10/11 — First place.

That Broncos’ 20-17 overtime win over the Patriots Sunday means the Jets are in sole possession of the AFC East lead heading into their Week 5 Monday night game. You don’t win anything for being ahead at your quarter mark, but there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the ’09 Jets.

The prevailing thought was that New York’s AFC representative was destined for a slow start with rookies at the head coach and quarterback positions, a new defensive system, a lengthy suspension to one of their most talented defensive players and what appeared to be a brutal opening quartet of games. But they’re 3-1 at the quarter mark with a win over New England already tucked away and as the second quarter beckons, the Green & White figure to be a favorite in each of their next four contests.

On paper (and yes they still don’t play these games on paper), this Monday Night battle at Miami looks to be the toughest of the bunch. The Dolphins might be 1-3, but the defending AFC East champions are a tough-minded group who will lay it all on the line at Land Shark Stadium. 

You know exactly what you’re going to get from the Jets’ defense, but how will Mark Sanchez bounce back from his first professional setback? And what will the Dolphins get out of Chad Henne, who will be making his second pro start, against a group that always is making it uncomfortable for opposing passers and is getting its best pass rusher back in OLB Calvin Pace? How will Braylon Edwards fit in after a few practices as the Jets attack the NFL’s 24th-ranked pass defense?

Next weekend, the hurting Buffalo Bills and WR Terrell Owens (12 catches, 202 yards) will pay a visit to the Meadowlands. The Bills fell to 1-4 this afternoon when they dropped a 6-3 game in Western New York to the previously winless Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Derek Anderson was the winning quarterback for Eric Mangini and his stat line read: 2-of-17 for 23 yards and 1 INT. 

After showing some promise in their first two games, the Bills are not only severely banged up (CB Leodis McKelvin, TE Derek Schouman and Brad Butler all started Week 1 but are on injured reserve, LB Paul Posluszny, S Donte Whitner and S Bryan Scott did not play Sunday and LBs Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs and RT Jonathan Scott were all hurt against the Brownies), they’re playing horrible football. Dick Jauron’s job might be in serious jeopardy and he did not receive a vote of confidence from GM Russ Brandon.

"I'm not going to comment on that. Obviously this is a low point for all of us," Brandon said.  "I feel for everyone in the organization and more importantly the fans. This is not where we expected to be right now."

Then the Jets will step out of the division in Week 7 and face the Raiders in Oakland. The 1-4 Raiders were at the Meadowlands today and they got trounced by the G-Men, 44-7. Struggling on offense with JaMarcus Russell (a 47 percent passer with 1 TD and 4 INTs) at the controls, the Raiders average 9.8 points a game. On top of the on-the-field woes, Raiders head coach Tom Cable has been accused of assault by a defensive assistant head coach.

"I'm concerned with this football team in that I have so much faith in them, I believe so strongly in them," Cable said today. "But at some point, you have to draw the line in the sand. You have to put your foot down and say 'That's enough' so that you can move forward as a football team.”

And then the Jets and the Dolphins conclude their regular-season series up in New Jersey on Nov. 1. To this point, the Bills, Raiders and Dolphins are a combined 3-11. 

The Jets get a bye at the season’s midway mark and then they’ll come back to begin the third quarter against Jacksonville. The Jags got taken behind the woodshed in Seattle today, losing, 41-0, and falling to 2-3 on the season. 

Sunday Quick Hitters

The Bengals are atop the AFC North with a 4-1 mark and the 5-0 Broncos have a 2½-game lead in the AFC West. Who would have thought?

If the Colts beat the Titans on Sunday night, they’ll have a three-game lead in the AFC South. I can’t wait to see the Jets' "D" face Peyton Manning in Indy on Dec. 27.