Brett Favre looked like the answer when the New York Jets improved to 8-3 by sticking the Tennessee Titans with their first loss of the season on Nov. 23. After a convincing 34-13 road victory over the Titans, the Jets had a five-game winning, and the offense was averaging 38.3 points per game over the three most recent wins.

Today Favre is a big offseason question mark once again, after his Jets lost four of their last five games to finish 9-7. They held down the top spot in the AFC East after beating Tennessee, but handed the Miami Dolphins the division title in Sunday’s 24-17 home loss and missed out on a wild-card berth as well.

The Jets quarterback threw for just two touchdowns during the five-game skid that closed out a disappointing season and cost head coach Eric Mangini his job on Monday. Favre was torched for nine interceptions in those five games, one of which was run back 25 yards for a score by Miami’s Phillip Merling Sunday. Favre was picked off three times by the Dolphins.

In recent weeks, Favre has hinted that his right shoulder isn’t right. He will have an MRI exam on the shoulder Monday, which the quarterback says will play a role in deciding whether he will return to the Jets in 2009.

Undoubtedly, the ailing shoulder played a role in Favre’s recent struggles. On the other hand, the future Hall of Famer’s troubles down the stretch involve more than just his shoulder. Over the last four seasons, whether influenced by injury or not, it appears Favre has worn down in December.

Favre Passing by Month, 2005-2008

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TD/INT. . . . . . . . . . .Rating
September . . . . . . . . 31/16. . . . . . . . . . . . 92.9
October. . . . . . . . . . 20/19. . . . . . . . . . . . 81.1
November. . . . . . . . . 24/18. . . . . . . . . . . . 85.8
December. . . . . . . . . 12/30. . . . . . . . . . . . 60.5

In the month of December since 2005, Favre has thrown just 12 TD passes and 30 interceptions, by far the most among NFL quarterbacks during this span. Next on the list is Tony Romo (19), another quarterback directing a team that expected to go deep into the playoffs but didn’t earn a postseason berth.

A month ago, all the elements seemed to be in place for the Jets, who have alternated 10-6 seasons with 4-12 seasons the last four years. It was their turn to go 10-6, and 11 or 12 wins seemed entirely possible with Denver, San Francisco and Seattle on the schedule over the final five weeks.

The Jets fell to all three teams and the collapse was complete with Sunday’s loss to the AFC East champion Dolphins. Mangini is gone. Favre, who surpassed 65,000 passing yards but absorbed his 100th regular-season loss as a starter on Sunday, may be next.