AFC Championship: Colts-Jets Rematch is Intriguing Match-up

When the football scholars sat down during the preseason and mapped out how they thought the NFL season would work out, they no doubt envisioned the Colts in the AFC Championship game. However, it's doubtful that the same group of observers penciled in the New York Jets to be standing on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. Then again, it's doubtful anyone thought the Jets would be here just two weeks ago either.

This game has a couple of interesting subtexts to it as well. First, and perhaps most obviously, is the rematch of the now infamous Week 16 match-up that saw the Jets end the Colts hopes of an undefeated season. Sure, Jim Caldwell chose to rest the Colts starters in the second half, with the Colts winning 9-3, but it was a statement game for New York nonetheless. Now it's a statement game for Peyton Manning and the Colts to prove to the world that they could still be sporting a goose egg in the loss column had they taken the field.

The second interesting item to note is that with a win on Sunday, the Jets could play in their first Super Bowl since, you guessed it, 1969 when Joe Namath and the upstart Jets defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

What The Jets Bring To The Field

Despite Manning chewing up the Jets for 192 passing yards in the first half of that week 16 game, the Jets were able to hold the Colts to nothing but field goals. For the Jets to have a chance in this game, their secondary is going to have to step up like it did in its wins over Cincinnati and San Diego. They can't afford to let Manning control the field and clock. It'll be difficult for New York to get significant pressure against Indy's offensive line though, so they have to rely on trying to outsmart Peyton Manning, which is fairly difficult to do.

Offensively, the rushing attack has been solid all season and thus far in the playoffs, but the Colts ranked third in the NFL in rush defense and are going to force the ball into Mark Sanchez's hands. It's a lot of pressure for a rookie to take on, but the Jets have been smart in what they've asked him to do so it's likely that they'll craft a solid game plan that will help them free up the rush, but also pick Indy apart on short routes that eat up the field and the clock.

What The Colts Bring To The Field

By this time, Indianapolis is a known quantity, to the fans at least. We know that Manning is going to execute a well-oiled offensive game plan thanks to outstanding communication between Peyton and his receivers. What we don't know if how much we can expect from Joseph Addai who was pretty much missing during last week's romp of Baltimore, but may be a deciding factor in this game if the Jets secondary steps up and attempts to take away Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.

Defensively, the Colts are perhaps the most unsung unit in the NFL, ranking fifth in the league in total YPG allowed. Gary Brackett and Kelvin Hayden both stepped up during last week's match-up with the Ravens and with the pressure the Jets put on opponents via the ground, this game will be won more in the open field than it is behind the line of scrimmage.

Prediction

Given that the Jets have a lot of swagger for a wild-card team, and the two wins to back it up, it is awfully hard to pick against them in this game, but this is also a decidedly different Colts team they'll face this go around. Look for Manning and the Colts to advance to the Super Bowl.

Colts 34 - Jets 16