Super Bowl Predictions: 10 Reasons the New York Jets Could Win the Big Game

You can't win the Super Bowl in the regular season and the New York Jets are thankful for that.

True, they did not have the best record in football.

True, they did not win the division.

However, as much as coach Rex Ryan continues to talk, his team has a chance to back him up; they are in the playoffs.

Amidst the New York media trying to pronounce the Jets dead after back-to-back losses against New England and Miami, the Jets locker room held strong.

Now is time for the Jets to prove their worth, and after shocking teams last postseason before losing to Peyton Manning and the Colts in the AFC title game, they get to go back to where it all ended.

Here are 10 reasons why the New York Jets will win the Super Bowl.

10. Overdue

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Former Jets quarterback is introduced during halftime festivities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets on

Sure, there are franchises that have yet to win the Super Bowl, but not a lot have suffered the way the Jets have.

Not since 1969 have the Jets hoisted the Lombardi Trophy; maybe in 2011 they are overdue.

9. Drawing the Colts On Wildcard Weekend

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 24: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts under center during the second half against the New York Jets during the AFC Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colt

Last year, the Jets gave the Colts all they could handle before Peyton and company took their show to the Super Bowl. 

This year, Peyton is the only bit of the show left, and the Jets have to be licking their chops.

The Colts offense averages a league best 288 yards per game in the air; they only average 92 on the ground.

The Jets defense gives up only 200 yards per game in the air and limits teams to 90 yards on the ground, good enough for sixth and third overall respectively in the league.

What it really comes down to, though, is how the Jets will be able to handle Peyton.

We all know the Colts always have a shot as long as No. 18 is under center, but this matchup just screams in favor of the Jets.

While Indianapolis yields 127 yards per game on the ground defensively, the Jets rush for close to 150 yards per game.

Defensively, while the Jets recorded 40 sacks this season, they did a lot of it blitzing and with injuries to the Colts receiving corps. The Jets will have no problem manning up on the outside with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and send players flying at Peyton all day.

If the Jets are going to win the Super Bowl, they are going to grab their mojo back by blitzing Peyton and running roughshod over the Colts defense.

8. Blitzing and Playing Man Coverage

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

IF you are going to blitz, you have to be comfortable with your corners, and no team can boast confidence like Rex Ryan can with Revis and Cromartie covering on the back end.

Any number of players can make a play for the Jets on a blitz, and both Revis and Cromartie are experienced and talented enough to make every quarterback in the league pay for a mistake.

If the Jets want to control the line of scrimmage and stuff the run, they have to be able to gamble and get after the passer with extra players as well and this team has that ability.

7. Finding Ways To Score (A.K.A Brad Smith)

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Brad Smith #16 of the New York Jets runs after fielding a kick against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

No player brings more versatility or explosiveness to the Jets offense than Brad Smith.

Whether he is lined up at receiver (only caught four passes this season but is still dangerous), in the Wildcat, or returning a kick, Smith is a threat to go the distance every time.

His deception in the backfield and ability to actually throw the football could bring about mass confusion for a defense when it is used correctly.

Not every team in the playoffs has a utility man like this; fortunately for the Jets, they do.

6. Veteran Experience

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets runs after catching a pass against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

One thing the Jets did this offseason was add players who have been there before.

Santonio Holmes is a former Super Bowl MVP.

LaDainian Tomlinson has been in eight career postseason games.

Jason Taylor, despite not having been there in a while, has played in six career postseason games.

Add these playmakers to the Jets team that went to the AFC title game last season and these Jets are no stranger to postseason road.

5. Controlling the Line of Scrimmage

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets is congratualted by Nick Mangold #74, Matt Slauson #68 and Braylon Edwards #17 after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illino

Football is said to be won in the trenches, and for the Jets, this is a good thing.

The third rated rushing defense and fourth rated rushing offense in the league will be tantamount to the Jets success in the postseason.

Outside of the Colts and Patriots—the team they are guaranteed to play and the team they will play if they win in the Wildcard—the other AFC teams are run-oriented offenses.

If the Jets can dominate at the point of attack, control the line of scrimmage like they have most of the season, they are free to do other things to stop the passing attacks of both the Colts and Patriots.

As for the offensive side of the ball, controlling the ground game will make it easier for Sanchez to utilitize an effective play-action game and get his big play receivers downfield.

4. Resilience

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets gestures to the crowd following their win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

As many Jets fans know, not many teams can lose a game as quickly or as ridiculously as the New York Jets.

This year, however, they dispelled that notion and pulled out victories that certainly could have, and maybe should have, been losses.

Outside of the New England game, the Jets were in every game this season and had a chance to win.

And in the playoffs, that is all a team can ask for.

3. Confidence

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets celebrates their 38 - 7 win over the Buffalo Bills at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

I am not a fan of it. 

There are plenty of other people that hate it.

But Rex Ryan has his players believing that they are the best team in football and that they legitimately have a shot at winning the Super Bowl.

The regular season is all about getting there, but in the playoffs, anything can happen and a hot team is a dangerous team and it only takes one game for it to happen.

Rex and his boisterous bunch believe they can win, and there is no substitute for a team that believes.

2. The Ground Game

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 02: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 and Shonn Greene #23 of the New York Jets sit on the bench during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

While the Jets average 148 yards per game on the ground, it is the style in which they can get it that will help them in the postseason.

In years past, Tomlinson has had trouble staying on the field in postseason play, but this season, if used correctly, the one-two punch of Shonn Greene and Tomlinson could be lethal on defenses, and Smith could break off a big run at any moment. 

Tomlinson's production has drastically gone down since midseason, and Greene's production has not been anywhere close to what they expected.

A year ago, Shonn Greene made a name for himself in the postseason; it is time for him to defend it.

The Jets' offensive line is stout; it will be up to the backs to make a play or two.

Like the No. 9 slide indicates, a date with Indianapolis' defense could be exactly what the Jets are looking for to regain their swagger.

1. The Play-Action Pass

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets celebrates with fans after they defeated the Buffalo Bills 38 to 7 at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty

Mark Sanchez's name has yet to be mentioned in this column for one reason: if the Jets want to win, he has to perform.

The second year quarterback has battled inconsistency a bit this season, questionable playcalling from offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and bouts with cold weather as well.

An effective run game will be enough to give the Jets an opportunity to win football games, it will come down to what Sanchez does with the ball when it is given to him.

Some believe that you have to establish the run to set up the pass and that is a worthwhile philosophy.

What I'd look for from Sanchez is if he can come out and put a defense on its heels on the first couple of drives, allowing the Jets to then pound it inside and set up their vertical play-action game.

Again, if the Jets want to win the Super Bowl, Sanchez will have to make some plays.

Wes O'Donnell covers the NFL, NCAA, and NFL Draft on a year-round basis. He also contributes to NFL Draft Bible. He can be followed on Twitter.