Colts Versus Jets in Historical Rematch

Only a few weeks ago, the Colts were marching towards perfection. At the same time, Almost no one believed that the Jets would make the playoffs, including Head Coach Rex Ryan who proclaimed the team to be ineligible after a loss to the Falcons. The course of fate quickly turned for both teams, with the Jets still in playoff contention playing against the Colts in week 16. One week earlier, the Colts had continued their perfection by defeated Jacksonville in a nail-biter. Since many of their starters played the whole game, many people assumed that the Colts would play for the perfect season. The Jets were therefore dismissed as a playoff team because of their mediocre record and the remaining game against the Colts. However, after establishing a lead in New York, the Colts removed starters, including Peyton Manning, from the game. The Jets immediately jumped on the opportunity and rolled over the Colts for a much needed victory. In a highly criticized decision, the Colts chose to give up their pursuit of perfection in order to rest players. The Jets benefited and gained control of their own destiny. In the last week of the season, the Jets destroyed a Cincinnati Bengals team which had already locked its own playoff spot. With the victory, the Jets edged out two other 9-7 teams to take a Wild Card spot.

Now into the third week of the playoffs, the Jets have won two games as an underdog under the guidance of first year Head Coach Rex Ryan who has set a lofty goal: Super Bowl. For a team that failed to make the playoffs last season and playing with a rookie quarterback, this level of expectation is unheard of. Despite their record, and despite how the Jets made it into the playoffs, Coach Ryan has been adamant that they should be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The way Coach Ryan verbally evokes his confidence is reminiscent of a certain former Jets QB. When Joe Namath made his famous guarantee, his AFL team was concerned to be pathetic underdogs in the third Super Bowl against the NFL Baltimore Colts. The game stood to be hailed as one of the greatest upsets of all-time. In a repeat of history, this time in the AFC championship game, an under-respected Jets team with a young quarterback will battle against the top-dog Colts who will send to the field their top-of-the-class quarterback. If the Jets win this week and go on to take the Lombardi Trophy, Coach Ryan's confidence might not earn him a spot in a highlight reel waving his finger, but it will earn him the loyalty of and respect he has long deserved. To add to this scenario, the Colts have added motivation in the upcoming game. If the Colts had not ended their quest for perfection in week 16, the Jets might not even be in the playoffs. A loss to a team they let win, a team they let end their perfect season, would be devastating to the franchise. The Colts have already lost so many other playoff games throughout the last decade in which they were favored. A loss in this situation would only add more distaste, especially considering their journey this season, toying with perfection and then handing their first loss to a team they now have to play against in the AFC championship.

With a win by the Colts, future hall-of-fame quarterback Peyton Manning has the chance to reach a second Super Bowl and solidify his stature as the best quarterback in the game right now, and one of the best all-time. In a season of growth and struggles, Mark Sanchez has the chance to become the first rookie quarterback to take his team into the Super Bowl. Yet, no matter who is the victor, a rookie head coach, either Coach Ryan or Jim Caldwell will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Although the Jets are not completely overlooked in this go around; and although the Colts had moved to the AFC at the onset of the AFL-NFL merger to join with the AFL teams, and they have moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis, the AFC championship match-up between the Jets and the Colts stands to rewrite history.
Sources:

Cimini Rich; NY Daily News
Rex Ryan claims Jets are out of playoffs, but team is still a wild-card longshot with two games left

Associated Press
Ryan says Jets should be favorites