Despite my Canadian roots, Thanksgiving has always meant football to me.

So instead of the traditional Sunday feast with family, I traded in my turkey and stuffing and ventured to the City to check out Brett Favre first hand, and see how the living legend is fitting in with his new team on the biggest of stages in New York.

It's pretty obvious that the mere signing of Favre has made a big difference in the psyche of Jets fans, a group seriously lacking an identity coming off a tough 4-12 season in '07.

And who can blame them? As one fan put it, whom I overheard talking to his son on the shuttle from Port Authority to the Meadowlands, "at least we won't have to play at Giants Stadium anymore after next season", when the brand new home to both New York teams opens in 2010.

But it's the arrival of Favre, New York's newly adopted son, that is shedding the team's image as the football equivalent of the ugly stepchild. Not since Joe Namath starred in the ‘60s and ‘70s, have the Jets and their fans been treated to a lead performer worthy of Broadway.

Instead of having to wait two more years for their new stadium to open, Favre has already ushered in a new era for the Jets. Apparently 300,000 Favre jerseys sold on the first day he signed, with roughly 80,000 of them present on this Sunday.

Despite the smattering of No. 4 Packers jerseys on hand Sunday, Cheeseheads have for the most part been replaced by Cheesecakeheads, as Favre has vaulted the Jets back into the conversation.

Sunday's workmanlike performance vs. the Cincinnati Bengals pretty much summed up why Favre relates so well to the Jets’ fanbase. Coming off a flashy six TD performance two weeks ago vs. Arizona, Favre returned down to earth in Week 6, completing 25-of-33 passes for 189 yards, one TD and two INTs. And despite a fumble on the opening series that put his team in the hole 7-0, it was Brett who was standing tall at the end, leading his Jets on a crucial 10-play, 41-yard drive in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. "I'm not here for the stats," said Favre after the 26-14 victory over Cincinnati improved the Jets’ record to 3-2. "I'm here for wins."

Unlike the Giants' Eli Manning, Favre comes across far more the blue-collar guy, kind of like football's equivalent of Bruce Springsteen (who just happens to be a Jersey boy). The fact that he's never missed a day of work in the NFL in his life, and that he's tough as nails is what makes him a perfect fit for the Jets. Hey, Coach Mangini just named his kid after him, for crying out loud. Despite the initial odds working against Favre and the Jets back in late August, it's becoming more and more apparent that this is a marriage that works.

With the AFC East wide open this season, do you think the Jets are a playoff team, or will the Favre bubble burst in the Big Apple? Have your say now!