INDIANAPOLIS — The Jets head into today’s clash with the Colts in Indianapolis one win from the Super Bowl. And coach Rex Ryan is one win from team history.
After victories in Cincinnati and San Diego, a third straight postseason triumph would give the rookie coach a new franchise mark for playoff wins.
“This is unexplored territory for us, certainly for me,” owner Woody Johnson said.
Weeb Ewbank won two postseason games, both in the Jets 1968 championship season, and Walt Michaels won two in the 1982 season before falling to the Dolphins in the AFC Championship. Joe Walton (1986) and Bill Parcells (1998) earned one postseason win apiece, and Herm Edwards won two playoff games — one in 2002 and another in 2004.
No other Jets coach has won a playoff game in his first season with the team. But it comes as no surprise to Johnson.
“My expectation is always to win,” Johnson said, who then was asked if that constituted a guarantee of victory. “I’m not going to guarantee. I’ll let the coach guarantee.”
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One of the Jets’ biggest concerns today is handling the Colts’ deadly two-minute offense.
No one is better in two-minute-drill situations than Peyton Manning, who has engineered seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season, the most in a single year since the 1970 NFL merger.
Manning is money with the game in the balance. During the last two minutes of games or the end of first halves, Manning is 41-of-62 for 491 yards, six TDs, three INTs and a 102.3 rating.
In the Colts’ win over the Ravens last week, Manning put the game away with a TD passes to Austin Collie and Reggie Wayne in the final two minutes of the first half to turn a 3-3 game into 17-3. The Colts have scored 72 points in the final two minutes of first halves this season.
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In 15 NFL seasons, Jets veteran FB Tony Richardson has spent countless hours dreaming of getting to a Super Bowl.
“The last few years I’ve gone [to the Super Bowl] to do charity stuff, and the whole time you’re there it’s fun, a lot of excitement, but you’re like, ‘Man, I’d love to be preparing for this biggest game.’ I thought about the night before game, I couldn’t imagine what feelings and emotions and butterflies you’d have.
“It’s the most televised event around the world and something you dream about and want to be a part of.”
Jets long snapper James Dearth, who never has been in a Super Bowl, said, “There’s been times where we’ve had pretty good teams and you see somebody else in the Super Bowl and you’re like, ‘We beat these guys,’ and you get upset with yourself for not being there.”
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In preparing for the noise in Lucas Oil Stadium with its closed roof, the Jets used added speakers during practices this week.
“Keep your poise in the noise,” Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “It’s going to be loud. They’re going to have some plays where they do some things that catch us off guard because of that, but we’ve just got to limit that.”
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Unlike the Chargers last week, don’t look for the Colts to make the same kinds of loss-of-composure penalties today to give the Jets’ free yards. The Colts are more disciplined, having only 74 penalties this season.
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Jets RB Shonn Greene, who enters the game having rushed for 263 yards in the past two playoff games, is seeking to become the first rookie ever to rush for 100 or more yards in three consecutive postseason games.
. . . Mark Sanchez is 24-of-38 (63.2-percent), for 282 yards, two TDs, one INT and a 92.2 rating in the postseason.
. . . The Jets have allowed one sack and averaged 170 rushing yards in the playoffs.
. . . With a win, Rex Ryan would become the first Jets head coach to win three postseason games.
. . . Curtis Martin, the Jets’ all-time leading rusher, will serve as the Jets’ honorary captain Sunday.
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The Jets should have an edge in special teams, particularly the return game. The Colts don’t pose a major threat on returns with T.J. Rushing averaging only 5.7 yards on punts and Chad Simpson averaging 23.6 yards on kickoffs (though he had one TD return). Jets kick returner Brad Smith averaged 31.1 yards on kickoffs and had a 106-yard TD against the Colts. Jerricho Cotchery has gotten better on punt returns (10.3 yards) and is dependable to field the ball.
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This figures to be a close game, which means a big field goal could determine the outcome. After dismmal outings by Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham (0-for-2) and San Diego’s Nate Kaeding (0-for-3) against the Jets in the postseason, is it possible that Colts kicker Matt Stover (11-of-13 this season) is concerned about a jinx? Jets kicker Jay Feely is mentally-tough and tested, having gone 30-of-36 this year.
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The Jets recently have gone away from Brad Smith in the “Wildcat” and option formations. This field is a fast track suited for Smith’s speed and elusiveness, so look for him to be mixed in today. Look, too, for Smith to perhaps throw a pass out of the formation.
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Numbers to know: 2,056. That’s how many more yards Peyton Manning (4,500) has thrown this season than Sanchez (2,444). . . . The Colts rushed for just, 1,294 yards this season while Jets RB Thomas Jones rushed for 1,402 by himself. . . . The Jets allowed just eight passing TDs this season. Manning threw 33 TDs.
