Pennington off to most accurate start in NFL history

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- No quarterback ever started his NFL career as accurately as Chad Pennington.

Not Kurt Warner. Not Brett Favre. Not Joe Montana.

No one.

Pennington is just 2-2 in his four starts with the New York Jets, but that record is more the result of a disappearing defense than any failings on his part. Indeed, Pennington has been on-target as a passer, completing a phenomenal 76.9 percent and compiling a 108.5 rating in those games.

"The reason it's not mind-boggling for me is my teammates around me," Pennington said Wednesday. "They are making plays for me. My passes by no means have been accurate all the time. I get the ball in the vicinity of these guys, and they'll make a play.

"We're building trust and that chemistry and unity progresses from game to game. Just because in four games we played well as an offense doesn't mean we don't have to get better."

Jets coach Herman Edwards switched from veteran Vinny Testaverde to Pennington when the Jets were 1-3. Before that change, the team was in the middle of a three-game slump in which it was outscored 102-13.

Pennington played well in taking over early for an injured Testaverde in Week 4 against Jacksonville. Even though the Jets lost 28-3, the offense finally found some rhythm.

That rhythm has turned into a persistent marching beat. Pennington has revitalized a dormant passing game, getting the wide receivers more involved, and, most significant, the 2000 first-round pick has led New York to the end zone.

"The people playing a role around him have contributed to his success," Edwards said. "I'm not trying to take anything from Chad. He has done an outstanding job, but there are a lot of things happening around him that help him function better.

"I think his surrounding cast is helping him, he is being managed well. It is not the one guy, it is everyone around him. He is doing his part, and there are a lot of people around him helping make it work."

Still, Testaverde couldn't make it work, never mastering the West Coast-style offense that coordinator Paul Hackett employs. Pennington is a better fit, thanks to his maneuverability, precision and a stronger arm than most people thought.

He has shown that every week:

• In a 29-25 loss to Kansas City, Pennington was 22-for-29 (76.7 percent) for 238 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 108.3 rating.
• In a 20-7 victory over Minnesota, he was 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) for 324 yards and one touchdown. His rating was 124.7.
• When the Jets blew a 21-3 lead and lost 24-21 to Cleveland, Pennington struggled in the second half - his only real rough spot thus far. Yet he was 19-for-26 (73.1 percent) for 183 yards, with two TDs and one interception and a 101.9 rating in that game.
• In last week's 44-13 rout of San Diego, the third-year quarterback went 28-for-39 (75.7 percent) for 253 yards, one touchdown pass and one TD run, with a 102.6 rating.

Overall, that comes to a 76.9 percentage, the highest ever for a quarterback in his first four starts.

Counting his relief appearances against the Jaguars and Patriots, Pennington's passer rating is 96.6 -- third in the league behind Favre and Rich Gannon.

Not bad for someone expected to ride the bench this season.

"I am very impressed with him," said Miami coach Dave Wannstedt, whose Dolphins play the Jets on Sunday night. "He is not making many mistakes. You see him make some throws under pressure that are very impressive. You see him move around athletically a little better than people give him credit for.

"He is completing 70.8 percent of his passes. That doesn't happen by accident in this league."