Mark Sanchez was great in the Jets defeat...while Peyton Manning was predictably smug after Colts win   Photo byJonathan Daniel - Getty Images                            Photo by Elsa - Getty Images

Well, those Divisional Championships came out more or less as I had expected, in result if not in content.  The Jets lost but didn’t really stay as close as I had thought.  The Vikings, although they lost, did manage to cover the 3 ½ point spread. 

That the way the Jets lost it was really painful is beside the point.  I’d never have expected either a 45-yarder out of the wildcat or an 80-yard Sanchez to Edwards bomb.  Neither did the Colts, for sure.  I hadn’t expected a Jets lead at all, at any point in the game.  But then I didn’t expect the Jets secondary to look like the Giants for long stretches.

Jets fans are filled with hope now for next year, and everywhere it seems there is already talk of how great Sanchez will be next year.  Although I’d have to agree that he’ll be better, I don’t think he’ll ever be much better than he was down the stretch this year.  He looked good and played about as well as a quarterback could play….including yesterday.  He’s got great feet, a good brain, and an accurate arm.

Remember Dwight Gooden?  He was absolutely great early on, and everybody drooled about how much better he’d become.  It never happened.  Drugs happened.  Same thing with Strawberry.  My only point with this is to be happy with what you have.  Don’t expect much more.  If every Jet had played like Mark Sanchez yesterday, they’d have come out on top.  <>

The same optimism is being shown for the Jets in general….how a pass rusher would obviate the need to blitz so much, how another cover guy like Revis would shore up that unit, how a healthy Kris Chambers would solidify the run defense, how another wide-out would provide some better targets for the rookie.

Well, the game is football.  Anybody can get hurt and they usually do.  Shonn Greene is a perfect example.  Joe Namath is another.  He was way better as a young QB than he was later on as his knees got taken out in Detroit, I think it was.  Then he became rather stationary.

I’m just saying that what makes Sanchez so exciting is his feet, which are attached to his legs, and he already sports a brace on one knee.  I’m certainly not wishing him ill but unless he has the luck of Brett Favre or Fran Tarkenton, or even Peyton Manning for that matter, he really can’t be much better than he was in the playoffs this season.  He could certainly get more opportunities to shine. That wouldn’t be hard, but I won’t count on him getting much better in absolute terms.  He’s been great.

When I heard that Lito Sheppard wasn’t starting yesterday, I cringed.  I gave up hope that the Jets could win.  The Colts had Lowery for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pierre friggin’ Garcon made him look very bad.  I can’t stomach corners who don’t look for the ball.  That’s Lowery.  I know the Jets were concerned about Sheppard against Manning, but give me a break….Lowery’s better?

The Saints-Vikings game was just ridiculous.  The Vikings were better in every respect except for the turnovers.  But you really can’t say that…turnovers are the biggest part of the game. So now we get to see the Saints play the Colts in the Super Bowl, the second-best NFC team for sure.

The only solace I can take from this game is that Favre got hit about a million times and looked bad in the game, especially down the stretch.  I loved his cross-the-field INT to put an end to the regulation game.  And I loved seeing him talk about retirement again…and his allusion to talking it over with his family.  When you’ve already gone from ridiculous to absurd, what’s left…tawdry?

Let’s look at the game itself and Favre’s part in it.  Favre blew a hand-off to Peterson from the ten-yard line that would have just about destroyed the Saints after Reggie Bush’s fumbled punt. Favre must’ve sensed Adrian may have scored on the play, meaning somebody besides him may have become the star.  As it was, Peterson got three scores.  Favre’s 2^nd INT, as I’ve mentioned, closed any chance Minnesota may have had in regulation to win the game.  His first INT was also in New Orleans territory just outside their 30-yard line. His QB rating for the day was 70.  <>

Brad Childress deserved no better fate either as he managed to get too many men on the field at the critical juncture of the game, when the Vikings were in field goal range, only to be pushed out again, shortly followed by Favre’s INT.  Furthermore, he never was able to control Favre.

New Orleans took the day and nobody was ever happier for that result than I was.  But they didn’t do much against that great purple defense.  They did take advantage of every opportunity though, or so it seemed.  They won the turnover battle; they gave Brees time to throw; they played better than the Vikings on special teams overall, and they definitely held together as a team, something the Vikings can only wish for this Monday.

The Colts are currently 4 ½ point favorites to beat the Saints in the Bowl and I suspect that spread will only increase, especially if people start really analyzing these games.  The Colts have everything, although you may say they have no running game. 

I think they elect to have no running game.  They run only well enough to enable Manning’s play action passes.  They have a terrific offensive line, a very good defensive line, and fast linebackers and secondary.  All those assets are in addition to some very fine wide receivers, Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon.  The Colts are very similar to the Vikings in that they have all that versatility.

What the Colts don’t have, though, is personality.  And, if I see any more colorless quotes from that coach of theirs…..UGH!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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