Jets v. Colts Postgame

Colts- 30
Jets- 17

Jets- Eliminated from the playoffs

The lack of expectations does not make this loss easier for Jets fans.  After suffering through a season which included a 3-0 start, a dip to 4-6 and then a trip to the AFC Championship many people started to get hopes that maybe, just maybe, this would be the year.  However, the Jets ran into the monster known as Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game.  Peyton is not only one of the best quarterbacks of this generation but quite possibly one of the bets of all time.  He has taken an average Colts team this year to a 14-2 record in the regular season and now a Super Bowl berth.  If I was to assign blame in this game it would go on the Jets pass coverage.  Manning was able to easily dismantle Dwight Lowery and Lito Sheppard (when he played) and the Jets sorely missed having a healthy Donald Strickland in the game. 

Thumbs Up:

• Mark Sanchez played his best game as a professional with a stat line of 17/30 for 257 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.  More importantly, Sanchez was great at avoiding the pressure of the Colts offensive line and he did not make bad throws when he was flushed from the pocket.  His pass to Braylon Edwards was beautiful and he made a few great 3rd down plays.  Another pass that stands out is the other touchdown to Dustin Keller which was a perfectly thrown ball to a receiver in tight coverage.  I think what most Jets fans realized in this game is that we have our quarterback of the future.  This guy has poise inside and outside the pocket and I expect with an offseason to prepare he will come back very strong in his second year.

• Jerricho Cotchery made a few great catches in situations where the Jets needed to pick up 1st downs.  He finished with 5 receptions and over 100 yards.  Cotchery has been the Jets most consistent receiver all year and I expect there to be a great chemistry between him and Sanchez going into next season.

• David Harris showed in this game why he deserves a pro bowl berth.  He finished the game with 11 tackles (all solo), 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.  He flies around the ball and seems to always be there to make a play.  His future is looking extremely bright.

Thumbs Down:

•  Jay Feely has been consistent all year and I hate to bash him now but he HAS to make at least one of those field goals that he missed.  Inside the dome both were makeable kicks and the Jets could not afford to leave points on the field and give Manning great field position.

• Dwight Lowery was attacked all day by Peyton Manning.  It seemed like every completed pass was going in his direction.  Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie lit him up for over 100 yards each.  The Jets are going to need to address this position in the offseason (but that's a discussion for another time).  

• Thomas Jones has been a warrior all season and I really hope we see him return next year.  However, it seemed like his hard running all year resulted in him being a little tired for the playoffs.  He did not show the same burst that he showed at the end of the season and the running game was essentially shut down as soon as Shonn Greene went out with the injury.

Well, it's the end of another season.  As I said in my first post I believed this season would be a ton of disappointment with some successes mixed in.  This has been the typical view of a Jets fan over the last 40 or so years.  However, I also expressed that the arrival of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez provided a sense of optimism for Jets fans everywhere.  It turns out the latter was more true than the former.  This season was disappointing in many ways.  There were far too many games where the Jets should have won but either were hampered by extremely poor quarterback play, a breakdown on special teams, or a last second drive by an opposing offense.  However, despite these setbacks the Jets showed resolve and character in fighting their way through adversity to make the playoffs and advance to the AFC Championship.  Sanchez and Ryan have given me hope that the "change" we Jets fans have been looking for is there for us to grab.  It was fun documenting this season and my "season in review" post will be up as soon as I get over this loss and am able to look at this all without as much emotion.