The Indianapolis Colts proved to be too much for the upstart Jets this time around, and the Colts advance to Super Bowl 44.
Chad Jorgenson – This one looked really good for about a half. Then Indy figured out the Jets blitzing and Manning went to town on the secondary. With Peyton picking them apart the Jets just couldn’t get a big turnover like the Saints we able to do, because really, neither the Jets or Saints were able to stop anybody, but the Saints got the TOs. Indy’s second tier WRs continue to impress in their first postseason action. Garcon and Collie were the weak links on the offense heading into the playoffs and they both came up with huge games against the Jets.
Trent Scott – For probably a quarter and a half, the Jets belief in their own hyperbole seemed to be justified. The blitz scheme Rex Ryan had concocted had made it’s mark, even though the Colts had 6 points on the board. A couple of big plays had them in position to possibly blow the game open and had the perfect opportunity to do so when Indy decided to run a delayed trap through tackle Ryan Diem that allowed for a monster hit by Calvin Pace on Joe Addai that gave the Jets the ball deep in Indy territory with the chance to put some real daylight between the two teams.
When they settled for a field goal, and proceeded to let Austin Collie run them through in the next minute, there was a definitive shift in momentum. Not taking the opportunity to try and break the Colts there was a damning mistake, as the Indy defense took heart in the stop and began to impose themselves on the Jets. Meanwhile, Manning seemed to have pegged the defensive scheme of the Jets and began a ruthless assault that was only stopped one more time in the contest (the last two possessions were time killers) and grabbed 17 more points in the second half. It’s probably the most clinical display Manning has ever shown in the playoffs.
It should concern many that the Jets were not only held under 100 yards but also were outrushed by Indy. While that isn’t something that the Saints would be looking to exploit per say, if the Saints want to be a run oriented attack at any point it will fall to the shoulders of Pierre Thomas, rather than Reggie Bush, more because Thomas looks more of a Shone Greene style runner than Bush, who, while more physical lately, will not be simply able to take the corner against the Colts like he would against most teams. Also, while Darrel Revis “held” Reggie Wayne to 3 catches for 55 yards, he didn’t tackle worth a crap (any time Wayne caught the ball) nor did he bother to tackle anyone else for that matter (2 tackles) and one of those was when he was trucked by Dallas Clark (4th quarter) and held on for dear life. This all coming from someone who was hailed in the pregame shows as a “complete cornerback.” Just saying.
Tom Daniels – In my heart of hearts, I’m pretty sure I knew this game was going this way. I will admit, when the Jets pulled a turnover toward the end of the first half, I thought that they had a shot if they scored a touchdown. They didn’t… and then from there, it was over. Karma only got them one half and the Jets go home after a good season and a bad game still yapping the same excuse-filled nonsense they’ve been feeding people for five weeks; culminating today with Rex Ryan suggesting that the Jets were the big game in town now. Slow down, Rex. You’re still the second show and will remain so until you win something and maybe, just maybe, build your own stadium. I wanted to be complimentary of the Jets — I really did — until they took time out of their busy schedule of sitting in the couch to call out the Giants. Maybe they could string together two playoff appearances before considering themselves something more than the other team in town. Good luck with that.
Russ Blatt – Payton Manning ha shown once again that he is the best quarterback in the game. In the first 20 minutes, the Jets defense could do almost no wrong. Manning’s changed after the goal line sneak did not work. He slapped the ground in disgust and was visibility angry. After that moment, it seemed that every pass he threw went to Collie and Garcon for long gains. Manning took over… Also, credit the Colts defense for stopping the Jets running game. The better team won.
Widro – As a long-suffering Jets fan, the first half was like a dream that couldn’t possibly come true… and then it didn’t. Mark Sanchez showed a lot of heart, but in the end, the power and speed of the Colts just overwhelmed the upstarts. It’s a cliche to say “wait til next year” but with Sanchez, Shonn Greene and the rest of the fiesty Jets, it’s apt.
