The way it started out in Indy it looked like the Jets were going to make it a challenge. The Jets were making big offensive plays and pressuring Manning, but it wasn't sustained. Peyton Manning and company weathered the brief onslaught and were superb. The final blow, a high pass from Sanchez was tipped by the receiver into the awaiting arms of the Colts secondary with about a little over two minutes left. Lights out for the Jets, Colts win 30-17. In a game that was everything you expected it to be the Vikings and Saints battled it out hit for hit, point for point. Brett Favre was battered relentlessly and the Vikings offense developed slippery fingers. Despite Minnesota dominating the second half it ended in overtime with several booth reviews and a field goal by Hartley. Saints won over Vikings 31-28. Peyton Manning picked the highly touted Jet secondary apart. He had 377 total passing yards on 26 completions out of 39 attempts. Three of those completions were for touchdowns. Garcon and Collie were Manning's primary targets and between the two they had 274 of those yards and a touchdown a piece. Dallas Clark caught a 15 yd reception for the third touchdown. Joseph Addai contributed nicely with 80 rushing yds on 16 carries. It could've been worse for the Jets with Indy in the redzone a total of six times and settling for three Matt Stover field goals in three of those redzone visits.
Mark Sanchez was a bit of a surprise in the second quarter when he hooked up with Braylon Edwards for an 80 yd touchdown. Then he connected for 9 yds to Dustin Keller and a score. The Jets coasted into half time with a 17-14 lead, but that is where it ended. Sanchez had 257 yds on 17 completions. The Jet offense was shut out in the second half by Indy's defense and their balloon was finally popped with the only pick of the day by Indy's Kelvin Hayden. Jones and Greene combined for 83 yds and did not have much of an impact on the up-for-the-challenge Indy defense. The Jets were only in the redzone one time.
Brett Favre was in the fight of his football life. He was driven into the ground, helped off the field limping, and came back time after time. He then made a costly interception in the final minute letting a opportunity to win slip by. Favre out gunned Drew Brees with 310 yds on 28 completions out of 46 attempts and one touchdown. Adrian Peterson ran for 122 yds and had three touchdowns. Their defense hung in their time after time and controlled the Saints passing attack, but after all was said and done, the 5 turnovers was the Vikings demise.The Saints had 257 total yds on offense and still, and I say luckily, pulled it out. Drew Brees only had 197 yds on 17 completions, but made the most of those completions with three touchdowns. Pierre Thomas had 61 yds on 14 carries with one touchdown running and one receiving. Obviously, the difference was not the Saint's offense, but the ball-hawking of the their defense who forced the Vikings to put the ball on the ground five times and gathering in two interceptions.
Vikings and Saints was a wild one to say the least. One has to feel sorry for Brett Favre who took such a pounding and remained determined not to let it rattle him. Unfortunately, the interception will no doubt haunt him as he considers his future. The Jets and Colts ended the way I expected it to. Peyton Manning and company continues to steamroll over their opponents. Now it is on to Superbowl XLIV.
No comments:
Post a Comment