Last year, the Colts gave away the perfect season to the New York Jets at home in week 16. That game also allowed the Jets to narrowly make the playoffs, then later return to Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game.
Today, Indianapolis hosts loudmouth Rex Ryan and the Jets to Lucas Oil Stadium.
At 6-6, the Colts needed to win their last four regular season to make the play offs for the ninth straight time. And they did.
What the Colts (10-6) have done this year, overcoming injuries to top players including Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Bob Sanders, and Melvin Bullitt to name a few has been remarkable. They have 18 players on injured reserve, and ten of which are defensive backs. And don’t forget Ryan Diem, Clint Session, Jamey Richard and Antonio Johnson who are inactive and will not play.
Kelvin Hayden was just put on injured reserve today obviously ending his season.
This isn’t the nearly perfect team from last year. But the Colts did earn their 10th win and earn their way into the playoffs.
Turnovers are crucial as always. Rex Ryan is a defensive minded coach but hasn’t had success against Peyton Manning losing all five matchups. The Colts are without many of their defensive starters due to injuries but as former head coach Tony Dungy always stressed, “No excuses, no explanations.”
I predict Manning will throw one pick into the arms of either Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie. (Note: Revis did not have an interception all year, most quarterbacks avoid that matchup.) The Jets acquired Cromartie in the offseason to most importantly haunt Manning. Anymore than one pick, and the Colts may be in trouble.
The running game is crucial. Make Sanchez beat you and not the running game. To be successful in the playoffs, you must have a running game. We saw that with the Colts in 2006 and it must continue in the 2011 playoffs. Indy has held Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden and Chris Johnson to minimal gains in the last three weeks and the Colts need the defensive stops to continue.
Who will be Manning’s target? Revis will be on Wayne, Cromartie on Garcon. Collie’s absence will be huge and so look for 18 to go after Jacob Tamme and Blair White.
The offensive line must protect Peyton Manning and they have for the most part this season. The Colts have a season-low 16 sacks on the season, about one every 43 attempts. Right tackle Ryan Diem is out and will not play. Next man up.
The Jets have lost 3 of the last 5. Mark Sanchez has been beat up but you know Sanchez and Ryan want to finally taste victory over Manning.
Should the Colts win, they will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers next weekend.
But first, Indy must win at home against the Jets. I don’t think it will be easy. But unlike Kravitz, I’ll take the Colts 27-23.
The game will kick-off just after 8 pm on NBC, Al Michael, Chris Collinsworth and Andrew Kremer on the call.