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| AFC Championship game Jets - Colts Preview |
With a Super Bowl appearance now at stake, the New York Jets won’t get any such breaks this time. The Colts, who had secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 14-0 mark, opted to rest their key players instead of going for a shot at a perfect season. The Jets took advantage, ending the Colts’ league-record 23-game regular-season winning streak with a 29-15 victory. The Jets then controled their destiny for a postseason berth, and clinched a wild card with a 37-0 rout of Cincinnati in the regular-season finale. Hosting its first conference title game since its Super Bowl title four years ago, Indy is hopping the extra rest will pay off against a New York team that had to fight its way through the last two weeks of the regular season and two tough playoff victories on the road. Manning and his teammates, though, weren’t happy about the Colts’ management decision as they never were consulted about it. “I told them we wanted to end the regular season fresh, ready and well prepared,” Caldweel said. “I believe we did. It doesn’t give you any guarantees. It’s what you believe in and your convictions and playing well when it comes time.” The Jets kept hearing how Indy handed them the win, since then they became the only road team to win in the divisional round, and coach Rex Ryan insists that his team doesn’t need extra incentive for this contest. “This is the AFC championship,” Ryan said, “The motivation is going to come from the fact that the winner of this game advances to the Super Bowl. That’s probably motivation enough.” This is the first time a conference championship game will have two first-year coaches, and the first time it will feature a Super Bowl rematch.The Jets’ only trip to the Super Bowl came before the AFC-NFC merger, when Joe Namath and New York stunned the heavily favorite Baltimore Colts 16-7 in 1965. Manning is certain to eventually join Johnny Unitas, his predecessor from that Super Bowl, in the Hall of Fame. He looked sharp coming of the bye in the 20-3 win over the Ravens on Saturday. Manning was 30 of 44 for 246 yards with 2 TDs,while running a time-consuming offense.The Colts’ running game was almost inexistent, gaining only 25 yds on 16 carries while Manning completed 12 passes for 73 yds to his favorite targets, WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark. The aggressive Baltimore defense is mainly responsible for those subpar numbers from the Pro Bowlers, and the Colts will now face the team that ranked first in total defense and scoring defense this season. New York has won seven of their last eight games after losing six of seven.The Jets shut down San Diego’s prolific offense, ending the Chargers’ 11-game winning streak with a 17-14 win on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, who threw 20 interceptions in the regular season, has played almost mistake-free in his last four games, throwing his only INT in that span last Sunday,when he went 12 of 23 for 100 yds and 1 TD at San Diego. A powerful running game complements New York’s top-ranked defense, rookie Shonn Greene has been spectacular as he stepped up to take most of the carries from veteran Thomas Jones in recent weeks.Greene rushed for 420 yds and 2 TDs in his last four games for the Jets,who were the top-ranked rushing team during the regular season, taking pressure off Sanchez who wasn’t allowed to take any risks, managing the game using his backs and throwing only short passes. Indianapolis ranked 24th against the run, but held Ray Rice and the Ravens strong ground attack to only 87 yds. The Colts’ defense relies on speed, and Caldwell wanted the unit to play faster at the end of the season even if it meant resting starters. The Colts, like other teams did, will stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run, trying to force Sanchez to beat them.It didn’t work for Cincinnati or San Diego, and Sanchez responded making big throws when the Jets needed them. Sanchez has matured quickly, learning from his mistakes, and went from the rookie he is to a guy who has now two playoff wins on the road. It might be a mistake to underestimate him. The Jets are trying to become the first team to win a Super Bowl with a rookie quarterback. New York DE Shaun Ellis is expected to play despite suffering a broken left hand on the Jets’ first defensive play against San Diego. I would’t bet against Manning and the Colts, but the Jets have proved they belonged in the playoffs, and they will be full of confidence after their two postseason road wins. Nobody thought they could be there at this stage of the season, but here they are, in a rematch with Indianapolis, with the winner going to the Super Bowl. Rex Ryan has already made plans for after the title-win, many of his wishes have come true, we’ll see if he and the Jets can take another step forward Sunday against Indianapolis. Check out the odds and our Bonus Offers for the conference championship games at BetPhoenix.com Sporstbook, and put a wager on your favorite teams. 
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The Jets got a pass to the playoffs when Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell pulled Peyton Manning and other starters early in the third quarter on Week 16. 
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