It's a Monday night mulligan for Jets

Even after three straight impressive division wins, there's still something that bugs the Jets: that season-opening one-point loss to the Ravens on "Monday Night Football" four weeks ago.

So Monday night, in a game full of story lines, the Jets (3-1) are on a mission against the Vikings and former Jets quarterback Brett Favre. It's their shot to show the world that their sloppy loss in prime time was just an aberration.

"Definitely," safety Jim Leonhard said. "Any time you have a nationally televised game, you kind of take that approach, that it's your time to prove where you are at as a football team. Yeah, we came up short in Week 1, and obviously, you don't like losing games, especially on 'Monday Night Football.' We take it as a challenge to go out there and prove who we are and how much we've improved."

That could mean a rude welcome for Favre, who will have new weapon Randy Moss after the Patriots sent him back to Minnesota (1-2) at midweek.

"This is kind of like a championship-caliber game," Rex Ryan said. "Both teams went deep into the playoffs last year, both of them to the championship games. You are going to get 'Monday Night Football,' so it doesn't get any bigger than that."

Favre has struggled, with two touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 60.4 QB rating. He's battling mild inflammation in his elbow and also is part of an NFL investigation that stems from his Jets days.

The league is looking into allegations that Favre sent explicit text messages and photos to Jenn Sterger - a former in-house sideline reporter during Jets home games - during the 2008 season. That, plus his play down the stretch of the Jets' 1-4 finish that left them out of the playoffs, could make for a tough crowd reaction Monday night.

"It was one year and I think, I would hope like with any place I've played, the people appreciate the effort I've given," Favre said. "Trust me, I take a lot of the blame, as a quarterback should. We probably get way too much glory. I did all that I could do and I hope that they appreciate that. That doesn't mean they have to like me. I know I'm coming in [as] an opponent."

Which, Jerricho Cotchery believes, is all the reason for the fans to let Favre have it. "Give him a hard time," he said. "All the fans, all the New York fans, give him a hard time this week. The more the better."

The Jets will be better off with more this week, too, as they get back two of their premier defensive players. Darrelle Revis' strained left hamstring has healed sufficiently to allow him to take on Moss Monday night. The Jets also will get their top pass-rusher back, with linebacker Calvin Pace making his regular-season debut after being sidelined since Aug. 27 with a broken bone in his right foot.

And by the way, Santonio Holmes is returning from a four-game suspension to make his Jets debut. "The way the guys are rolling," the wide receiver said, "I just want to come in, fill in, play my part and move on to the next week."

By then, the Jets hope to have a better gauge of just how good they really are.

"Clearly, Minnesota is one of the top teams in the National Football League," Ryan said. "They don't have any weaknesses. So let's see how we match up.

"At this stage of the game, where are we at? We know where we want to be, but where are we right now? I think this is going to be a great barometer for us."