"It's cool," he said Wednesday. "I don't know what to say outside of that. My focus right now is still on the task at hand which is Seattle this week, and that's kind of like a bonus thing, which is cool, but my focus right now is still on what's in my most immediate future, which is Seattle. So I have to focus on that.

"So I apologize," he added, "if I don't seem like I'm too excited but I've got a lot of stuff in my mind going on right now. And I know this is the first time in a long time that I've had a problem getting the words out, but you have to understand. I know there's a lot riding on this week."

--Mike Holmgren will be coaching his last home game for Seattle, because he is taking a sabbatical after this season. And he will be facing a team quarterbacked by perhaps the most notable player he's ever coached, Brett Favre. The two were together from 1992-98 when Holmgren coached Green Bay.

"Having this be my last home game here and Brett being on the team that comes in, the irony is just unbelievable," Holmgren noted. "It'll be good to see him.

"I can honestly say that I would not be here today if it were not for Mike Holmgren," Favre said. "He and I worked together a long time ago, but the things that he taught me really hit me a little bit later, how much of a perfectionist that he was and how hard he was on me. That's the way that I study and prepare today. To him, everything had to be perfect in order to win.

"He put me in a position to succeed," Favre added. "He allowed me to play, or use my abilities the best way possible, to not only catapult me but to help our team win. He was an unbelievable play-caller. He was a great motivator. (Without him), I would not be here today. I probably would've been written off a long time ago."

When told of Favre's comments, Holmgren said, "That's very nice of him to say that. He's had a lot to do with my success in this business as well. It's kind of a mutual-admiration society. I'm most happy about Brett as a dad, and as a husband, and how he handles and conducts himself off the field. To see guys grow up and do a good job that way, I feel good about that."

--When RB Thomas Jones looks across the sideline Sunday, he will see a very familiar face. That of Seattle RB Julius Jones, his kid brother.

"I'm pretty used to it by now," Thomas Jones said Wednesday about playing his brother's team. "It's the third time. It's always fun. My family gets to come and I get to hang out with them. Every time I get to play against him, it's like a dream come true. We dreamed of being running backs in the NFL as kids and we have a chance to play against each other. It's very unique. I am very thankful and very grateful.

"Obviously, it's a big game for us," Jones added. "We want to win, but, you can ask my brother, I always wish him the best of luck and wish him the most success. I love my brother more than I love football. I want him to be healthy and have a great game, but I want to win."

In 2004, Dallas beat Chicago 21-7 on Thanksgiving. Julius had 33 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Thomas had 46 yards on 14 carries. Julius' team won again on Thanksgiving Day 2007, as Dallas pounded the Jets, 34-3. Julius had 64 yards on 14 carries and Thomas had 40 yards on 17 attempts. Julius signed with Seattle as a free agent in the offseason.

BY THE NUMBERS: Minus-5 -- Turnover ratio for the Jets in their three West Coast games, all losses. They are plus-seven in their other 11 games.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We know what's at stake. How we handle that remains to be seen. We do control our own destiny. The only game that matters is this game, and it will be tough. We'll see what happens. It's a nice position to be in." -- QB Brett Favre, on how the Jets need only to win out to win the AFC East title