With a night to sleep on their huge win over the Colts Sunday, neither Rex Ryan nor the Jets players had any apologies for beating the Colts’ backups in the final 20 minutes of the game.
In fact, the Jets bristled at any suggestion that they were gifted the game by the Colts’ decision to pull Peyton Manning and Co. with 5:36 remaining in the third quarter and Indianapolis leading 15-10.
“They (the Colts) don’t have to apologize to anybody about anything and neither do we,’’ Ryan said today. “We won the game, ended up doing what we had to do whoever was in Colts’ jerseys. There’s very little credit that our football team has been given and that’s unfortunate.
“It bothers me a little bit. You have to earn everything you get in this league _ whether you’re playing against a starter or a backup. People can draw their own conclusions. We won by 14 points. We’re making no excuses or apologies for getting our job done.’’
Jets linebacker Bart Scott said, “To hold (the Colts) to 15 points in three quarters is still an accomplishment.’’
Added safety Jim Leonhard: “There’s nothing to say that we don’t win that game if Peyton’s in there. It might be a little different than it ended up, but we put ourselves in position and we were right in the game at end of the third quarter.’’
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Here’s the Jets playoff scenario:
If they beat the Bengals Sunday, they’re locked into the No. 5 seed as a wildcard in the playoffs.
If they lose, they’re eliminated from the playoffs regardless of any other possible scenarios.
If they win, it’s highly likely they’ll play the Bengals in the wildcard game in Cincinnati, because the Bengals, with a loss to the Jets, are a virtual lock as the No. 4 seed.
If the Bengals (10-5) and Patriots (10-5 entering a game against the Texans Sunday) finish tied at 10-6, the Patriots at the moment, own a significant strength of victory tiebreaker on Cincinnati, which means they’d get the No. 3 seed.
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Jets RB Thomas Jones, who needs 12 yards to set a new career record in rushing yards, was rested in Wednesday’s practice last week and seemed to by losing some carries to rookie Shonn Greene in Sunday’s game until Greene hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter.
Asked today if he felt like he needed a rest from practice, Jones said, “I didn’t feel I needed a break. The way I work out and train I can get 25 or 30 carries a game. To me, I’m physically and mentally prepared for that because of my preparation during the week.’’
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Ryan said there were no significant injuries in the Colts game, though a couple of players might sit out Wednesday’s practice.
Greene hurt his shoulder but returned to the game. RT Damien Woody had a player roll on the back of his leg, but he continued to play and RG Brandon Moore was shaken up and kept playing. Ryan said CB Donald Strickland hurt a quad making his sack and might sit out Wednesday’s practice.
“I think everybody’s going to play,’’ Ryan said.
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More fascinating speculation and subplots will emerge this week as the Jets and Bengals ready to play the final game of the NFL regular season Sunday night.
Like Colts coach Jim Caldwell was last week leading into their game against the Jets, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis didn’t reveal his hand regarding whether he’ll play his stars or how much they might play in a game Cincinnati doesn’t have to win.
“I’ll make those judgments later in the week as we go, see how we are, but we’re going to approach it as a game we need to win” Lewis told reporters today in Cincinnati.
With the Bengals having already clinched their division title and a home playoff game, the only movement they can make is from the No. 4 to the No. 3 seed, which New England currently holds.
If the Patriots beat the Texans Sunday afternoon they would secure the No.3 seed and the Bengals would be locked into the No. 4 seed before their game with the Jets even begins.
Another compelling variable is the fact that, should the Jets beat the Bengals, the two are most likely to meet in the playoffs the following week. It’s possible, with not a lot on the line, the Bengals might not want to show the Jets a lot of their playbook Sunday night.
“We’re going to take all those things into consideration,” Lewis said.
As for the Jets, they’re expecting the Bengals to play their starters.
“We’re preparing that Carson Palmer will be the quarterback and Chad Ochocinco will be a receiver,’’ Rex Ryan said.
“We have to prepare for every last one of them to play,’’ Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. “To get to the playoffs, we have to beat that team _ regardless of who they throw out there.’’
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