Game Recap: Jets Spot Indy First Half, But Win the Game Anyway With Strong Second Effort
The New York Jets outscored the Indianapolis Colts 17-9 in the second half tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, as they came from behind three times to win their Wild Card battle and set up a third meeting of the year with the New England Patriots next week. Mark Sanchez came up big on the final drive that began with only 53 seconds left in the game, completing three key passes to set up Nick Folk’s game winning, 32-yard field goal. The Jets edged the Colts by a point, 17-16.
The first half was ugly for both teams. The only highlight was a 57 yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon against double coverage. The play succeeded when Cromartie got beaten to the inside and Brodney Pool was late to help. The Jets should have scored fourteen points in the two quarters but Mark Sanchez was wild high all night, other than on the last drive, and he repeatedly overthrew wide open receivers. It could be that he was overcompensating for the injured shoulder. For whatever reason, though, his accuracy, never his strong suit, was far off tonight. The Jets best scoring opportunity came, as so often happens this season, in the last two minutes of the first half, but the opportunity was squandered when Sanchez picked up an open Dustin Keller too late, but threw it anyway. The ball was intercepted on the goal line by Tryon and run back for 23 yards to effectively end the first half with the Jets shut out, yet again.
Once the second half began, though, the Jets’ offense had a different level of commitment using a variety of angles and runs to impose their will on the smallish Indy defense. With the offensive line leading the way, they drove down the field on ten plays, running the ball eight times and covering 63 yards for the touchdown pounded in by LaDainian Tomlinson. The drive used up nearly six minutes, a wise strategy against Peyton Manning. After the Colts answered with a field goal to make it 10-7, the Jets’ offense once again kicked into ground and pound mode for seventeen plays and a go-ahead touchdown. The drive would consume nearly ten minutes more. The Colts would again answer, but with a field goal to make it 14-13 Jets.
So, at 4:37 to go in the game, the Jets had the ball and the lead. But, the offense became too conservative and predictable on the next drive which ended with more than two minutes to go even after a roughing call extended the Jets’ possession for three more plays. Never one to miss an opportunity, Manning drove his team into field goal range once again, and Vinateri punched it through from fifty. The Jets would have to come from behind with 53 seconds to go.
Cromartie, with Brad Smith nursing a pulled groin, came up big on the ensuing kickoff running it smartly to the Jets’ 45 yard line. Then, Sanchez went to work even calling the last play himself. Once he had completed a nice sideline route to Braylon Edwards, Folk made the game-winning field goal as time ran out.
The defense played brilliantly, for the entire game, going against their own tendencies and choosing to play mostly Cover-1 and Cover-2. They passed upthe blitz on virtually every play. Revis shut down Reggie Wayne from the first play to the last, forcing Manning to hit his other receivers, which he could not do often enough to make the difference. The defensive line, too, played superbly paced by Mike DeVito who has become the heir apparent to Kris Jenkins at tackle.
All in all, the Jets shut down the Indy offense for much of the game limiting them to a single touchdown—not bad for a defense that gave up nearly eighty points in two recent games. Indy could never get the running game going and the Jets’ containment strategy eliminated the big play almost completely.
Now, comes the big test redux. New England at Foxboro. Let’s hope the game is more like the first one than the second. Meanwhile, Rex Gloriosi!
105 Responses to Game Recap: Jets Spot Indy First Half, But Win the Game Anyway With Strong Second Effort
-
-
First time this season that I remember hearing his name so many times after good things happened. His best game? Bent?
-
Bent says: I did try to warn you.
When he starts he’s a much better player.
-
-
-
Patriots next, than probably Steelers and super bowl here we come. HUGE credit to Revis who totally took Wayne out of the game. Credit to Pool for stopping them on multiple 3rd and 1. HUGE credit to Eric Smith, When I saw he was starter, I was doubting him. I wanted Lowery to start, but after seeing the kind of game he had, I 100% want him in against New England. Edwards once again proves why he deserves a contract extension for his clutch receiving and great blocking throughout the game. Mark Sanchez came up big in the end — again. LT and Greene were everything the Jets asked for. Their offensive line was totally beast and Moore once again proves why Jets fans believe he’s so underrated. THANK GOODNESS we held onto Folk after that Browns game
-
just wanna be the FIRST to say that tonight was a BIG WIN for US,BUT WE ALL have to AGREE that playing the way WE DID tonight will NOT be GOOD ENOUGH to beat the patsies.Always room for improvement. Lets start preparing for the pats!
-
I think we played prety good on d , enough to stop the pats . I do agree that we need to score more point . I think we will score easier on the pats then we did on the colts
-
-
-
-
Bent says:
What a rush!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I was just as disappointment as anyone that it didn’t work but it was a good idea and kudos to Shotty. Based on Joey the Jet’s logic the out to Holmes was a bad idea as well. That shot to Braylon would have been a stake in Peyton’s heart. His last clutch grab certainly was!
-
-
-
-
I’d have to watch the replay, but it seemed to me we did the following:
1st down – Run up the middle against 8 or 9 in the box. Gains 2 yards.
2nd down – Brad Smith at QB, keeps the ball for 3 yards.
3rd down – Pass to Holmes that is dropped.
4th down – Roughing on the punt.
THEN …
1st down – Run up the middle against 8 or 9 in the box. Gains 2 yards.
2nd down – Brad Smith at QB, keeps the ball for 3 yards.
3rd down – Pass to Edwards that is overthrown, like every other long pass on the evening. Absolutely weird play call when Sanchez hasn’t come within five yards of an open receiver all night when he has to put some touch on the ball.To me, the pattern that put them in that 3rd and 5 position (twice!) was the predictable part. Why not run a sweep, a reverse or throw a screen against eight in the box? THis wasn’t the time to get conservative with straight ahead running into the line. Indy knew that if they stopped it they would have a chance to win.
-
Every play with Brad Smith is a multi option and there is no way of knowing how it will develop. It is up to Brad to make a decision, hence can’t be predictable by it’s nature. At least on one Brad clearly mis-read the movement on defense and should have given ball to Green.
Though i do think this was your most objective post, i see that you just can’t resist from putting two, three totally emotional negative statements, that have no base behind it, and contradict other points you are making.
But carry on, lad.
-
-
I’m still shaking oh my god. Poollayed Awesomely, Smith was great in coverage, LT played Great, Shonn ran hard all night.
Everyone played good except for Sanchez and Cro who managed to make up for it on the 4th. -
This in the first time in their history that the Jets have won playoff games in consecutive years. Unless you are old enough to remember January of 1969, these are the best of times!
Really playing with house money next week. It should be fun. -
-
Rex had to pop a blood vessel in his eye to do it, but he did it. What a day of football.
-
So who here still thinks Revis is overrated? Wayne averaged over 80 yards per game during the regular season, and Revis held him to ONE catch for ONE yard. He doesn’t get INTs because nobody throws at him anymore.
-
Yes agreed. And his comments about having to work to stay challenged, in the game and focused are a bit more palatable after that stellar performance. He’s gonna have to play a very long career so he eventually can enjoy it when QB’s challenge him – probably not until he’s in his late 30′s!
-
-
Just got in from watching the game with the usual cast of characters—what a game. Finished reading the posts on the game thread—it was as if I watched a totally different game. What is with everyone and their pessimism. Seems likes everyone wants a game where everybody is perfect. Damn this is football and there are 2 teams trying their best to win the game. We held Manning to 1 TD and three field goals—that is one hell of a defensive performance. Sanchez certainly was not perfect but damn when he needed to he performed as did this whole Jet team and coaching staff. As far as I’m concerned there is nothing to be negative about tonight—the Jets did exactly what they needed to do and they did it well—thank you NY Jets for a great win.
-
Well put, NVJ. I agree wholeheartedly!
My well reasoned and thought out response:
AaaaaaaAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaa!!!!!!
Lord, what fun!!!
-
-
Mo lewis 57….love the stats. Disagree slightly about playing with house money. I had high expectations coming into the season and this team has a ton of talent.
I would eat a bowl of dog poop to beat the pats in the playoffs…
Also, would love to see someone knock the hair plugs right off Tommy B’s head.
-
Would you happen to be my brother ( His name is Craig and he’s a huge Jets fan )?
In any case, speaking as somebody who was born in January of 1970, I’m just glad to see this team finally moving in the right direction.
We may not win it all this year, but for the first time in my life I feel like we have a coach/QB combo that will make it happen. It may not happen this year, but it WILL happen soon.-
Proud of Rex for keeping his powder dry, holding off the blitz and challenging them to run it on us.
-
-
-
How about all those times the D stopped the colts on 3rd and 1.
Those were big as well.
-
What a game…. A couple thoughts:
• Rex/MP and Schotty called great games
• Game balls for Eric Smith and Braylon Edwards
• Steve Wetherford is a great actor
• LT and SG look real good
• Holy Folking Kick!
• Bring on the Pats-
-
Weatherford was clutch? For being run into? Actually he kicked a lot of balls into the endzone for touchbacks. That is not like him. Not like he had a bad game (no shanks), but he was not clutch either.
-
Bent says:
It probably was a bad game statistically. A lot of 30 yard net punts.
-
-
-
Even though he was clearly run into he would never win an emmy I thought it was a horrible acting job hahaha
-
-
Sanchez is the weakest link of this team.
Our offense is strongest when he is handing the ball off.
Sucks, I know, but that’s what it is and I think the second half proved how potent this team is when they don’t delude themselves.
-
Mo…I am not your bro….but I am sure he is a happy man tonight.
Indy had the ball twice on offense in the second half….that is awesome and shocking. Ground and pound in full effect. Hopefully brad smith is ok next week…need to have wild cat formation available.
-
Spentmiles…Sanchez is a winner and eventhough was off tonight finished the game 9 for 11 in completions….I don’t consider that too weak.
-
Don’t bother with Spentmiles. He will never see the positive side of anything. Not even sure why he comes on here. Clearly not a Jet fan.
To complain about Sanchez as the weak link is just his style (or lack thereof). Maybe Sanchez was tonight, but anybody with a brain could have predicted that. Run on the Colts, eat up the clock, keep the ball from #18.
-
-
-
-Cro needs to return any & all kicks
-We won
-Cro needs to play bump & run
-We won
-Sanchez better fix the b.s
-We won
-Schotty is not that bad
-o yea……. We won
-
If schotty isn’t that bad then why didn’t he know enough to run the ball from the start of the game and not wiat until the 2nd half. I know, Rex told him run the F*&^&*& ball at half time. Schotty had about two or three good calls today and one that was moronic (3rd and 5 and throws a sideline 40 yarder that stopped the clock and gave Manning more time to work) DAAAA!!
-
-
Schotty does just enough to not get fired. He screws things up till Rex screams at him (that is where the blood vessel broke in Rex’s eye) then makes the obvious fix. Just think if the Jets had a real OC.
-
-
when it comes down to it if Sanchez makes a couple throws then Schotty looks like a complete genius… and believe me im no lover of his
-
-
-
What a game. This is where all those close comebacks in the regular season really helped us. Sanchez was confident and clutch in that game winning drive.
-
Another heart attack inducing game!
Quick note, what was the deal with Weatherford? The QB you need to pin back the most, he’s booting it into the endzone like it’s scoreing points. Hopefully he brings his A game for Brady and Co.
-
Bent says:
If that was a CFL game, the Jets would’ve won easily.
-
-
Wow, what an unbelievable win. Props to Schotty for realizing his errors in the first half (maybe w/ an assist form Rex?) and getting the job done even with Sanchez off his game.
HUGE props to the D- this is the game they’ve been trying to play since Rex got here.
With the D looking like they’re ready, and the O looking good recently except for today (I think the time off doesn’t help Sanchez), they actually have a chance, with their A game in all 3 facets, to knock off the Pats. The key is gonna be getting Sanchez started early (along with the run) and dialing up a plan that can slow down Marsha Brady.
-
BTW – I had the exact same expression that Peyton did when the Colts called the timeout. At first I was somewhat upset that the Jets used their timeout (looked like a balder more handsome version without a helmet and a chinstrap straddled across my face) and when I realized that THEY called the timeout I was ecstatic.
-
I was screaming at the TV “CALL THE F#*@( TIMEOUT, WE CAN”T TAKE IT BACK TO JERSEY AND WILL NEED EVERY SECOND AFTER THEY TAKE THE LEAD” so glad they did!
Could this team be peaking at exactly the right time?
Is Rex George Patton Reincarnated (for those who saw the movie or know his bio you’ll know what I mean), can’t imagine what he said at 1/2 time but that was a completely different team that took the field.
Lastly, dig up that game ball from the Foxboro Massacre and use it all week for motivation.
Now, let’s go get a god da&N SNACK!
-
i think schotty actually called a good game in the first half tonight… sanchez just seemed anxious and was over throwing but the plays were open, the throws were bad. He commited to the run in the 2nd half big time and kudos to Braylon for convincing him to throw that back shoulder route with 30 seconds on the clock. excellent insight by braylon and i love that shotty had the confidence to believe him.
i wanna give Rex some credit too bc him and pettine called the defensive game brilliantly tonight, they went against their natural instincts all night and forced the colts to run the ball effectively keeping the ball out of peytons hands when the colts had possession. They game plan stayed disciplined throughout, im not sure how many blitzes they ran tonight but im sure it was well below our season avg.
J E T S … JETS JETS JETS
lets enjoy it tonight and get ready for next week.
-
I didn’t do the numbers but I thought there were a few too many runs up the middle on first down against stacked coverage, and there was a particularly egregious 3rd and 2 where he passed instead of ran that I wanted to kill him for. Still, Holmes was overthrown with no deep safety behind him, and Sanchez missed a wide open Keller over the middle on that interception. It should have been 7-7 at the half at the least and 14-7 was very plausible, so I can’t blame Schotty all that much. Still, the Colts’ D was vulnerable all season and scoring shouldn’t have been as hard as it was in the first half. On the whole, my assessment for the whole game was that he did a fairly good job.
-
-
I forgot to mention that Cro’s KOR to set up the final drive was redemption for the soft coverage on the Garcon TD. His returns were beautiful!!!
-
Weatherford was awesome too. A couple of his kicks just missed being pinned down on the 1-yard-line
-
Just watched the roundtable with Sparano, Ross and Ireland. What a mess the Dolphins are. Lovin’ it from a Jets fan in South Florida.
-
Great game but part of me knows the game shouldn’t have been this close…we left to many points on the board….Sanchez missed td passes to Edwards…Keller and holmes…he’s gotta play better next week….I want bradys head on a platter!!!!!!!!!
-
We always love to blame Schotty and he tries to be cute at times, but it all comes down to execution.
Sanchez was missing open receivers left and right and misfiring at will. Thankfully the playcalling went to the ground game. With quick short passes that gained enough YAC to move the chains.
I think we blitzed less here than in any game Rex has coached. Seems like Manning was just waiting for it, but it never came. Brilliant playcalling by Rex and Pettine.
Now comes the big test against Tom Brady and the Smurfs. I hope Revis can man up on Welker and see what we can do.
-
“But it all comes down to execution” Every play is drawn up to score a TD. So Paul Hackett should have never been fired because of the poor execution. If only the execution was better under Kotite… Careful making excuses, for whats been years now of being a mediocore offence.
-
Obviously, the OC plays some role. But with Hackett, Heimmerdinger, etc. it seemed like they just had no shot- receivers never got any separation, no easy plays, etc.
With Schott this season, it’s seemed to me that most of the time (though I didn’t like his 1st half plan in this game) when he’s erred, it’s really come down to Sanchez missing open receivers.
Obviously part of the OC’s job is knowing his talent, but if Sanchez takes another step forward next year, there’s no reason to think this can’t be a top ten offense.
-
-
-
For all the Rex haters,Rex is a great coach, period
He got this offense back to ground£ when shotty was trying to get cute.
To all the Revis bashers- he is the best defensive player ever, outside of probly Lawrence Taylor.
He held out,yes, but he realized he made a mistake and that he loved playing for Rex and this team. He took less money and came back to the Jets a humble man,a team player, a better Revis Island. Last year Revis gave up 55 yards to Reggie Wayne, and this year he only allowed 1 catch for 1 yard.
Does anyone think we should keep in Cro on KR?
And did anyone notice Wayne Hunter in at starting RT but only on the last two plays of the game, weird
-
Was at the game last night. Kinda pissed I dropped $170 on tix and reggie wayne didn’t even have the decency to come to the stadium. Anyone know where he went? Peyton probably could have used his help
-
That was amongst the most difficult games I’ve ever had to watch. Literally haven’t felt that excited about the Jets since… well… the last time they beat the Colts.
A lot of key performances, but let’s face it, there could have been a lot of goats too. I’m 100% behind these guys, but drops by a typically solid Holmes and Keller and overthows by Sanchez… will result in an L next weekend against a much better team than Indy.
Again, I’m not trying to hate on my favorite team, but this is just 1 win. I’m 28 years old and haven’t ever seen my favorite team play a Super Bowl. If I’m going to get that opportunity this year, it’s going to take a flawless effort by this squad against… let’s face it (even though I absolutely hate the long-haired GQ jerkoff) one of the five greatest quarterbacks of all time.
If our defense plays up to its capabilities (and AlCROtraz doesn’t get lost on his own island in the middle of nowhere) and our offense plays without silly mistakes, we WILL beat these shmucks come next weekend!
Also, someone pass along to Rex that he needs to defend against the slant pass, especially when playing the Patsies. That’s going to be key here.
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!
-
Not to belittle your experience, but there’s more than a few on here who have been waiting as long, or much, much longer than you have for this one.
Don’t forget that they just beat one of those top 5 all-time QB’s last night and they already beat Brady this year.
I agree that it will take their best game of the season to win this one.
-
-
Now its time to go to Foxborough and stuff a football up Tom Brady’s ass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
When is our poor coaching on the offensive end of the game going to stop. The object of the last drive was to not give manning the ball back and run the clock out. I know I am just a fan but even sitting on the couch I could have called plays to try and make this happen. Better not make these bad decisions against the Pats, they will eat us alive.
-
I had a flashback to when herm took a knee and backed us up against Pitt in the playoffs. Our Offence doesn’t have nails to put into coffins but those long drives were the next best thing.
-
-
Why is Coleman ontop of Cole and Wilson on the depth chart?
Cro on the kick returns was huge.
Was it me or was Hartstock and Mulligan each targeted at least once?
-
Next game, Sanchez better get the ball DOWN. Some of those throws looked like basketball shots.
-
I really think he is more hurt than they are saying. The ball will sail on a QB with a shoulder injury. See: Favre 2008.
-
-
“It’s kind of like a pitcher,” the quarterback said. You get a signal and it’s not your favorite call, so you shake it off.” – Sanchez referring to the final play call.
Schotty’s Response: “Call whatever you want.”
I don’t even know how this makes me feel….
-
About whom? Good point.
As for Sanchez, I think his feel for the game should be respected more often. Big Ben and Manning call some of their own plays. I think Sanchez would be good at it.
-
-
Sanchez was awful run game was good,,, still have to be more about shonn greene… he opens things up he is in there they are forced to focus on the run…play action…
that third and five bomb was one of the dumbest play calls or descision i seen… the qb had been off all night a simple first down is all we were looking for with a chance to seal game… in the end it worked out -
woody was shaky play hunter if if woody is hurt…no warrior time… if u cant perform better than your backup sit your but down
-
Yikes! I am having trouble believing we won. It may just be me but how many times can we get the ball losing with less then a minute and pull it out? I guess the genious is they (Schotty and Rex) let Sanny call his own play in the end. I would like to have seen more runs in the first half and especially outside. Special thanks to the D for holding an upright Peyton to 16 points.
-
>>Why is Coleman ontop of Cole and Wilson on the depth chart?
I was thinking the same thing, Coleman looked bad :-(
-
Yet, he had great coverage on the most pivotal play of the game, the third down incompletion that led to the 50 yard field goal instead of a TD.
That’s Coleman: some blown coverages, failing to locate the ball, etc., combined with a game changing strip sack, drive killing pass breakup, or whatever.
-
-
hello all…apologies if this has been stated already.
BUT i have NO problem with the 3rd down pass play with 3 min left. a friend of mine, who is ALWAYS negative…texted me that we gave them 30 extra seconds there.
UMMMM how??? if we run and we dont get 5 yards then the colts use their last timeout anyway. yes some will argue that as good as our run game is we can certainly get 5 yards…BUT the colts stacked the run, leaving 1-1 coverage, and we went for it.
would like to see the play again and see if there was someone else open (keller?) short…but to run it there to insure the colts spend their last timeout would have been too conservative. last time i checked it was peyton manning on the other sideline!!! it aint that important to make them use their last timeout there.
if its matt cassell….go ahead and run it :)
if we have the same situation next week you can be damn sure we aint gonna run it just to get the pats to use their last timeout. of course it does depend on the time left….3 min left in the game is plenty of time…
will be glad to see cromartie leave, guy asks to play bump and run coverage and he plays it poorly.
unless he aint looking to break the bank, he is peaced.and yes sanchez was not good in the 1st half, but in the 2nd i believe he was 9-11?? throw to keller to set up LT TD was perfect…. guy makes plays in big spots… pretty damn good for a 2nd year QB with 1 yr of college ball under his belt.
great win…team has shown us for the past 2 years under rex, that they never quit and they make plays late. what more can you ask.
go up to jerk-off country and smack them in the face and get the win. whole country is behind us in this game thats for sure.
have a good week y’all
-
If I were the Colts I never would have taken the timeout after the Jets run I would have laughed at us because Nick Folk is our kicker.. But still a great win!
-
What was Santonio Holmes thinking on the original punt to him when the ball came within an inch of touch him and the Colts gaining possession?
and how bout E.smith….guy was a stud allll night…..