Matthews: Belichick did Jets no favors by losing to Ravens

There are many around here who firmly believe that when Bill Belichick jilted the Jets on Jan. 4, 2000, before becoming coach of the Patriots, he left behind more than just a hastily scrawled "Dear Jets'' letter on a scrap of looseleaf paper.

They believe he also left a franchise in ruins, a debacle from which the Jets are only now beginning to recover.

Well, it appears as if Belichick may have done it to them again.

Here they were, mentally and physically prepared to return to Indianapolis, where their playoff charge began in earnest, to prove that their 29-15 Week 16 victory over the mostly Peyton Manning-less Colts was no fluke.

Now, thanks to the failure of Belichick and his Wes Welkerless Patriots, the Jets instead must travel across the country to the balmy clime of San Diego and take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

You may think that by losing to the Ravens and sparing the Jets the horrors of a rematch at Peyton's Place, Belichick did his old team a favor.

In fact, he did not.

A return trip to Indianapolis didn't necessarily mean the end of the line for Rex Ryan's Jets. But a first trip out to San Diego may well mean hasta la vista to any dreams the Jets may have of spending that first weekend in February in South Beach, unless, of course, they are planning to go on vacation.

Truth is, no matter whom they wound up playing in next week's divisional round of the playoffs, it was obvious the junior varsity portion of the Jets' program had come to a close.

Their convincing 24-14 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati Saturday was really just a continuation of the 37-0 trouncing the Jets put on the AFC North champions in the regular-season finale, a game that proved there really isn't all that much difference between the Bengals trying and the Bengals not trying.

Either way, they're not very good, which made yesterday's 33-14 victory over the Patriots by the Ravens - a team the Bengals beat twice during the regular season - all the more surprising.

And perhaps damaging to the Jets' high hopes.

OK, so Manning won the league's MVP award for a record fourth straight time during the weekend, and we all acknowledge that Colts coach Jim Caldwell did the Jets a huge favor when he decided to give Manning the rest of the afternoon off with 5:36 left in the third quarter.

Still, there's no denying the confidence boost a road victory gives to a young, improving football team, especially a road victory over a team such as the Colts, who had been riding a regular-season winning streak of 23 games dating to Oct. 27, 2008.

And let's not forget that when Manning left the game, the Colts led only 15-10. It's not as if the Jets were getting blown out. They were very much in the game, and there's no question they are a better team today than they were Dec. 27.

Jets fans may be relieved not to have to see the Colts this weekend, but not as relieved, I'd bet, as the Colts are about not having to see the Jets.

Instead, the Jets must face the league's highest-scoring and most-dangerous quick-strike offense, led by Philip Rivers, the league's third-rated passer, augmented by LaDainian Tomlinson, a once-great running back, and Antonio Gates, among the league's best tight ends. On the other side of the ball, there's Shawne Merriman to contend with.

The Jets do not have the comfort of a recent regular-season victory to fall back on, nor can they continue to call themselves the hottest team in the league. This week, they won't even be the hottest team on the field, not with the Chargers having won 11 straight.

All the Jets can say for sure is that they are a good team getting better.

But are they good enough?

Two weeks ago, they were good enough to beat the Colts, and they would have loved the chance to do it again.

Thanks to their old pals in New England, that'll have to wait a week, or maybe a year.

Ten years after leaving them in the lurch, has Bill Belichick stuck it to the Jets all over again?