NY Jets-IND Colts: Poetic Justice at Work for Jets

The clock struck zero and the score was 29–15 with the New York Jets over the Indianapolis Colts in a seemingly pointless game for the Colts during the second to the last week of the NFL regular season.  The Jets played their hearts out in an attempt to sneak into the playoffs. 

On the other hand, the Colts would get heavy criticism from fans, journalists, and commentators for deciding to sit the majority of their starters in an effort to rest them for the playoffs.  Many people thought that the previously undefeated Colts should have continued to strive for excellence instead of seemingly giving the game away to the Jets.

The New York Jets, a team with a rookie coach, a rookie quarterback, and a rookie star running back clearly played like a team that needed another year or two to really be considered as a legitimate contender. At least that was the case until fate knocked at their door. 

With a 7-7 record, the Jets were prepped and ready to bag the season and start preparing for the offseason.  After a 29-15 victory over the undefeated playoff-bound Colts the next week, the Jets faced a similar opponent overlooking them in preparation for the playoffs.  

The Cincinnati Bengals had a stellar year full of drama and heart break with various deaths during the season.  The Bengals decided to rest their starters during the last week of the season, fearing injury in a game that did not matter to them if they won or lost. 

The Jets, on the other hand, had quietly moved into a position to continue to the playoffs with a 37–0 shellacking over the Bengals second and third-string players.

The Jets, the luckiest team in the NFL, turned a mediocre season into a playoff run. 

Their first opponent in the playoffs was the same team that rested the starters the week prior—the Bengals.  The Jets had all the momentum going into the game and ultimately blanked the Bengals 24–14 in a stunning upset.  The Bengals had the chance to put the Jets out of their misery the week prior but chose to play it safe.  Now they find themselves sitting at home watching the games. 

On Sunday, the Jets knocked off the clear Super Bowl favorites, the San Diego Chargers, with a stingy defense and an opportunistic offense, setting up one of the most ironic weekends of football in recent memory.

The Jets are now set to play the team that gave them a glimmer of playoff hope—the Indianapolis Colts.  Next Sunday at 3:00 PM, the Jets have a chance to make history by defeating the Colts and going to the Super Bowl. 

It’s called poetic justice.  The team the Colts "let win" are now their biggest threat in the playoffs.  If the Jets somehow find a way to defeat Peyton Manning and the Colts, it could potentially change the way that all teams decide to close out their seasons in the future. 

When teams decide to "rest" players in preparation for the playoffs, it takes away from the essence of the game.  That’s what the Bengals and the Colts did. 

So on Sunday, I will be wearing my green and white rooting for the underdog, rooting for poetic justice, and hoping for a Jets victory.  After all, in the famous words of coach Herm Edwards: “You Play To Win The Game...HELLO!!!”