NFL Playoff Predictions: 10 Biggest Playmakers for Jets vs. Colts
NFL Playoff Predictions hinge on what we've seen in the 2010 regular season.
And, like every playoff team, both the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts will have no shortage of playmakers when they square off on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In this rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game, the quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez and Peyton Manning, will obviously be the most important players on the field and therefore the biggest playmakers.
But what about the other 52 men on each team's roster?
Inside we'll offer the top 10 players (other than Manning and Sanchez) who are likely to have the greatest impact on the game's outcome.
No. 10: Robert Mathis, Colts, DE
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Mathis is the bookend to Dwight Freeney, but the Alabama A&M product has actually led the team in sacks two of the past three seasons.
And several of Mathis' 11.5 sacks this season have come in key moments for the Colts, including a huge one at the end of the Colts 23-17 win over the Bengals.
Freeney should get much more attention from the Jets on Saturday night, leaving Mathis in one-on-one situations with either D'Brickashaw Ferguson or Wayne Hunter. Even one pressure/sack in those situations could redirect the course of the game.
No. 9: Braylon Edwards, WR, New York Jets
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Dustin Keller may have caught more passes and Santonio Holmes more yards per game, but Braylon Edwards led the Jets in yards and yards-per-catch.
And he was at his best for the Jets in critical spots.
With New York trailing in the third quarter of Week 3's critical game in Miami, he scored an electrifying 67-yard touchdown that regained the lead for good. In the game-winning drive at Denver he made a vital third down conversion, and in the win over Detroit he scored a 74-yard touchdown, the Jets longest play from scrimmage of the season.
And his best all-around day came in the must-win triumph on the road at Pittsburgh: eight catches, 100 yards.
No. 8: Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts
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Although Reggie Wayne is the go-to guy for the Colts (he led the AFC in receptions), Garcon nabbed just as many touchdowns, despite catching 44 fewer passes.
With Dallas Clark out, Garcon has become a critical part of that offense and will continue to be Peyton Manning's second option.
He was more explosive last season, but has produced plenty of big plays in 2010. He had a vital touchdown grab in the fourth quarter of the win over Oakland, as well as the go-ahead second-half score of last week's win over Tennessee. Without his thrilling 57-yard touchdown in Washington, the Colts probably don't beat the Redskins.
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No. 7: Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
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Neither of the Jets runners have been that prolific in the second half of the season: Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson haven't broken 100 yards rushing since before their Week 7 bye.
And although Tomlinson led the Jets in rushing yards, carries and touchdowns, Greene is the more dangerous runner in the postseason.
Last year, Green split time with another seasoned veteran, Thomas Jones. But by the playoffs, it was Greene who ran over the Chargers and Bengals in upset road wins.
With eight fewer seasons of wear and tear, Greene will be expected to carry the load.
No. 6: Kelvin Hayden, CB, Indianapolis Colts
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It remains unclear if the Colts starting corner can play Saturday night. He missed the final five games of the regular season with a neck injury, but he might.
And if he does, he'll bring a major spark to the Colts secondary.
Not only will his skills be vital to slowing down former Pro Bowl receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, but he scored two touchdowns via interceptions in wins over Houston and Cincinnati.
No. 5: Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
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That hamstring continues to hamper Revis, but if he's on the field (and he should be), Peyton Manning will know where he is prior to each snap.
Revis Island wasn't nearly as littered with interceptions as it was a year ago: he had zero in 2010, six in 2009.
But he broke up 10 passes despite missing three games and on the turf, he should match up well with Reggie Wayne. In the 2009 AFC Championship Game, Wayne caught only three passes for 55 yards, largely because of Revis' presence.
No. 4: Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
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Wayne has turned out tremendous stats in close Colts losses:
- 15 catches, 196 yards in the loss to Jacksonville
- 11 catches, 83 yards in the loss to Philadelphia
- 8 catches, 107 yards in the loss to New England
- 14 catches, 200 yards in the loss to Dallas
But that means very little. Wayne is sure-handed, he is a tremendous threat in the red zone and, once the Colts cross into the opponent's territory, he is a threat to score at any point.
When the Jets blitz (which they will a lot), Manning will feel comfortable slinging short slants to Wayne, who is capable of taking it the distance.
No. 3: Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts
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With all due respect to Robert Mathis, Kelvin Hayden, Gary Brackett and the rest, Freeney is the most vital cog in the Colts defense.
The Jets are going to tailor their gameplan to avoid his presence: more screens and draws to slow Freeney down. He'll have fewer opportunities to get a hit on Mark Sanchez, so when Brian Schottenheimer does call a straight drop back pass, Freeney has to get to the quarterback, and preferably with something other than his patented (and predictable) spin move.
Freeney had vital second half sacks in the Colts' final two games of the regular season and with Mark Sanchez showing a bit of fumble-itis in the second half, a sack/strip could produce a score for the Colts.
No. 2: Brad Smith, KR/WR/RB, New York Jets
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Smith gave the Jets offense a major boost at times this year, running the wildcat, running the ball (a 53-yard touchdown to give the Bengals the lead in their Thanksgiving night game) and catching a few passes here and there.
But his contributions on special teams have been outstanding.
He returned two kicks for scores, including that remarkable game-opening touchdown return against the Steelers that set the tone in a vital 22-17 win.
No. 1: Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets
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After Holmes returned from his suspension, it took a few weeks, but he eventually emerged as the most dynamic player on the Jets.
And it began with that 52-yard catch and run in overtime that set up their win in Detroit.
A week later, it was his 37-yard touchdown in overtime that gave the Jets a win over Cleveland.
And the next week, it was his six-yard touchdown in the last 10 seconds (he finished the day with seven catches, 126 yards and two scores) that defeated the Texans.
In all, Holmes caught six touchdowns in the Jets' final eight games.
He has an ability like no one else (even teammate Braylon Edwards) in this Colts vs. Jets game to catch a pass anywhere on the field and take it in the end zone.
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