Painter Portrays Playoff Picture

It took the longest kickoff return in team history and Colts’ coach, Jim Caldwell, pulling his starters for the Jets to pull into a four-way tie for the final AFC playoff spot. Gang Green improved to 8-7 and controls their own destiny after handing Indianapolis their first loss of the season. The Jets’ 29-15 road victory over the unbeaten Colts ended Indy’s record 23 regular season winning streak. Caldwell benched quarterback, Peyton Manning, and most of his other key players, during the second half. The move was a clear indicator the rookie head coach is preserving and protecting his players for the playoffs. Still, Rex Ryan’s Jets, on the brink of being eliminated from the extra season, responded with authority. New York outscored the Colts 19-0 after Manning was removed. A win next week against AFC North champion Cincinnati would put the Jets in the playoffs. Gang Green remains tied in their wildcard pursuits with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver and Houston. Sunday’s surprising defeat on the road puts them in a “win and you’re in” position.
The Jets’ sealed the first loss by the Colts in over a year and snuck a step closer to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with two fourth quarter scores. Clinging to a three point lead with fifteen minutes left, Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal made it a 21-15 Jets’ advantage early in the final quarter. Thomas Jones’ one yard touchdown run was followed by a two-point conversion to increase the visitor’s lead to the final score, 29-15. Jones finished with 105 yards on the ground and rookie rusher, Shonn Greene, put up 95 yards. New York’s running game seized control of the game and guided the offense all day. First year signal caller from USC, Mark Sanchez, was 12 of 19 for 106 yards. The mistake-prone, often scrutinized Sanchez went without an interception, relying on a bevy of core receivers.
Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in cheers when Joseph Addai scrambled for the game’s first score, a 21 yard rushing touchdown. Addai and the Colts struggled with the Jets’ run defense. Addai mustered just 40 yards on the ground, but his long 21 resulted in a home touchdown. Donald Brown, in his first season out of UConn, wasn’t much of a factor with feet. The rookie carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards Indianapolis made it a 9-0 game in the second quarter behind Adam Vinatieri’s 22 yard boot. Feely put New York on the board with a three point kick from 35 yards with 1:44 remaining before halftime. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards paced the Jets’ offense in the first half.
The Jets mastered the number one seed in the AFC during the second half. Brad Smith ran Pat McAfee’s kickoff back 106 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum the Gang Green way. The longest play in Jets’ history gave New York a one point edge. Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession. The Colts went up 15-10 on Brown’s one yard run on an 81 yard drive. The Jets did a credible job against Manning. The MVP tossed for 192 yards through the air and completed 14 of 21 passes. The defense began blitzing more often as soon as Manning’s replacement came into the game in with the Jets trailing in the third. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne blanketed the Jets defense all game, but were also yanked in the third quarter. New York took the lead for good when Purdue product, Curtis Painter, fumbled. Marques Douglas recovered the backup quarterback’s fumble and turned it into six Gang Green points. Sanchez’s two point pass to Dustin Keller made it 18-15 Jets, putting Indy’s hopes of perfection in jeopardy. Painter also threw an interception, while completed four of his 11 passes. The undefeated season wasn’t a priority for Caldwell. He could have left Manning and a handful of other starters in the game to finish off New York. Manning is capable of comebacks and sustaining drives. The cornerstone of the Colts methodically moved the Colts 81 yards to set up the go-ahead scored after Smith’s record return. The Pro Bowl passer would have held Indy out in front had he not been benched. Instead, Caldwell allowed the visitors to top his backups and crush their bid for a perfect season. Caldwell probably figured his team already had home-field advantage. He would rather lose the game than lose an important player before the playoffs.

Parting Points: The Giants were ousted by the Panthers in their worst (and final) home defeat since 1995.

206 yards from Jonathan Stewart? I mean, seriously!? And, just how many ways can Jon Beason beat you?

The Cowboys snagged at least a wildcard berth by shutting out the reeling Redskins. They can win the NFC East with a trouncing of the Eagles next week.