The Jets played great in the first half leading the game 17-13.  But two things happened in the second half that doomed the Jets.  1.) Shonn Greene got hurt and 2.) Peyton Manning showed why he is the best QB in the world.  Mark Sanchez had a very solid game for the Jets as he completed 17 of 30 passes for 257 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Brad Smith caught two passes for 7 yards but it was his 45-yard completion on his only pass attempt that was his most electric play of the game.  Thomas Jones led the Jets in rushing in this game with 42 yards on 16 carries (2.6 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 28 yards (14.0 avg).  Shonn Greene carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards (4.1 ypc) with a TD run before getting injured.  Jerricho Cotchery (5 rec, 102 yards), Braylon Edwards (2 rec, 100 yards, TD) and Dustin Keller (6 rec, 63 yards, TD) all had solid games for the Jets yesterday.  The Jets finished up with 388 total yards on offense (86 rushing, 302 passing) in this game.

Linebacker David Harris was a beast for the Jets yesterday as he finished up with 11 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hits.  Safety Kerry Rhodes pitched in with 8 tackles.  But the overall play of the defense was disappointing for the Jets yesterday as the Colts ran up 461 total yards on offense (101 rushing, 360 passing) in this game.  The Jets have nothing to feel bad about as they went farther than anyone that wasn’t in their locker-room thought they could.

The Jets beat the Colts just a few weeks ago after they yanked Peyton Manning.  But, the Jets were real close until Manning was yanked so I think this will be an outstanding football game.  The Jets won’t change a thing on offense in this game as they will give the ball to Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones as many times as possible.  The Jets don’t waver from that philosophy either as they were running the ball even after they fell behind against the Chargers and it paid off.  The Jets’ offensive line is a big, physical and nasty bunch who will likely push around the front seven of the Colts.  The Colts will likely bring up the safeties against the run and soon as they do look for some play action passes to TE Dustin Keller who is having an outstanding post-season.  The Jets’ O-Line must do a good job of keeping Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis out of the backfield because Mark Sanchez tends to make “rookie” mistakes when the pass rush is in his face.

Defensively the Jets are going to be all about stopping Peyton Manning and the passing game.  That is because they are confident that ILBs Bart Scott and David Harris will be able to stop Joseph Addai and the Colts’ running game.  The Jets will sick CB Darrelle Revis on Reggie Wayne but Peyton Manning will throw to his buddy anyway so he better be ready to be challenged.  The biggest key for the Jets are going to be the safeties (Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard) who are going to have to deal with Dallas Clark.  Clark is a different animal than Antonio Gates as he is more like an extra WR lining up next to the OT.  Peyton Manning will also likely come after Lito Sheppard with Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie so he better be ready for action.

PREDICTION:  COLTS 21, JETS 17

Rookie running back Shonn Greene has been the Jets’ main ballcarrier in the playoffs and he is looking awesome.  He has carried the ball 44 times for 263 yards (6.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 1 pass for 4 yards.  Thomas Jones has carried the ball 29 times for 75 yards (2.6 ypc) with 1 TD run this year.  It will be interesting to see how the Jets handle the RB situation in 2010. 

Sure, Mark Sanchez is not putting up eye-popping numbers in the playoffs but he hasn’t needed to thanks to the Jets’ running game and defense.  He has completed 24 of 38 passes (63.2%) for 282 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT (92.2 QB Rating).  The interesting thing about this week’s game is that it pits the Colts against them just like way back in Super Bowl III.  Joe Namath was a youngster back then and he guaranteed a win over the heavily favored Colts and then he made it reality.  I’m sure that Rex Ryan (even as cocky as he is) would kick Sanchez in the butt if he made any guarantees about this weekend.

The Jets must have had a voodoo doll shaped like Nate Kaeding because he missed three chip shot field goals in this game for the Chargers.  But, make no mistake the Jets deserved to win this game as they played better than the Chargers.  Mark Sanchez was still in his game manager mode as he completed 12 of 23 passes for 100 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  Fellow rookie Shonn Greene had another monster game with 23 carries for 128 yards (5.6 ypc) with a TD run.  Thomas Jones pitched in with 41 yards rushing on 14 carries (2.9 ypc) yesterday.  Braylon Edwards (2 rec, 41 yards), Jerricho Cotchery (3 rec, 25 yards) and Dustin Keller (3 rec, 19 yards, TD) all pitched in on the passing game for the Jets.  The Jets finished up with 262 total yards on offense (169 rushing, 93 passing) in this game as they held onto the ball for 31:31.

The defense was solid again yesterday for the Jets.  David Harris led the way for the Jets with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed for the Jets yesterday.  Safety Kerry Rhodes was also busy with 8 tackles, 1 sack and 1 QB hit in this game.  Safety Jim Leonhard had a great game for the Jets yesterday with 6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The INT was deep in Chargers’ territory setting up a score for the Jets.  CB Darrelle Revis pitched in with 2 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The INT was a incredible play by Revis deep in Jets’ territory.  The Chargers finished up with 344 total yards on offense (61 rushing, 283 passing) in this game.  The Jets will take on the Colts in Indianapolis for the rite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.