The Jets may be tip-toeing around it, but it's make or break time against the Giants on Sunday.

You could say that I'm jumping the gun a bit.  I mean, there is still three months of football left to be played, but it gets late early in the NFL and a 1-4 mark may be too much for this team to overcome.

And it won't be easy turning things around against Big Blue.

The Giants look like they have finally found themselves on defense.  After being blown away by the Cowboys and Packers, the G-Men shut out the Redskins in the second half (including a goal-line stand in the game's dying seconds) in a 24-17 win two weeks ago and registered an NFL-record tying 12 sacks in a 16-3 thrashing of the Eagles last weekend.  Osi Umenyiora was responsible for half of those sacks.

Which brings us to the Jets offensive line.

It was a big question mark heading into the season and while it hasn't played terribly, it could be better.  The Jets have allowed 11 sacks (five have come against Kellen Clemens) in four games, but the real problem has been the running game.  The Green and White are averaging just 3.2 yards a rush through four games.  That's terrible.  They only have two rushing touchdowns on the year (and one was by Pennington) and the longest run by a Jet went for only 12 yards.

However, the Giants gave up 114 yards on the ground against Philadelphia last week (103 yards coming from Correll Buckhalter).  Maybe this is the week Thomas Jones and the Jets get the running game going.

Here's a good preview of Sunday's showdown from a Giants perspective.

Some fun facts about the Jets-Giants rivalry.

The Giants lead the all-time series, 6-4.

The Jets and Giants last played in 2003.  The G-Men won 31-28.

The Giants have won the last three meetings.

You know what?  Those facts weren't fun at all.

Also in Jet news, strong safety Erik Coleman suffered a concussion in last week's loss at Buffalo.  Mangini hasn't ruled him out of Sunday's game against the Giants, but the fourth-year pro has missed most of this week's practice.  Expect to see second-year safety Eric Smith in the starting lineup.  The strange thing about Coleman's injury is that the concussion-like symptoms appeared days after the loss on Sunday.  With the recent news about concussions in the NFL, look for the Jets and Coleman to be extra cautious.

And it was just a matter of time, but a disappointing 1-3 start and a bad day for Chad Pennington in Buffalo has brought out the QB coaches again.  The media may be getting antsy, but the fans have been far worse.  Hey, I was frustrated too last week, but a quarterback change at this point is not the answer.  Again, I don't want to dump on Kellen Clemens, but the second-year pro did nothing for three quarters against the Ravens.  Everyone seems to be forgetting that.  Yeah, he had a terrific fourth quarter and the Jets should have tied the game, but he's not ready.  Not yet. 

And believe it or not, Pennington's short passing attack may be just what the Jets need to beat the Giants on Sunday.  Brett Favre nickel and dimed the Giants to death in Green Bay's 35-13 victory in Week 2. 

That may be the best medicine to revive the Jet season and silence a few critics.