Colts Defeat Jets 30-17 in AFC Championship Heartbreaker Sunday

The Indianapolis Colts defeated the upstart New York Jets 30-17 yesterday in a real heartbreaker for the Jets and their fans. In the first half the Jet defense was able to get to Colt All-Pro QB Peyton Manning with pressure from all sides and he was visibly unhappy on the sidelines. The Jets sacked Manning on the Colts’ opening drive and looked good doing it. On the Jets first drive they ran well and usually steady K Jay Feeley missed on a 44 yard field wide right. Manning was sacked again on their next drive. The Colts moved the ball and the Jet CB Donald Strickland got hurt with a groin injury and didn’t come back. As CB Lito Sheppard came in I told my wife “I bet they throw on him” and sure enough on the very next play a huge 36 yard pass to 2nd year WR Pierre Garcon to the Jet 9 yard line. A false start moved them back and the Jets held the Colts to a field goal. The Jet rookie QB Mark Sanchez threw an excellent ball to the left sideline to WR Braylon Edwards for an 80 yard touchdown play! Jets lead 7-3. The Colts took 6 minutes off the clock on a 12 play drive and the Jets held them to another field goal, Jets up 7-6. Next drive the Jets run the ball with Shonn Greene and WR Brad Smith took the snap in the Seminole (Wildcat) and threw a 45 yard strike to WR Jericho Cotchery down the Colt 12 yard line. I screamed it was the first pass of the year for him! A few plays later Sanchez threw his 2nd touchdown to TE Dustin Keller, great throw up and in just inside the end zone on the right side. Jets up 14-6. Jet S Jim Leonhard forced a fumble and the Jets K Jay Feeley kicked a 48 yard field goal, Jets up 17-6. Manning comes down the field in a handful of plays to make the score 17-13 and I think that’s one of the turning points. In the 3rd Quarter the Jets got the ball and Feeley missed a 52 yard kick. More importantly Shonn Greene left the game with a rib injury and that really cost them. Manning marches downfield again and caps the drive with a short touchdown to Garcon. Colts take lead 20-17. Next Jet drive ends in punt Colts and Jets do nothing next couple of drives. Next Colt possession ends in touchdown pass to TE Dallas Clark, Colts up 27-17. Jets do not move the ball well enough on the next three drives to score additional points and the Colts capped it with a Matt Stover 21 yard field goal, Colts up 30-17 and that’s how it ends. The Jets losing Shonn Greene, Donald Strickland, hobbling Bart Scott not playing much and Thomas Jones not 100% really hurt. Every team in the playoffs is hurting and having to make adjustments with personnel so that’s assumed. One great thing was seeing the Jets team show up and give it their best effort against the top teams in the AFC during the playoffs. Sanchez went 17-of -30 for 257 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Shutdown CB Darrelle Revis was excellent once again. Thomas Jones was held to only 42 yards on 16 carries. Greene had 41 yards on 10 carries before leaving game. LB David Harris was a monster with 11 tackles and 2 sacks. S Kerry Rhodes with 7 tackles and LB Calvin Pace with 6 were strong as well. The Jets are on the way up. My friend called me after the game and she said we’ll be at the home opener at the new Meadowlands Stadium with better seats too! J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!