AFC Championship Game
Written by Marc Jenkins
AFC Championship Game: New York Jets vs Indianapolis Colts
Inside of Lucas Oil Field during the 2009 AFC Championship Game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts things began to appear eerily similar to the last time the Colts advanced to and won the Super Bowl. For starters Indianapolis had to overcome a second half deficit against an AFC East foe at home, the Pittsburgh Steelers won an NFL Championship the season prior and the Super Bowl will be held in Miami.
Things seemed as if they were going to run smoothly for Peyton Manning and the Colts as Manning completed his first pass of the game to Reggie Wayne for a 13-yard reception and a first down; however after that Indianapolis would struggle to get their offense going. On the Jets ensuing drive some of the karma that had work for them (opponents missed five field goals in their two playoff victories) began to work against them when Jay Feely missed a 44-yard field goal attempt to keep the game scoreless.
Matt Stover made a 25-yard field goal attempt after the Colts failed to punch it into the endzone early in the second quarter to give the Indy a 3-0 lead. On the next play from scrimmage Mark Sanchez found Braylon Edwards on an 80-yard touchdown bomb which made the score 7-3, Jets. The Colts once again drove the ball successfully down the field into the New York redzone however it only resulted in a 19-yard Stover field goal which closed the gap to 7-6, Jets.
On the Jets next drive Sanchez found tight end Dustin Keller on a nine-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes remaining in the first half which gave the Jets a 14-6 advantage. Early on during the Colts next drive Jets linebacker Calvin Pace would lay a hit on Colts running back Joseph Addai that would jar the ball loose and give New York the ball back in Indy territory with under four minutes in the half. The Jets would then turn that Indianapolis turnover into three points via a successful Jay Feely 48-yard field goal.
With 1:13 seconds remaining in the half Manning would hookup with rookie wideout Austin Collie for a 16-yard touchdown strike that would close the deficit to 17-13, Jets, on a drive that spanned 80 yards in four plays and just 58 seconds. This was the first time all season that the Jets number ranked defense had allowed a touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half. At halftime the Colts would find themselves in a similar situation that they had faced all-season; attempting to comeback from a halftime deficit to win a game.
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In the second half things didn’t begin a good note for the Jets as their star rookie running back Shonn Greene became injured within the opening minutes of the third quarter and then was followed by a 52-yard field goal miss by Feely. Not long after Manning hooked up with second year standout Pierre Garcon for a four-yard touchdown pass and an Indianapolis lead 20-17. The iced their AFC Championship cake with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Manning to all-world tight end Dallas Clark and then a 21-yard Matt Stover field goal which stretched their lead to 30-17.
Once Indy corner back Kelvin Hayden intercepted a Sanchez pass attempt on the Indianapolis 43-yard line with 2:05 left in the game the Colts and their fans all knew a return trip to Miami was definitely going to occur. After scoring 24 unanswered points and proving that their defense should be given respect the Indianapolis Colts found themselves going to the Super Bowl for the second time in four seasons.
Peyton Manning became the first quarterback to pass for three touchdowns against the Jets all season and recorded his 7th career 300-yard passing game in the postseason (NFL record) in the process. His day included completing 26 of his 39 passing attempts for 377 yards and three touchdowns with a QB rating of 123.6. With Reggie Wayne stranded on Revis Island all day Manning relied on his young receivers Garcon (11 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown) and Collie (7 receptions for 123 yards and a score) to carry the bulk of the receiving load for the victory.
The Colts won every major battle that mattered in route to defeating the Jets; first downs (27-17 Colts), total offensive yards (461-388 Colts), penalties (one for five yards versus six for 46 yards) and time of possession (31:25-28:35 Colts). The only team standing in the way of Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts second Super Bowl championship in Miami is the Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
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