INDIANAPOLIS — No passing defense was better than the Jets’, which held opposing quarterbacks to an average of a little over 150 yards passing per game.
None of that mattered in yesterday’s AFC Championship game.
“We knew it would come down to our strength against [the Colts’] strength,” safety Kerry Rhodes said, “and theirs won.”
And won easily.
PHOTOS: JETS FALL SHORT IN INDIANAPOLIS
The Jets secondary was shredded by Peyton Manning, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and others, as the Colts racked up 377 passing yards, had all three of their touchdowns come through the air and ended up with a 30-17 victory.
Every Jets defensive back was victimized at some point. Collie beat Drew Coleman for a 46-yard completion that set up the Colts’ first score. On Manning’s subsequent touchdown pass to Collie, the receiver found room in the end zone between Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith.
Lito Sheppard was burned on a 46-yard catch by Garcon. Dwight Lowery was beaten multiple times. And even Darrelle Revis was victimized — on a 25-yard pass to Reggie Wayne.
“We got outplayed as a defense,” Leonhard said. “In a game of this magnitude, we have to play better as a secondary.”
According to Revis, the Jets had communication issues.
“Most of that was with the secondary,” Revis said. “Just not communicating the right calls and the right simple things.”
It didn’t help that the Jets lost cornerback Donald Strickland, who suffered a first-quarter groin injury and never returned. On the first play after Sheppard subbed for Strickland, Manning completed a 36-yard pass to Garcon — who beat Sheppard.
“I think I definitely would have been a difference maker,” said Strickland, who speculated that he might have torn his groin. “When I went out, a lot of changes had to be made and it kind of threw us for a loop.”
Jets coach Rex Ryan agreed.
“When they saw Strickland go down,” he said, “they went to three wides on us immediately and we certainly had some issues and they took advantage of it.”
Revis had to watch as his teammates were targeted again and again.
“It’s very tough to just keep seeing that play after play,” he said. “I mean, it’s a team game. You just hope that your teammates try to make a play sooner or later.”
Nobody did.