Manning, Colts end Jets playoff run
INDIANAPOLIS – When the Jets were leading by 11 points late in the second quarter, there was a real sense that this improbable journey they have been on since the beginning of the playoffs may actually end up in South Florida for the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning would have none of it.
To get to that ultimate game, they were going to have to find a way to continue to slow down the Colts and their weapons. Relentless pressure and two red zone stops inside the 10 kept their offense to six points, but he was not going to be held down much longer.
The Jets, possessors of the NFL’s top-rated defense had no answers for stopping Manning as he continues to make the case as the greatest quarterback to ever step on an NFL field. A touchdown just before the half trimmed the lead before the half, followed up with 17 unanswered second-half points in their 30-17 AFC title game win to end the Jets season on a somber note after a memorable postseason.
While they walk away losers and ponder a golden opportunity wasted, they leave knowing that they were indeed beaten by a better team and can look ahead to a promising future. The Colts, returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in four season, have not lost a game (16-0) in which their starters have played four quarters, and show to be the superior team.
After limiting the Colts to four plays and a punt on their first possession, the Jets moved the ball from their own 29 to the Colts 26, but kicker Jay Feely missed a 44 yard field goal that would have given them the first points of the game. Indianapolis would drive down later in the quarter into the red zone before settling for a 25 yard Matt Stover field goal.
It took one play for the Jets to answer.
On a play action, Mark Sanchez got safety Antonie Bethea to bite and found an open Braylon Edwards streaking deep down the left sideline, beating cornerback Jacob Lacey for an 80-yard touchdown strike to take the lead 7-3.
Manning moved the offense down the field, but once again the Jets defense stiffened on the successive plays with the ball resting on the 4. Needing one yard for a touchdown to go ahead, Manning tried a quarterback sneak up the middle, but great interior penetration and Calvin Pace coming off the edge shut the play down, forcing another Stover field goal.
Breaking out their bag of tricks, the Jets surprised the Colts when Brad Smith, running out the Wildcat, faked the option to the right and throw deep to an open Jerricho Cotchery for 45 yards. Three plays later, Sanchez stood in the pocket, took a hit, but found tight end Dustin Keller in the end zone for a touchdown at 14-6 lead.
More good fortune would come when Pace made a stop on running back Joseph Addai in the backfield causing a fumble that safety Jim Leonhard recovered at the Colts 29 on the very next possession. However, instead of creating serious distance scoring a touchdown, a false start and then a four yard loss by Thomas Jones set the offense back. This led to a 48-yard field goal by Feely to increase the margin to 17-6.
It took Manning four plays and 58 seconds to cut the lead to 17-13 at halftime. The biggest play came on a 46-yard reception by Austin Collie down to the Jets 16. For all they had done for the first 30 minutes, they found themselves only leading by four points, which was an ominous sign.
With their defense shredded in the final minutes of the half, things became even worse when running back Shonn Greene left the game early in the third quarter with rib injury and did not return.
Needing seven yards on fourth down at the Colts 35, the Jets opted for a 52 yard field goal that Feely would miss to the right. Manning took advantage, moving his team 57 yards in 8 plays culminating in a beautiful four-yard touchdown fade pass to Pierre Garcon, who kept his toes in bounds.
It was the Colts first lead of the game and the 11 point advantage once held by the Jets had been eliminated. Momentum was on the side of Indianapolis and there was nothing that can be to take it back. Two punts by the Jets followed drives that did move the ball into Colts territory and Manning had his offense back out to the field against at their own 20.
Putting this game away, Manning embarked on a championship winning drive. After two first down receptions by Collie and tight end Dallas Clark, a 15 yard facemask penalty moved the ball to the Jets 19. Two plays later, Manning would find an open Clark over the middle for a touchdown and 10 point lead 27-17.
INDIANAPOLIS – When the Jets were leading by 11 points late in the second quarter, there was a real sense that this improbable journey they have been on since the beginning of the playoffs may actually end up in South Florida for the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning would have none of it.
To get to that ultimate game, they were going to have to find a way to continue to slow down the Colts and their weapons. Relentless pressure and two red zone stops inside the 10 kept their offense to six points, but he was not going to be held down much longer.
The Jets, possessors of the NFL’s top-rated defense had no answers for stopping Manning as he continues to make the case as the greatest quarterback to ever step on an NFL field. A touchdown just before the half trimmed the lead before the half, followed up with 17 unanswered second-half points in their 30-17 AFC title game win to end the Jets season on a somber note after a memorable postseason.
While they walk away losers and ponder a golden opportunity wasted, they leave knowing that they were indeed beaten by a better team and can look ahead to a promising future. The Colts, returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in four season, have not lost a game (16-0) in which their starters have played four quarters, and show to be the superior team.
After limiting the Colts to four plays and a punt on their first possession, the Jets moved the ball from their own 29 to the Colts 26, but kicker Jay Feely missed a 44 yard field goal that would have given them the first points of the game. Indianapolis would drive down later in the quarter into the red zone before settling for a 25 yard Matt Stover field goal.
It took one play for the Jets to answer.
On a play action, Mark Sanchez got safety Antonie Bethea to bite and found an open Braylon Edwards streaking deep down the left sideline, beating cornerback Jacob Lacey for an 80-yard touchdown strike to take the lead 7-3.
Manning moved the offense down the field, but once again the Jets defense stiffened on the successive plays with the ball resting on the 4. Needing one yard for a touchdown to go ahead, Manning tried a quarterback sneak up the middle, but great interior penetration and Calvin Pace coming off the edge shut the play down, forcing another Stover field goal.
Breaking out their bag of tricks, the Jets surprised the Colts when Brad Smith, running out the Wildcat, faked the option to the right and throw deep to an open Jerricho Cotchery for 45 yards. Three plays later, Sanchez stood in the pocket, took a hit, but found tight end Dustin Keller in the end zone for a touchdown at 14-6 lead.
More good fortune would come when Pace made a stop on running back Joseph Addai in the backfield causing a fumble that safety Jim Leonhard recovered at the Colts 29 on the very next possession. However, instead of creating serious distance scoring a touchdown, a false start and then a four yard loss by Thomas Jones set the offense back. This led to a 48-yard field goal by Feely to increase the margin to 17-6.
It took Manning four plays and 58 seconds to cut the lead to 17-13 at halftime. The biggest play came on a 46-yard reception by Austin Collie down to the Jets 16. For all they had done for the first 30 minutes, they found themselves only leading by four points, which was an ominous sign.
With their defense shredded in the final minutes of the half, things became even worse when running back Shonn Greene left the game early in the third quarter with rib injury and did not return.
Needing seven yards on fourth down at the Colts 35, the Jets opted for a 52 yard field goal that Feely would miss to the right. Manning took advantage, moving his team 57 yards in 8 plays culminating in a beautiful four-yard touchdown fade pass to Pierre Garcon, who kept his toes in bounds.
It was the Colts first lead of the game and the 11 point advantage once held by the Jets had been eliminated. Momentum was on the side of Indianapolis and there was nothing that can be to take it back. Two punts by the Jets followed drives that did move the ball into Colts territory and Manning had his offense back out to the field against at their own 20.
Putting this game away, Manning embarked on a championship winning drive. After two first down receptions by Collie and tight end Dallas Clark, a 15 yard facemask penalty moved the ball to the Jets 19. Two plays later, Manning would find an open Clark over the middle for a touchdown and 10 point lead 27-17.
It all came to an end with 2:11 remaining when Sanchez, trying to rally his team back with the score now 30-17, had his pass deflected and intercepted by Kelvin Hayden at the Colts 46.
The interception was Sanchez’s only mistake of the game. In the biggest game of his career, he was not afraid of the moment, finishing the game completing 17 of 30 passes for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns. 100 yard receiving games came by both Edwards and Cotchery. Keller hauled in six receptions for 63 yards.
However it was Manning that ruled the day. The four-time MVP completed 29 of 36 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. He played like the ultimate field general, directing his team and taking apart the league’s top rated defense.
Garcon (151 yards) and Collie (123 yards) each had big receiving games while Clark and Reggie Wayne were held in check, which is little consolation to this Jets team that played valiantly and prideful despite falling in defeat.
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