Unbelievable!
A win Sunday night (yes, the game got moved to Sunday night) against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jets are in the playoffs. This after Gang Green lost twice to the Dolphins, once to the Jaguars and Bills at home, and fell to 4-6 after starting the season 3-0. The Dolphins, Jaguars, and Ravens all lost yesterday, and the Jets beat the Colts, 29-15, so now New York controls its own playoff destiny.
Thanks, Jim Caldwell, who pulled his starters with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Colts clinging to a 15-10 lead. Then, Calvin Pace sacked backup quarterback Curtis Painter, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Marques Douglas in the end zone to give the Jets the lead for good. This came almost 14 minutes after Brad Smith started the third quarter by running back a kickoff return 106 yards for a touchdown. Jay Feely added a fourth quarter field goal and Thomas Jones ran one in from one yard out to secure the win.
Jones carried 23 times for 105 yards, Mark Sanchez did not throw any interceptions, and Feely converted two field goals. Oh, and Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Addai didn’t see the field after they were pulled in the third quarter. What was Caldwell, and the organization, thinking? Hello, you play to win the game. And you would have won the game if Manning & Co. stayed in there. Instead, you were serenaded with boos and your perfect season came to an end.
From Jets’ fans, players, and the organization: Thanks, Indianapolis.
