New York Jets vs. New England Patriots X-Factor? Try Antonio Cromartie

Analysts will dissect how the New York Jets might beat the New England Patriots in a few days.

They will talk about Mark Sanchez needing to play better than he did in the Wild Card Game.

They will talk about the Jets needing to establish the running game.

They will talk about the defense trying to disrupt Tom Brady.

These are obvious points that anyone can say. What’s more interesting is the X-factor in the game.

Most of the time, that role is important in the playoffs. There are always unheralded playoff heroes who people never talk about in the regular season.

In the Jets’ playoff victory against the Indianapolis Colts, it was Antonio Cromartie who served as the X-factor.  He returned kicks after Brad Smith injured his quad in that game.

It was Cromartie who had a 41-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter. It gave the Jets a good opportunity to tie the game at seven, and they made the most of it on the play of LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene.

Cromartie did it again with a 47-yard kickoff return after Adam Vinatieri’s field goal gave the Colts a 16-14 lead over the Jets with several seconds left in the game. It appeared the Jets were going to lose, but Cromartie’s kickoff return gave the Jets a chance. Sanchez threw a completion to Braylon Edwards, which gave Nick Folk a chance to kick the game-winning field goal.

It helped that Colts coach Jim Caldwell called a questionable timeout, which gave Folk more room to kick the field goal. Folk’s kick went in, and the Jets celebrated in the end.

One can make a case Tomlinson was the X-factor, but everyone knows the running game is a must for a team to win. The Jets were going to get something out of their running backs.

It’s doubtful Cromartie will return kicks on Sunday against the Patriots. Smith should be ready to play in that game, and that’s the right thing to do. He has played well in that role.

The Jets are going to need Cromartie at cornerback. Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine broached the idea of using Darrelle Revis on every Patriots receiver. It may sound good, but that’s not going to work out. Brady has so many weapons that Revis can’t stop everyone.

What the Jets need is someone to limit a Patriots wide receiver. Revis will stop Wes Welker. Cromartie needs to stop Julian Edelman, Aaron Hernandez or Deion Branch.

Even if both cornerbacks do a good job of containing a couple of receivers, Brady can find someone else to throw to. That is why it will be tough for the Jets to win on Sunday.

Still, someone has to frustrate a Patriots receivers out there.

If Revis and Cromartie can get the receivers out of the game, the wideouts could be frustrated and lose all of their focus by the second half. Colts receiver Reggie Wayne can attest to that.

It’s going to come down to what Cromartie does. He can’t give up big plays like he did with Pierre Garcon in the Colts game.

The Jets thought pairing Cromartie with Revis would give receivers problems. That hasn’t been the case this season.

Too many times the opposing quarterbacks seem to find a wide open receiver. Cromartie tends to be unfocused at the wrong time.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan lost his patience with his cornerback when Garcon scored that TD the other day. He actually yelled at his player, which is something he never does at games.

Now, it’s time for Cromartie to earn his paycheck. It’s time for him to validate the Jets’ reasoning to trade for him this offseason.

He has to go out and tackle some guys instead of standing around like he always does. He has to create interceptions, be physical and be focused on the task at hand. He should be a presence.

It’s nice that he stepped up in a role that he was not used to in last week’s game. The Jets are not paying him to do that.

They did not give up draft picks just to get him to run kickoff returns. He was acquired to make Ryan’s defense even better. He failed to live up to that.

One has to wonder if the Jets regret trading for him. From reading reports about him in San Diego, he wasn’t exactly special. He is afraid of contact. His hips hindered him to run after an injury in 2008.

The San Diego Chargers traded him for a reason. They knew he was diminished goods.

The Jets probably figured it out by now that he is not the player he used to be. He is a free agent after this season. It’s hard to believe he will be back next season.

He just has to make the most of his situation by playing well.

For one game, he should recreate the magic from 2007.