New York Jets: Five Keys To Victory In First Round Matchup With Colts

Rex Ryan and his New York Jets entered the 2010 NFL seasons with lofty expectations.  If they want to deliver on those Super Bowl aspirations, they will need to do it from the back of the field starting Saturday night.

Entering the playoffs as the sixth seed, the Jets will need to win three consecutive road games to reach the promised land and are a far cry from the first round bye week they sought all season. 

The first in line are the Colts and their hall of fame-bound quarterback, Peyton Manning who is the great equalizer. 

These five things need to go right for the Jets to win Saturday night...

1. Get Pressure On Peyton Manning, Stay With Receivers In The Secondary

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Jacob Tamme #84 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

I have heard a lot of NFL pundits say the Jets "need to get pressure with the front four".  However, if that is truly a Jets' key, that is the NFL equivalent of insanity.

The Jets haven't been able to pressure with the front four all year, why would they suddenly be able to do it Saturday night, against one of the league's best quarterbacks?

If they are able to finally do it, more power to them,  But realistically, they need to blitz.

Here are the keys: The blitz needs to get to Manning, and force him to unload the ball quicker than he'd like.  And when the blitz doesn't get there, Revis and company need to run with their receivers.  More than likely, they will be able to do that for the most part.  The concern is the middle of the secondary.  The safeties cannot allow Jacob Tamme to dominate the middle of the field.

Third Down: Defensively and Offensively

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass the ball during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

More than occasionally, the Jet defense has been porous on third down, even on third and long situations.

If they are able to get Manning third and long, they have to get off the field.

You can't give Manning multiple opportunities and expect to contain the Colts' offense.

Conversely, the Jets offense needs to sustain drives.  Third down conversions will be huge for ball control and to play keep away from Manning. It will be a major statistic when you analyze who wins and who loses Saturday night's game.  

Mark Sanchez, Can He Dominate The Game?

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets reacts on the side lines during their game against the Buffalo Bills at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Those same NFL pundits have stated that the Jets need to run the ball.

This is not the same Jets' team as last year.  That team had to run the ball to mask Mark Sanchez's inexperience.

Last season's playoffs saw Mark Sanchez take advantage of defenses that were stacking the box to stop the run. 

Last year, Shonn Greene was playing excellent football in Lucas Oil Stadium before injuring his ribs.  Sanchez played his best game of the year in that day, and now has another year of experience under his belt.

With Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards, the Jets could big play the Colts often in this game.  So it really isn't the running game that is key, it is the passing game as the Jets will need to score to allow their defense to aggressively defend Peyton Manning.

This year, I believe the passing game will get the running game going.

Also, the Jets' cannot afford what I call disastrous turnovers, such as turnovers that occur in the red zone, or even worse, turnovers that give Manning a short field.  You can live with a turnover or two around the opposing 40 yard-line, but nothing else.

Dustin Keller

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Dustin Keller #81 of the New York Jets gets grass stuck to his facemask after getting hit by Chris Harris #46 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (P

Dustin Keller is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.  Too often, the Jets haven't taken advantage of his skill-set.

He can stretch the middle of a defense like a Dallas Clark or Antonio Gates. 

If Keller can stretch the field consistently, it could open things up for the running game, and create the one on one matchups Sanchez needs to find Holmes or Edwards for the big play.

Kicking and Special Teams

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Brad Smith #16 of the New York Jets misplays the ball on a kick-off against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Special Teams is an area of advantage for the Jets.  The Santonio Holmes/Jerricho Cotchery combination have really settled in for punt returns, and they ought to be able to make plays for the Jets in the punt return game on a fast track.

Brad Smith is one of the league's most underrated game-breakers in the kick return game, and Joe McKnight is a threat to break one in his own right.

The only area of concern is the kicking game.  Adam Vinatieri has shown that he is one of the NFL's elite in terms of making the big kick while in short, Nick Folk has shown that he is not.in that category.

The Jets cannot allow this game to come down to needing a big kick from Nick Folk. 

Prediction

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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

I truly believe the Jets have the better team.

Sanchez will make plays, the running game will be effective and the defense will do just enough: New York Jets 28, Indianapolis Colts 23.