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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Just a few weeks ago, fans and commentators railed against the New York Jets for running the ball when it mattered most.

In Week 2, the Jets had a first down on the New England Patriots' 3-yard line and handed off to Thomas Jones three times, then kicked a field goal.

	Doug Benc/Getty Images
	Favre who? Running back Thomas Jones (12 carries, 69 yards, TD) and the rest of the Jets' running game led the offense in a victory over the Bills.

Three straight runs with Brett Favre in smelling distance of the end zone? Puh-lease.

What was the use of acquiring Favre if the Jets weren't going to use him?

Funny how a few games have changed that attitude. Jets fans should beg head coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to run, run, run.

Despite the connotations of what a Favre stewardship is supposed to be, the Jets further established themselves as a run-oriented football team in Sunday's 26-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

"We've shown in the last couple weeks what we're capable of doing," Jets left guard Alan Faneca said. "We've been able to put a little pressure on defenses to honor that a little more."

Before the Jets' universe began to revolve around Favre, they were poised to have a running offense. They signed free agents Faneca, right tackle Damien Woody and fullback Tony Richardson to pave lanes for underrated tandem Jones and Leon Washington.

"I just feel like it hasn't become our identity yet, which I think it should be with the guys they brought in and the guys we have that can run the ball," Jets tight end Chris Baker said.

"It definitely should be a bigger part of our package. I think it will be. As you go through the season you're trying to evolve and say 'This is our bread and butter.' We'll get more to that. Or at least I hope we will because we got the guys that can do it."

The stats don't indicate it, but the Jets humbled the Bills by grinding it out and not letting Favre throw away the game.

Favre almost did anyway, tossing an interception that Jabari Greer returned 42 yards for a touchdown to cut the Jets' lead to six points with nearly 11 minutes to play.

But the Jets responded with a 14-play, 65-yard drive that drained 8:41 off the clock and ended with a Jay Feely field goal. All but 17 of those yards were on the ground. Four Jets had at least one carry on the drive. Jones had back-to-back runs of 23 and 7 yards.

"We know if we don't go out there and beat ourselves and not turn the ball over and play complementary football, we give ourselves a good chance to win," Washington said.

Favre has thrown only three touchdowns to counter eight interceptions since his epic six-touchdown afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 28. His interception on Sunday was his 300th.

Against the Bills, he threw quickly and completed 19 of 28 passes for 201 yards and zero touchdowns. In other words, he managed the game (insert your Chad Pennington one-liner here) more than he was asked to win it.

And that looks like the wise way to go for a team that could win the AFC East.

Jones finished with 12 attempts for 69 yards and a touchdown, giving the Jets at least one rushing touchdown in four straight games. He also had six catches for 38 yards. Washington carried seven times for just 13 yards but added two receptions for 42 yards.

"A win's a win, but, especially on the road, if you're able to run the football, that says a lot about your football team, a lot about the mentality of your football team," Richardson said. "Running the football is hard. It's not easy to pound and pound and pound when they know you're going to run the football.

"For a fullback or an offensive lineman, we love it. You ask us, we want to run the ball every play."

Jones is well on pace for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. He went into Sunday as the AFC's third-ranked rusher. He has 601 yards and five touchdowns.

Washington's contributions have been made more as a receiving threat and return man, but his game-breaking abilities are unquestionable. He took a short Favre pass and ripped off a 40-yard gain on the second play of the game.

"They're good, man," Faneca said. "You put them back there, it's a 1-2 punch. T.J. hits it hard, and Leon's got some speed. We got confidence in both of them.

"When we started out and got behind we didn't really utilize them because the way the game played out. As we start to play better, we've played more to our strengths, and people have been able to see what [Jones and Washington] are capable of."

The headline writers and punsters should stop calling them the New York Bretts.

Favre might be the most visible player on the roster from a celebrity standpoint, but for the Jets to win down the homestretch it would be better if he can fade into the background.