10/19 — The Jets' opening drive today is different, to say the least.

After the Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski puts the opening kickoff 11 yards deep into the end zone, which is to say out of the end zone, the Jets embark on a modified-hurryup, empty-backfield march from their 20 to the Oakland 22. Each play has Brett Favre in the shotgun and five receivers on the line: WRs Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey and Brad Smith and TE Chris Baker.

The Jets clearly have some early tendencies they want to exploit as Favre hits his first five passes, four to Baker (who had seven catches in the first six games) and one to Smith for his first reception of the season. Additionally, the Raiders commit three offsides penalties in a five-snap span.

Still, the drive stalls at the 22 so Jay Feely comes on to drill a 40-yard field goal and put the Jets on top, 3-0. Despite Favre's high points this season, this is the first opening drive in which the offense has put points on the board.

Then the Jets defense pitches a three-and-out at the Silver & Black on their first series of the day, with Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace — yes, Pace started despite the foot injury that had him listed as questionable — stop Justin Fargas on third-and-3 from the Raiders 37.

The Jets are tested quickly after this start. The defense again stones the Raiders, with Kenyon Coleman and Pace throwing back rookie RB Darren McFadden for no gain one play after McFadden breaks a toss for 15 yards and a first down.

But Raiders punter Shane Lechler nails an end-over-end kick — yes, a drop punt in the style of Ben Graham — that usually sure-handed Leon Washington muffs back to the Raiders at the Jets 16.

On second-and-goal from the 2, it appears the Raiders have burst through for the game's first TD when QB JaMarcus Russell threads a pass to TE Zach Miller in the end zone.

But Oakland is into self-inflicted wounds so far today. The TD is nullified by an illegal formation — the Raiders' sixth penalty of the first quarter for 35 yards in losses.

The defense stops two more plays, Janikowski kicks a 29-yard field goal and the game is tied at 3-3. And a Raiders streak continues: CBS displays a graphic before the touchdown-nullifying flag that they have the longest current streak of offensive snaps without a TD. After the FG, that streak is now at 115 plays.

Late in the first quarter, Thomas Jones finally comes on the field and appears to be shot out of a cannon as he bursts for 14 yards. This is at the start of a drive in which the Jets march to first-and-goal at the Raiders 6. But TJ can get only 3 on two carries, then Favre tries to laser a pass to Cotchery just over the end line and the ball is picked off by S Gibril Wilson.

The pressbox announcer has just relayed that TE Bubba Franks, who hopped off the field, has a hip injury and his return is questionable.

The Raiders may be 1-4 but they're playing tough as advertised as they move to first-and-10 at the Jets 23. But that's where they stop as Russell, who had been looking sharp until throwing two incompletions. Then Janikowski pushes a 40-yard FG wide and the visitors have held.

Jones rips off another nice run for 20 yards but then the Jets offense again is stymied and Reggie Hodges punts. And the Raiders try to get something going but can't and Russell is sacked on the final play of the half. So it's a 3-3 stalemate after 30 minutes. If the Jets need a wakeup call, that score is it. But one thing for Green & White followers to keep in mind: Oakland has given up 101 points in the second half and 74 points in the fourth quarter this season — the highs in the league. If the Jets can hang in there with the Raiders, there could be a late payoff.