Manning Dissects Jets’ Defense Leading Colts to AFC Championship

Posted on 25 January 2010 by Drew Bastian.

INDIANAPOLIS – Colts quarterback Peyton Manning figured out a way to dissect the New York Jets defense and outplayed Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez on Sunday, leading his Colts to a 30-17 comeback victory and earning a trip to Miami to play the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl.

Sanchez came out swinging, holding his own and taking an early lead in the game. After trailing 3-0 on an early Kelly Stover field goal, Sanchez hit a streaking Braylon Edwards with a perfect pass and the speedy wide receiver did the rest, sprinting 80 yards to the end zone and a 7-3 lead.

The Jets appeared eager to show the Colts that they could play with them and they did in the first half. Their #1 ranked defense came out with a vengeance, sacking Manning on consecutive plays in the first quarter and making the Colts earn every point in a closely played first half.

Sanchez connected with Dustin Keller on a 9-yard touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter to put the Jets up 14-6 then after the Jets defense forced a turnover they were able to turn it into 3 points when Jay Feely split the uprights for a 17-6 lead.

Manning and the Colts would prove they were unfazed by the Jets early success, quickly driving the field with Manning hooking up with rookie Austin Collie 3 times, the final one a 16-yard touchdown that cut the Jets lead to 17-13. It was the first TD allowed by the Jets stingy defense in the last 2:00 of the first half all season long.

When it was apparent that Darrelle Revis was containing one of Manning’s favorite target’s Reggie Wayne he had no problem finding 2nd year man Pierre Garcon and the rookie Collie for multiple completions and Jim Caldwell’s team went into locker room with regained momentum.

With the Jets’ secondary covering Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, Manning chose Garcon who was drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 draft with the 205th pick and Collie who they acquired in the 2009 draft with the 127th pick as his primary targets.

Manning threw a perfect strike to Garcon for a 4 yard TD and a 20-17 lead in the 3rd quarter and later found Dallas Clark for a 15 yard TD and a 27-17 lead. Those scores were part of 21 unanswered points by the Colts.

The Colts defense also came into play, swarming the Jets’ potent rushing attack and holding them to just 89 yards on 29 carries.

The Jets had averaged 170 yards per game on the ground this postseason. Sanchez’ stats for the game were a respectable 17-of-30, 257 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT with two different receivers finishing with more than 100 receiving yards.

Before it was over, Peyton Manning proved why he is one of the most elite quarterbacks to ever play the game going 26-39 for 377 yards and 3 TD’s and becoming the first player in league history to throw for at least 300 yards on 7 different occasions in the playoffs.

Garcon finished with 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown while manning connected with Collie 7 times for 123 yards and a score. It was Collie’s first 100-yard game as a pro.

Jets coach Rex Ryan summed it up during post-game. “With Peyton Manning, if you can’t disrupt his rhythm, he’s going to kill you,” said Ryan.

Finishing off the scoring Stover booted a 21-yard field goal for a 30-17 lead at 5:33 in the final quarter then the Colts defense shut down Sanchez and the Jets securing a trip to Miami on February 7th.