If this is Brett Favre's kind of weather, then the magic is gone for the veteran quarterback. And so likely are the Jets' playoff chances.
Seattle's Maurice Morris sliced through the snow like a sled for a season-high 116 yards and John Carlson scored the only touchdown on a short pass from backup Seneca Wallace as the lowly Seahawks ended New York's stay atop the AFC East with a 13-3 upset Sunday.
Mike Holmgren, Favre's confidant and former coach in Green Bay, went out a winner in his final home game as the leader in Seattle -- largely because Favre came up short when the Jets (9-6) needed him most.
New York must now beat AFC East co-leading Miami at home next week, and pray.
Either New England or Baltimore, also 10-5, must lose for the Jets to get in the playoffs. The Patriots are at Buffalo next week and the Ravens, aiming for the conference's last wild-card spot, host Jacksonville (5-10).
Holmgren, who's taking a sabbatical from football in 2009, took a victory lap around the edge of the field immediately after the second win in eight games for Seattle (4-11) as sentimental music blared over the public-address system. He and Favre also embraced on the field and spoke briefly after the game.
Holmgren had planned to perhaps shake some hands with the fans who have cheered him while transforming the Seahawks in his 10 years, but snow cleared from the field before the game was piled up the railing of seats and prevented him from getting closer.
New York piled up missed chances, as Seattle scored its fewest points in a home win since Nov. 27, 1994, a 10-9 win over Kansas City in the Kingdome.
The Jets gave away seven potential points on two decisions by coach Eric Mangini. Their lone score came on a 20-yard field goal by Jay Feely to end the opening drive, after Mangini decided against going for it on fourth down with a half-yard to go at the 2 against the league's 30th-ranked defense.
The Jets stalled at the Seahawks 27 early in the fourth quarter. They were then penalized for delay of game just before Feely made a 45-yard field goal that was good by more than 5 yards. But after the 5-yard penalty, Mangini chose to punt. Feely angrily protested to his coach as he stomped off the snowy field.
New York was down 10-3 and started at its own 12 with 3:06 left, but Darryl Tapp sacked Favre on first down. On fourth-and-2, Favre heaved perhaps his longest and best pass of his skittish day. The ball reached Laveranues Coles in stride at the Seahawks 40, but bounced off his chest and that of defensive back Kelly Jennings before falling to the turf.
Favre, who finished 18-of-31 for 187 yards and two interceptions, just trudged off the field emotionless as snowballs thrown by the jubilant fans smacked into the turf near his feet.
Olindo Mare then kicked the clinching field goal.
For all of Favre's renown as a wizard in the quarterback in the cold and snow, he's actually more accurately just a whiz in the cold and snow of Green Bay. Favre is now 1-6 in road games played in temperatures of 34 degrees or below -- Sunday it was 31 degrees. He was 43-6 in such conditions in home game with the Packers.
Favre continually underthrew receivers who were running free downfield, such as Coles near the Seahawks 30 midway through the fourth quarter and David Clowney when he was 3 yards behind Josh Wilson at the Seahawks 40 to begin the second half to force another punt. That brought to mind questions last week that the 39-year-old, three-time MVP's passing shoulder is finally betraying him.
New York looked as bad as a division leader not in the NFC West can look throughout a first half spent sputtering through the snow, which increasingly covered the field and concealed the yard lines. Favre started 8-for-9 passing but finished the first half 2-for-7 with an interception thrown like a shot put across his body into Wilson's arms.
Seattle took a 7-3 lead into the locker room by converting prime field position late in the half following a 35-yard punt by Reggie Hodges. Seattle's 40-yard drive ended with Carlson's leaping catch of a 2-yard touchdown pass from Wallace in the back of the end zone. Carlson made the catch with snowflakes and linebacker David Harris' hands in his face, and a snowball party broke out among fans in the end zone.
