One of the most curious elements to the Jets’ 17-16 wild-card win over the Colts on Saturday night was Peyton Manning’s reluctance to pass the ball to his top receiver, Reggie Wayne.
Manning clearly was afraid to throw the ball anywhere near Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. The result was Wayne — who caught the only pass thrown to him for a mere yard — being rendered useless in the game.
That left Wayne seething afterward.
“I shouldn’t have even suited up,” Wayne said. “I should have watched the game like everybody else. I was irrelevant. It’s bull, man. I give everything I’ve got no matter what, and … one ball, that’s all.”
Wayne, who was second in the NFL with 111 receptions, was targeted an average of 11 times per game this season.
The last time Wayne had just one catch in a game that he played from start to finish was Sept. 9, 2004 against the Patriots, when he had one catch for 42 yards.
Manning’s 26 pass attempts tied his lowest output of the season. He threw eight passes each to tight end Jacob Tamme and slot receiver Blair White. Pierre Garcon had five catches for 112 yards.
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A number of Jets players described Rex Ryan
as quieter than usual in the locker room after the win.
“He’s been trying to get Peyton for years,” fullback Tony Richardson
said. “You could see his relief. I think he was at a loss for words.”
Jets players, too, were not rowdy in their celebration, something that veteran linebacker Jason Taylor
saw as a good sign.
“We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” Taylor said. “The great thing about the locker room was, while guys were happy we won, it wasn’t very celebratory, with guys going to crazy. It was like we won a game in Week 10. It was almost matter of fact, like, ‘Let’s go back to work and get ready for the next one.’ “
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Several Jets were buzzing after the game about the gaffe that Colts wide receiver Taj Smith
made when he ran into Jets punter Steve Westherford
to give the Jets a free first down late with 3:02 remaining in the game.
“Those guys made that big mistake running into our kicker,” WR Santonio Holmes
said. “Excuse me language, but he [bleeped] up. He did it for us.”
Holmes on the Colts scoring the go-ahead field goal with 53 seconds remaining: “They left us entirely too much time.”
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The Jets’ running game was huge. RBs LaDainian Tomlinson
(82 yards) and Shonn Greene
(70) combined for 152 yards and two rushing TDs. Overall, the Jets outrushed Indy 169-93. The Jets, too, dominated in time of possession (33:07 to 26:53), which was one of their goals.
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Veteran defensive end Shaun Ellis
set a team record by playing in his 10th playoff game for the Jets. His 72½ sacks (including 4½ this season) rank third in franchise history.
“Man, I’ve seen a lot in my time here,” Ellis said. “This is one of the most satisfying [wins].”
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As the Jets were getting ready to kick the game-winning field goal, a few veteran players had visions of the team’s 2005 playoff loss to the Steelers, when kicker Doug Brien
missed two field goals in the closing minutes.
“I did have flashbacks to Pittsburgh,” right guard Brandon Moore
said.
Added WR Jerricho Cotchery
: “I had ’04 in my head all the way.”