Yet in the postgame locker room, the mood still was one of quiet confidence as the Jets (1-2) turned their thoughts toward Arizona (2-1), which will visit the Jets on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Giants Stadium.

Linebacker David Bowens indicated the Jets can go in one of two directions -- they can bounce back, "or we can self-destruct," Bowens said. "With the character on this team, that's not going to happen. Something positive is going to come out of this."

"You don't envision the game turning out this way," right tackle Damien Woody said, "but it's still a long season. We've got to go back to work and decide which way we're going to take this thing.

"We've got to make up our minds (and) do things the way they're supposed to be done," Woody added.

Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery had a similar take.

"We know we've got a lot of guys in this room that won't ever fold," he said Monday night. The Jets' players were off Tuesday.

"We have a lot of guys that take pride in getting better as individuals," Cotchery said, "and in the process (of) getting better as individuals, helping us get better as a team. I think a lot of guys are going to take this to heart and a lot of guys are going to come ready to work on Wednesday. We have a short week but guys aren't thinking about a short week right now. They're thinking about getting back on that field on Wednesday and getting those mistakes corrected."

So obviously the Jets are on the same page emotionally. But from a physical standpoint, that wasn't always the case against the Chargers.

Brett Favre threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns before being relieved by Kellen Clemens with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, but he also threw two costly interceptions that led to 14 San Diego points. The first pick resulted in a 52-yard touchdown by Antonio Cromartie, who tipped the ball away from intended receiver Laveranues Coles and grabbed it out of the air.

Cromartie said afterward that Favre tried to "force" the ball to Coles.

But Favre said, "I think Antonio made a good play. ... On that one, I tip my hat to him."

Favre was picked off again later in the second quarter on what apparently was a miscommunication between him and Cotchery. San Diego drove 45 yards for a touchdown and a 31-14 lead after that turnover.

Both Favre and Cotchery took the blame, but the play perhaps is merely symptomatic of the adjustment Favre still is making to the rest of the offense after not becoming a Jet until Aug. 6.

Running back Thomas Jones doesn't see it that way, however.

"Honestly, I don't think that's a major part of it," he said. "(The) plays that are called, everyone understands (them). It's just a matter of us executing."

Favre also was upbeat.

"Ultimately we're judged by wins and losses," the future Hall of Famer said. "We all know that. But this team can be a very good football team. I really believe that, and it's a matter of how quickly we can put that together."

While Favre's pride seemed unscathed, his left ankle was a different story. He was quite gimpy after the game after linebacker Jyles Tucker apparently rolled on it on a third-quarter sack, one of three against Favre.

"I'll probably feel horrible (Tuesday)," said Favre, who has started 278 consecutive games, including postseason, sometimes with what appeared to be worse injuries than this one.

But the Jets may be even more concerned about nose tackle Kris Jenkins. The 360-pound run-stuffer left the game in the first quarter with a back injury and his absence left a hole in the middle of the defensive line.

"I'm going to do what I've got to do," Jenkins said, "to get back on the field."