King of weird to have a Sunday free. I was hoping to watch the Titans game on CBS but they are playing the Steelers game instead. A good game if you’re a meteorologist …

Locally, New Rochelle/Rutgers product Ray Rice couldn’t make a difference for Baltimore against a really strong-looking Giants team, but RB Ryan Grant led Green Bay gaining 145 yards as the Packers moved into a three-way tie for first place on the NFC North. If you’re a Packers fan, Aaron Rodgers looks pretty good in lieu of Brett Favre.

In Jets news, the cast of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown—host Chris Berman and analysts Mike Ditka, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter, and Tom Jackson—chatted about the Jets. The network sent out the transcript and I bring it to you here:

Q. Jets or Patriots:  Who did you learn more about from Thursday’s game?

Carter:  “I would have to go with New England … You are talking about a football team that lost their quarterback.  They lost their No. 1 tailback in Laurence Maroney. They lost their secondary leader in (Rodney) Harrison.  When you can overcome all that and play competitive football and every week have a chance to win the game, it says a lot about (Bill) Belichick and what he’s done with that organization, and (Matt) Cassel as a quarterback.”

Jackson: “When you look at the Jets, who only won four games last year, I learned a little bit about them as well.  We talked about whether they were going to be able to run the football.  39 times for a 149 yards, they did something that some of them taught they couldn’t do.  What they’ve done is, taken a lesson from the other New York team down the street.  ‘We are going to be a pound-it-out football team, especially in November, December and give Brett Favre a chance to be Brett Favre and be successful playing quarterback for the Jets.”

Johnson: “I learned a lot about both teams. The New York Jets, a couple weeks ago, I was ready to start handing out pink slips … I learned a lot about them as a team, watching them play together.  This quarterback, I don’t need to say anything about him.  But the other quarterback on the other side (Patriots), this game is starting to slow down for him, Chris (Carter), in a fast way.  He’s no more a high school quarterback.”

Carter (interjected): “The jury is still out.”

Johnson: “He (Matt Cassel) went straight from high school to the pros, ala (NBA’s) Kevin Garnett”

Ditka: “In the end, I think these teams are going to be there anyways … I learned that old dogs can learn new tricks and new dogs can learn old tricks.  When I say (Brett) Favre, he’s the old dog, I think he’s understanding, I hate the word, manage the game, but he’s playing within the system.  You take the other kid, not only can he throw, he proved that he has great vision down the field and he made some great moves running the football.  So, he’s learning the game.”

Carter: “One thing should be taken into account with the Jets, as we see them trying to get back together as a team.  Brett Favre has won more games than every quarterback.  If you put in a game-plan, you give him a chance in the fourth quarter, it’s a good chance he will win.”