The New York Jets picked up exactly where they left off last Sunday, as they trounced the Indianapolis Colts 41-0!!! This was the first playoff shutout in the history of the New York Jets. Two great wins in a row, and the Jets just keep on rolling.
QB Chad Pennington had yet another mistake-free game, completing 19 of 25 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the first possession Pennington connected with FB Richie Anderson who turned a short pass into a 56-yard touchdown. The Gang Green took a 7-0 lead and never looked back. In the second quarter, first, RB Lamont Jordan scored from the 1-yard line, and then WR Santana Moss caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Pennington. Jordan had one of his best games in the NFL - 20 carries, 102 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Moss led the Jets with 5 receptions for 42 yards.
In the second half rookie TE Chris Baker caught his first NFL touchdown pass and made the score 34-0! Finally, in the fourth quarter LaMont Jordan scored his second touchdown of the game, finishing the destruction of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Jets' defense probably played their best game of the season. The Jets allowed only 176 total yards (52 on the ground) and forced three turnovers. Colts QB Peyton Manning was just 14 of 31 for 137 yards with two interceptions. RB Edgerrin James averaged just 1.6 yards per carry. WR Marvin Harrison, who caught 143 passes in regular season, was limited to only 4 receptions for 47 yards. DE John Abraham recorded the solo Jets' sack of the game, and also had 3 tackles. CB Ray Mickens led the team with 6 tackles. Mickens also forced and recovered a fumble on a kickoff return in the 2nd quarter. FS Damien Robinson and LB James Darling both intercepted passes in the second half. KR Chad Morton made one return in the entire game, and it was a 70-yarder to the Colts' 20-yard line.
Well, today's game sure looked like a walk in the park, but next weekend the Jets will face a real test - a road game against either the Oakland Raiders or the Tennessee Titans. The Jets played the Raiders in regular season, and lost 20-26. That Raider team had a relatively healthy secondary, whereas the current Oakland Raiders basically have all their cornerbacks injured. The Titans are one of the hottest teams in the league, as they have won 10 of their last 11 games. Either one of these teams will be a major upgrade over the Indianapolis Colts. Will Pennington and Co. continue their Super Bowl run? We'll get the answer next weekend.
GO JETS!!!