management. With a chance to wait for the two-minute warning and then run one more play afterwards, to leave Favre and the Vikings less time, New York snapped the ball too soon. Quarterback Mark Sanchez (21 of 44, 191 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) threw too high and incomplete on 3rd-and-11, and after a fourth-down punt, the Vikings had plenty of time left with 1:48 on the clock, needing just a field goal to win, starting from their own 16 yard-line.

However, two plays later, Favre would make two misguided throws that would seal the Vikings’ Fate.

On 2nd-and-10, Favre rolled away from pressure, to his right, and had Harvin wide open at the Minnesota 24 yard-line. Harvin had plenty of room, possibly enough to score, or at least to get well into Jets’ territory. But, what should have been an easy dump-off pass, sailed well high of Harvin and incomplete.

One play later, cornerback Dwight Lowery stepped in front of a ball that Favre tried to force to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, and raced untouched, 26 yards, into the end zone, to ice the game for the Jets, with 1:30 left.

Favre’s only interception extended another NFL record – one he didn’t want – his 324th career interception.

In contrast to Favre’s three turnovers, the Jets, who sacked Favre four times, tied an NFL record by playing their fourth straight game without committing a turnover.

Favre (14 of 34, 264 yards) was impressed with the Jets’ play, saying “We played what I feel like is the best team in the AFC.”

The first-place Jets will be seeking their fifth straight win next Sunday in Denver, at 4:05 EST, against the Broncos (2-3), who have alternated losses and wins each week since the start of the season. That trend would indicate a Denver win in that case, with the Broncos coming off a loss in Baltimore on Sunday. However, Denver will be banged up, having already ruled out five players (who were hurt in Baltimore) next Sunday.

Who would’ve though a week ago that as the final Sunday of the NFL’s regular season approached, the Jets would be playing for the rights to make the playoffs, not the Giants. So many things had to fall right for Gang Green to regain control of their destiny. Those things DID fall right for one of the NFL’s habitually cursed franchises. Now all of a sudden the Jets take on a Cincinnati Bengals team that has little to play for with a home playoff game already coming the following week. Thus making the final game one with little to play for besides momentum and alot to lose in the way of injuries. The Bengal scenario is  much like  one the then undefeated Colts  faced. Indy’s unpopular decision to rest Peyton Manning and other key starters up just 15-10 with 5:38 left in the third quarter helped pave the way for the Jets to take back to the keys to the car.

Now it’s up to Gang Green to close the deal once and for all and earn the right to most likely face the same Bengal team a week later in Cincy.

The Giants got blown out last week in their farewell to a stadium that has been kind to them in it’s 33 year history. Three Giant Super Bowl teams were borne out of the purported hallowed burial ground of Jimmy Hoffa in this time. For the Jets, the Meadowlands has been home to so many crash landing endings that many Jet fans will be happy to see the team move next door in 2010. A chance at a fresh start with the opportunity to put their own stamp on things, will come shortly.

For now, the Jets hope to give themselves and their die hard fans one great memory in a stadium that has housed at least a few over the years.

The Monday night Miracle in 2000 with Jumbo Elliot’s TD catch capped off the greatest Monday night football comeback in history. Beating the Brett Favre led Packers on the last day of 2002 propelled the upstart Herman Edwards Jets into the playoffs. Their 41-0 dismantling of the Colts in the Wildcard was arguably the loudest Jets fans ever got in the Red and Blue seated stadium.

Of course there were nightmares. Too many to count. The bigger ones that come to mind are the day Dennis Byrd was partially paralyzed against the Chiefs in 1992. Who can forget the Dan Marino fake spike play in 1994 that left the then 6-5 Jets shocked? The wild loss sent them into a “same old Jets” Jet  tailspin, ending Pete Caroll’s tenure as head coach after just one season. This ushered in the Rick Kotite years of 1995 and 1996. Enough said.

Sunday night is about a lifetime of redemption for the franchise that, aside from Super Bowl III, seems to struggle most when the spotlight is the brightest. Although the Jets have fared well in “win or in ” games over the past decade, the stigma associated with monumental collapses contain ghosts that float close to the surface. Apparitions that seem ready to bring bad karma to Gang Green at any time.

This week has had its share of pre-game drama already. Chad Ochocinco and CB Darelle Revis have been going at it in a friendly fun way on twitter. Ochocinco has been boasting that Revis won’t be able to cover him. Don’t bet on it. Revis has covered all of the top receivers this year and has shut them all down. WR Braylon Edwards pulled a “Broadway” Joe guaranteeing the win saying that team is too focused and wants it too badly to lose.

Then there’s the issue of motivation. The Bengals can’t improve their playoff situation with a win. in fact they can only hurt it by adding any top player to the injury list in a game that has no ability to make their path to the Super Bowl any easier. Will coach Marvin Lewis let QB Carson Palmer and the oft injured RB Cedric Benson play for the duration? Backup QB  JT O Sullivan is a former starter with the 49ers, and should fare alot better than Curtis Painter did for the Colts last week, should the Bengals choose to keep Palmer on the sidelines. One or more of the AFC teams on the bubble between Miami, Houston and Pittsburgh will be watching Sunday night praying that the Bengals  go out and be competitive. The jury’s out as to how Lewis will play it.

If the Pats, who publicly claim Tom Brady and co. will be on the field (if you choose to believe Bill Belichick), beat the Texans at 1pm, the Bengals would own the 4th seed. This would be regardless of the outcome against the Jets. A Pats loss and the Bengals would move to No. 3 with a win but beating the Jets could force Cincy into facing division rival Baltimore or Pittsburgh in the opening round.

Many wonder if Cincy will tank just to win the right to take on rookie Mark Sanchez and his 26 interceptions, back to their place instead.

The stage is set. A stadium farewell. A win or else scenario. A national tv audience.

What a dramatic way to end what has been a roller coaster first season for coach Rex Ryan and the rookie Sanchez. 60 minutes away from the playoffs, the question is, can the Jets put it all together? It’s up to Gang Green now. They control their destiny. They are the owners of the chance to give Giants stadium one last glorious ride before it fades into the sunset. Before the Jets 2009 season fades into the sunset as well.

KEYS TO THE BENGALS:

Defense, It’s Time To Peak  For the Jets to keep the season going past Sunday and to make any sort of serious run in January , it’s going to have to be on the defense. The Defense , ranked 1st in the NFL in yards given up, must now grow into a turnover and sack machine. The foundation is there. The pressure has been solid all year. The interceptions have risen in the past five weeks. Now can the Jets D elevate into a unit that creates short fields and scores points. Sunday the Jets will need some help from the D as once again Sanchez will be asked to manage the offense, not carry it.

Shonn Greene: Can Greene develop here on the stretch drive as well? The fumble prone rookie has proven that he can be a big time aid to a run game already churning with RB Thomas Jones as long as he holds onto the rock. If Greene can come into his own, the template may be set for the rest of 2009. Jones, Greene, a few throws mixed in, and a stifling D.

Night Time is the Right Time: The nutty Jet fan base combined with the final game in Giants stadium,and a “Win and in” game” has to prove to be an energy force all its own. Fireman Ed, get your game face on, this one’s big. As big of a game as Gang Green has ever played in a stadium short on memories for the Jets. Alcohol sales have been banned for the game. The Meadowlands knows better than to lend Jet nation more fuel to a fire that may help carry the Jets over the edge and into the postseason.