Jets have plenty in reserve; Colts up next
Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets makes a third quarter touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. (Jan. 2, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Mark Sanchez's cameo Sunday was quicker than the New Year's Eve countdown in Times Square.
"I was, you know, keeping the streak alive," the Jets quarterback cracked. "Look out, Brett."
Sanchez was kidding around, joking that he took his eight snaps - all handoffs - so he someday can pass Favre's Ironman streak of 297 consecutive starts. But he wasn't needed on this day, given how bad the Bills were in the Jets' 38-7 pasting at New Meadowlands Stadium.
The Jets (11-5) sat several key players in a game that had a preseason feel, allowing the reserves to do their thing before the team plays the Colts (10-6) at Lucas Oil Stadium at 8 p.m. Saturday in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game.
Mark Brunell threw a pair of touchdown passes - 52 yards to Braylon Edwards and 17 yards to Santonio Holmes - Kellen Clemens ran for a 10-yard TD, rookie fullback John Conner ran for a 16-yard score and rookie running back Joe McKnight rushed for 158 yards on 32 carries.
It was a day for the backups to shine while the bulk of the starters took it easy, waiting to see how the day's action unfolded and where they'd be traveling to begin their second postseason journey in as many seasons under Rex Ryan.
They're bound for the site of their last postseason contest, headed for the city known as the "Crossroads of America" for another matchup with all-world quarterback Peyton Manning.
"It's fitting. It is," Calvin Pace said. "It's crazy how things work out. In the event we play and we beat them, we'd have to go back to New England. It's just funny how things work like that."
The Jets caught teams off guard with their run last season, but that won't be happening this time around, not after all the Super Bowl talk that emanated during training camp and was broadcast to the masses on HBO's "Hard Knocks." That's why there weren't many congratulatory pats on the back in Chicago last Sunday.
"I think our expectations are different," Bart Scott said. "You don't see anybody doing back flips for the fact that we are in the playoffs for a second year in a row. It's where we expected to be . . . Our goal was to win our division; that didn't come to light. But all our goals and all the checks that we've written before are still ahead of us.
"We can be grateful for that and we know how tough it's going to be to win the Super Bowl or win a game [period].''
That's why they went out and brought in a collection of talent, attempting to shore up the secondary by trading for cornerback Antonio Cromartie and drafting Kyle Wilson. They also tried to add depth to their pass-rushing corps by signing Jason Taylor, who moved into a tie for eighth place on the NFL's all-time sacks list yesterday, to help close out games and get to the likes of Manning.
"When we lost to Indy, we felt like there were a lot of things we had to improve upon. It wasn't just to beat Indy or New England," GM Mike Tannenbaum said after the Jets won and awaited the result of the Colts game. "If we do wind up playing Indy, it is just a little bit of a coincidence. We just felt after a 16-game season and those three playoff games, there were a number of areas we had to improve."
"I think we are a better team, but certainly Indy is a better team. But it's the 2010 Jets against the 2010 Colts. We didn't improve just to beat them. I think it's just more ironic."
Now they'll see how well they stack up with Manning & Co.
"I don't know if you can get more excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us,'' Rex Ryan said. " . . . I know one thing: We're going to give them everything we have. I feel confident in our football team. I'm excited to get dialed in. Let's see what happens. We're going to have terrific game plans, there's no question about it. If we just go out and play New York Jets style of football, we'll be just fine."
