Then they found themselves a mere 30 tantalizing minutes away, leading the Colts 17-13 at halftime of today’s AFC Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium and feeling this was their destiny.

“Thirty minutes . . . so close yet so far,’’ Jets veteran right tackle Damien Woody lamented later in a quiet visiting locker room.

At the end of the day, though, close is all the Jets got to booking a trip to South Florida for Super Bowl XVIV, because they couldn’t stave off Peyton Manning and the Colts, who stormed to a 30-17 victory to get to their second Super Bowl in four years.

After the Jets had built a 17-6 lead, the Colts scored 24 unanswered points and crushed the Jets’ Super Bowl dream.

“We felt like we had the team to get to the Super Bowl,’’ Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. “When you come up short there are a lot of thoughts that go through your head.

“You could see all across this room, guys are like, ‘Where do we go from here? What do we do now?’ We feel like we’re ready to take that next step. We felt like we were ready this year. Maybe we weren’t. But we’ll prepare next season to take that next step.’’

All week, the Jets had visions dancing in their heads of confetti showering down on them. They got exactly that tonight. The problem was that it came two weeks too early. The confetti that streamed down onto the field today was blue and white, celebrating not the Super Bowl victory the Jets dreamed about, but a Colts AFC Championship title.

So the Colts, now 16-2, will be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 against the winner of the Saints-Vikings NFC Championship game.

The Colts won Super Bowl XLI in Miami, so they’re reaching for some good karma of their own. The Jets, who finished 11-8, go home bitterly disappointed, because they believed they were destined to win it all this year after having turned their season around from 4-6 and 7-7 to get to this game.

Also making this devastating was the fact that the Jets were close enough in this game to taste it. They took a 17-13 lead into halftime and were frustrating Manning (26-of-39, 377 yards, 3 TDs). 

They were even making big plays on offense, with Sanchez (17-of-30, 257 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), bidding to become the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to a Super Bowl, connecting with Braylon Edwards on an electric 80-yard TD pass in the first quarter and throwing another TD to Dustin Keller.

The end result, however, turned out to be too much like the often-tortured history of this franchise — a terrible tease. The Colts turned that 17-13 deficit into 17 consecutive second-half points on a Jets defense that hadn’t allowed more than 15 points in a game in their past four games, all wins.

The killer moment in the game came at the end of the second half, when, after the Jets took a 17-6 lead with 2:11 remaining on a Jay Feely 48-yard field goal. They allowed Manning, a two-minute-drill magician, to march the Colts 80 yards in 58 seconds and cut the lead to 17-13 at the half with a 16-yard scoring pass to Austin Collie.

Several Jets players, including Leonhard and Edwards, hinted that the Jets were rattled by the Colts’ late score at the end of the first half and that they didn’t react well to it in the second half. Edwards went as far to saw that the Jets “lacked’’ the same “fire’’ they had in the first half.

That took a lot of wind out of our sails,’’ Ryan said of that late Colts score. “To give up an easy score like that after we’d played so well was disheartening,’’ Leonhard said. “As much as it hurt us it helped them. You can’t give a team like that momentum.”

The Jets can absolutely get blown out of this Sunday’s American Football Conference championship game. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Peyton Manning exposed the Jets’ defensive backs with his pinpoint passing to his great receivers, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. His quick release could very likely neutralize the Jets’ average pass rush. The great Manning could throw 3 or 4 or 5 touchdown passes and the Colts’ speed pass rushers, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, could be unstoppable forces on their way to meeting up with each other at the Jets quarterback, Mark Sanchez as the young quarterback stands in the pocket, unable to pick out open Jets receivers. The quick and smallish Colts linebackers may very well continue their season-long success at filling the gaps in the line of scrimmage, stuffing the run and being all over the Jets running backs like white on rice.

In other words, nobody would be shocked if this game turns into a Colts rout, especially since it’s being played in what will surely be a very noisy and partisan home stadium in Indianapolis.

But sports fans, none of that is gonna happen this Sunday. Instead, here’s what’s going down when the Jets and Colts meet up for the AFC Championship, with the winner going to the Super Bowl.

Take a deep breath and smile, Jets fans. The Jets will ride this confident wave they’ve been on for several weeks right to Miami two weeks later to play for the NFL championship. Once again, Peyton Manning and his band of Colts will be made to appear like football’s version of the Atlanta Braves, great regular season records year after year but very little to show for it in the post-season.

The basis for this game, the true indicator of who will win or lose on Sunday is predicated solely on two factors. The main factor will be the Jets ability to control the line of scrimmage and ball-possession. The other factor will be on their ability to win the turnover battle. Mark Sanchez, their rookie quarterback, was a turnover machine for the first two thirds of the season. Since he’s learned to protect the ball, the Jets have been on a run, winning six of the last seven games. 

I expect this game to be dominated by Gang Green’s offensive line. It is the best O-line in the game, the true heart and soul of this team with three Pro-Bowlers in left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, left guard Alan Faneca, and the sports’ best center, Nick Mangold. The size and skill of this unit against the quick but undersized Colt defensive line and linebackers will be the cornerstone of any success the Jets have this Sunday.

The Jets also have one of the  NFL’s best blocking fullbacks in Tony Richardson, who, at 245 pounds is bigger than the Colts leading tackler, linebacker Gary Brackett, who will be meeting Richardson head-on in those gaps at the line of scrimmage. Richardson has amazingly lasted in the NFL for 17 years and it’s not because of his running ability. He is among the best at kicking out linebackers and chipping defensive ends to allow his backfield mates to run to daylight.  Against this particular Colt defense, with their 245 pound defensive ends in Freeney and Mathis and their 230 pound linebackers, the Jets’  “ground and pound” offense with Thomas Jones and Shonn Green will absolutely dominate the time of possession clock.

Indy’s defense is very fast, but it is diminuitive. Speed is a great thing when pursuing quick backs on sweeps and wide receivers on deep patterns. But, the staples of Brian Schottenheimer’s offense are not sweeps and deep patterns run by the likes of Jerrico Cotchery and Braylon Edwards. The Jets love to go off-tackle and the passing game, such as it is, is based on three-step drops and short passes.

Schottenheimer has learned how to take advantage of Sanchez’ abilities, his quick feet in the pocket and his roll-out skills. With the possession-type skills of his receivers and glue-fingered tight end, Sanchez, who demonstrated how well he could pick out open receivers and throw it accurately on the run when he found Keller in the end zone last week in San Diego should be able to neutralize Indy’s fierce pass-rush with play-action fakes and roll-outs to either side.

The Jets’grind-it-out offense is going to wear the Colts down. By the back half of the third quarter, if the Jets have a lead of seven or more points and the ball is in their possession, you will see Peyton Manning begin to take chances downfield with risky throws when the ball is in his hands. Indianapolis will not be able to run the ball against the Jets this Sunday. Joseph Adai is not a threat to take it to the house at any point so the Jets will make Manning beat them with his arm. That’s when the game’s best cover cornerback, Darrelle Revis, will spring into action and do what he does best. Knock down passes intended for the other team’s number one receiver. In this case, Reggie Wayne.

Ryan, a certified defensive genius, has learned very well as the son of another defensive guru, Buddy Ryan, who coached the defensive line for the last Jets team to make it to the Super Bowl, the Joe Namath-led 1969 champions. Ironically, that championship also came against the Colts, then of Baltimore.  Young Ryan will continue to disguise his defensive schemes, confusing Manning with blitz packages or pass coverages. Ryan will have Manning guessing from play to play and if the Jets do, indeed, hold a fourth quarter lead, Manning will be throwing the ball under pressure and into coverages even he won’t be able to decipher.

There is no doubt Manning has gone to the film and noticed the Jets inability to stop San Diego’s great tight end. Antonio Gates, who caught eight passes during last week’s game. With his own star in Clark, who caught 100 balls this year from the tight end position, Manning will absolutely go to work on Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard, the Jets safeties. Given any kind of time by his offensive line, Manning can pick apart a defense.

But, Manning will have to get on the field to have that opportunity. Rex Ryan’s game-plan does not include allowing Manning a whole lot of time behind center.  I believe the Colts will not be able to keep the Jets from long, time-consuming drives as Manning watches from the sidelines.

The Jets will utilize the same formula the Bill Parcells-coached Giants teams used when an inexperienced backup quarterback, Jeff Hostedtler, stepped-in for Phil Simms in 1990. If you recall, the Giants sandwiched runs by Otis Anderson and Joe Morris with Hostedtler’s control-type passing on their way to an upset win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, the Scott Norwood “wide-right” game. The Jets will take a chapter from the Giants playbook and control the line of scrimmage on offense, intersperse Sanchez’ roll-outs and short passes to Cotchery and Keller, and will march up and down the field, keeping the great Peyton off the field much as the Giants kept Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas sitting on their helmets for most of that Super Bowl game.

Always remember that in most sports, it isn’t always the best team that wins the championship but instead, it’s the team that’s playing the best when the games get important. This Sunday will be the most important game of the season for the Colts, who expected to be here and for the Jets, who did not have a clue to how to achieve an AFC championship with a rookie quarterback and a rookie coach in Rex Ryan. Notwithstanding Ryan’s bravado about his team being the favorite to win this tournament and become NFL champions,  the pressure in this game is solely on the shoulders of the Colts and Manning, in particular. The Jets are playing with house money right now, and have already exceeded all expectations for this season. They are a very confident bunch and if the mood in their locker room is any indication, they are enjoying the hell out of their magic carpet ride.

The Jets defense will bend but not break in allowing two touchdowns and a field goal. But, the Jets, with no lost interceptions or fumbles and a running game that will keep Manning off the field, will put up two touchdowns and two field goals and will beat the Colts, 20-17.

You heard it here, first.

The Jets sent wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices to the Browns for the deep threat they had been lacking. Edwards will combine with Jerricho Cotchery to give rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez two proven playmakers as starting wide receivers.

Edwards, in his fifth season, has 10 receptions for 139 yards but was held to no catches for the first time in his career in the winless Browns’ 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. His best season came in 2006, when he had 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

It’s the second major trade the Jets have made with the Browns and Eric Mangini, their former coach. On the first day of the draft in April, New York acquired the fifth overall pick from Cleveland to select Sanchez for its first-round pick, its second-rounder (No. 52), and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff.

Stuckey, who won the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Cotchery out of training camp, has 11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. He was a seventh-round draft pick out of Clemson in 2007, but missed his first season with a foot injury. Stuckey had 32 receptions last season, catching three touchdown passes from Brett Favre.

Trusnik, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio Northern in 2007, is a special teams ace and backup linebacker. He was selected as the AFC’s special teams player of the week last week after forcing and recovering a fumble on a kickoff in the Jets’ 24-17 win over Tennessee.

Edwards will make his Jets debut on Monday night against the Dolphins, said general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who is banking that a change of scenery will do for Edwards what it did for defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

“Sometimes a fresh start does a lot of people good,” said Tannenbaum. “We can look at (tackle) Wayne Hunter and Kris Jenkins. I think they came here and they exceeded our expectations with a fresh start.

“As I told Braylon this morning, let’s learn from what happened in Cleveland. Today is a new day and a new team.”

Edwards is expected to arrive at the Jets’ Florham Park complex Wednesday afternoon.

Tannenbaum said the team did it’s “due diligence” in investigating Edwards’ off-the-field incidents and are convinced he’s not the bad guy he has been painted as. He’s under investigation by the league for an incident on Sunday in which he’s accused of punching a friend of Cavaliers star LeBron James at a night spot. Edwards is not expected to be suspended although Tannenbaum said he has no assurances from the league.

Edwards appeared to reach a breaking point under the first-year Browns coach Eric Mangini. He has been fined several times by Mangini and is one of several players to have filed a grievance with the league over the fines handed down to players, according to someone with knowledge of the situation but who is not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

Also, there’s speculation that Edwards is the player who was fined $1,701 for drinking a bottle of water in his hotel room without paying for it.

As for the incident on Sunday, a member of Edwards’ entourage — not him — threw the punch, according to someone with knowledge of the situation but who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.

Edwards, 26, is in the final year of his contract, but Tannenbaum said the team has no intention of signing him to a new deal this season. In fact, it would make little sense for Braylon to sign a new deal with him coming off a sub-par season and off to a rough start this season with just 10 catches for 139 yards and no touchdowns. He didn’t catch a pass last week against the Bengals.

Under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, Edwards would be only a restricted, not unrestricted free agent, in 2010.

The deal comes as a surprise and proves all the talk from the Jets about being happy with their wide receivers was just that — talk. At 6-3, 215 pounds, Edwards gives the Jets a receiver with size and playmaking ability to line up opposite Jerricho Cotchery, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season.

“We’re excited to get Braylon,” said Tannenbaum. “It (wide receiver) is a position we liked but it was also a position we felt if there was an opportunity to improve we would go ahead and do that.”

Tannenbaum revealed that talks with the Browns regarding Edwards have been ongoing.

“The lines of communication have been open for a while and finally last night we were able to work something out that made sense for them and for us.”

Tannenbaum’s words echoed those of Mangini, the former Jets coach.

“We had an opporunity to make this trade,” Mangini said, ”and it created something that was good for both us and the player.”

Edwards had 228 career receptions for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns entering this season. He was picked third overall by the Browns in 2005 out of Michigan.

But for all of his talent, Edwards has been prone to drops throughout his career. Since 2007, he is tied for most in the NFL with 30.

Now, the Browns might have supplied the rookie quarterback’s primary target as well.

Rookie Mark Sanchez outplayed a Super Bowl champion quarterback and the Jets backed up their big talk, shutting down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 16-9 on Sunday.

“We believe that we are the better team today,” Ryan said. “We went out and showed it. I think our fans are huge in this victory.”

So huge, in fact, that Ryan said he was giving the fans a gameball that would be placed in the team’s trophy case.

“I thought they were the difference,” Ryan said.

The victory was the first for the Jets (2-0) over Brady at home, and the first over the Patriots (1-1) at the Meadowlands since 2000. And, it came after a week during which Ryan reiterated his offseason comments that he didn’t come to “kiss Bill Belichick’s rings” and sent a voicemail to season ticket holders, urging them to be loud.

The fans clearly answered the call, causing a tough time for the Patriots’ offense all game. Brady was forced into consecutive delay of game penalties in the third quarter.

“I’ve got to do a better job,” Brady said. “They don’t come up very often, but when they do, they hurt. And they hurt us today.”

Ryan also said the Patriots had the better coach and quarterback coming in.

Hold on, Rex. Don’t sell yourself short.

“The big deal is, we’re a football team that should be respected,” Ryan said. “Sometimes we talk a little bit, but only because we have confidence in our football team.”

Earlier in the week, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said New York wanted to “embarrass” New England.

“Kerry made a statement, we stood behind him and we had his back,” defensive end Shaun Ellis said.

Sanchez came out throwing in the second half after a quiet first two quarters and connected with Dustin Keller on a go-ahead touchdown, and the Jets’ defense clamped down on the Patriots.

“It’s a major win for us,” Ellis said. “To close that out and put an end to that, it’s great.”

Brady had a chance to tie it for the Patriots, getting the ball at the Patriots 10 with 1:48 left, but the Jets’ defense stopped him as Dwight Lowery knocked away a pass to Joey Galloway on fourth down.

“Honestly, I was thinking interception,” Lowery said, “but the angle I was at, I couldn’t really get a pick. Knocking it down was the second thought and I just got it out of there.”

Brady was unable to engineer his 30th comeback victory as Sanchez took a knee twice to seal it. Brady had beaten the Jets in 12 of the previous 14 games he had faced them overall.

“We had a chance there,” Brady said. “We just didn’t execute in that 2-minute possession. It’s something we’ve been good at, but the Jets were better at it today. It’s frustrating. I think we had really high expectations for this game. We just didn’t put it together very well.”

Sanchez finished 14 of 22 for 163 yards and the touchdown to Keller, while Brady was 23 of 47 for 216 yards and an interception. He was without one of his favorite targets as Wes Welker sat out with a knee injury, and Randy Moss was held to four catches for 24 yards.

“We’re not really firing on all cylinders right now,” Brady said. “To not get the ball in the end zone is unacceptable.”

The Patriots got three field goals from Stephen Gostkowski a week after the Jets’ defense held the high-scoring Houston Texans without an offensive touchdown in a 24-7 win.

“That’s a statement not just to us,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said, “but to the league that every week we’re going to come out here and try to get a shutout.”

Sanchez was 3 of 5 for 15 yards in the first half, but connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 45-yard gain to the Patriots 11 on the first play of the third quarter. After a 2-yard run by Thomas Jones, Sanchez found Keller in the back of the end zone to give the Jets a 10-9 lead 1:03 into the third quarter.

“We just needed to relax and find our game,” Sanchez said. “As soon as we do, we are going to get this thing started and rolling, and that’s what we did.”

Jay Feely added two field goals to make it 16-9 with 9:48 remaining.

“Give the Jets credit,” Belichick said. “They just did a better job than we did today and I don’t think there’s really a whole lot more to say about it.”

Gostkowski’s 29-yarder with 17 seconds left in the first half gave the Patriots a 9-3 lead. It capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive that almost resulted in a touchdown.

Brady’s throw on third-and-3 from the 11 was tipped by Lowery and almost grabbed in the back of the end zone by Moss, who couldn’t bring in the ball when was shoved in the back and out of bounds by Jim Leonhard.

Game notes
Jets CB Lito Sheppard left with a right quadriceps injury after breaking up the throw to Galloway in the end zone, and didn’t return. CB Donald Strickland injured an ankle in the third quarter and also didn’t return. … Rookie Julian Edelman had eight catches for 98 yards in place of Welker.

Opening Statement…

Let’s knock out these injuries. It’s exactly as it was yesterday with the exception of Erik Ainge. He is fine now. I guess he was listed as out (did not practice) before because he missed practice, he was ill. But he is back to being healthy, no problems there. Everyone else is the same. (Kris) Jenkins, Sione (Pouha), Wallace Wright, they were limited in practice. They are listed as questionable. Then (Kellen) Clemens, Shonn Greene, Mike DeVito, Bryan Thomas and Jamaal Westerman are all listed as probable. Specifics on it, Clemens – elbow, Greene – rib, DeVito – hamstring, Bryan Thomas – ankle and Westerman – quad.

We’re ready to roll. Everybody should be ready to play. It’s our decision if we want them up or not. (There is) not a whole lot to say. I think that practice is going well. I think our guys are excited to get an opportunity to play in front of our fans this week. We’ll be ready to go.

On if he has to monitor Kris Jenkins more to be certain he does not wear down…

I guess a little bit. I like to keep fresh pass rushers in there anyway. So, you like to roll defensive linemen. He’s such an unusual guy. He’s a guy that if he is not in there, the other team will no-huddle you to prevent him getting back on the field. He’s that kind of difference maker. I feel good with the guys we have behind him. There are probably only one or two Kris Jenkins in this league. You have to be smart with him. Generally, if we are backed up you can usually give him a break. That is what we try to do.

On if the chatter leading up to the game gets the players fired up or serves as a distraction…

I don’t think it really matters. When it is kicked off, there are 11 on their side and 11 on our side. It’s on and all that stuff is out the window. Both teams will try to focus on the job at hand and try to win the game.

On whether Dustin Keller serves as the best friend to a rookie quarterback…

He is an exceptional guy. I’ve been around some good tight ends, Todd Heap, Shannon Sharpe. He is an exceptional talent. He is an outstanding receiver. I think you are probably right there. Whether it is a rookie quarterback or anybody else, he is probably going to be the best friend to that quarterback anyway. He’s got that kind of talent.

On Minnesota and New Orleans players not serving suspensions for cases similar to that of Calvin Pace…

That’s the League. The League makes those kind of determinations. Clearly, I wish Calvin Pace was playing right now. He’s not and he’s accepted responsibility. Come week five against Miami, we’ll certainly be happy he’s back.

On what Shaun Ellis brings to the team…

He’s a tremendous football player. He’s one of the elite 3-4 ends in this game. He’s got that rare combination. (He’s a) guy that can play inside.  He can play outside. His nickname is the “Big Cat” and rightfully so. He’s quite an athlete for a guy his size. We had to overcome him not being in there last week but he is clearly one of our better players on this football team.

On whether he instructed Ellis to do anything while suspended for a week…

No. The guy has been around the game so long. The guy is a pro. I asked him when he came back, how bad was it watching TV? He said it was horrible. He is so used to playing. He is an ironman. I don’t know how many games he’s missed in his career but it is not many, that’s for sure.

On if the extra week was good for Ellis…

I don’t know. Sometimes I think it is good in the standpoint that when something is taken away from you, you realize what you missed. When he came back, he was the first guy on the practice field. He is bouncing around.  I think he realized how much he misses it. You’re sitting back there and watching your teammates. Obviously he has been a part of the New York Jets for a long time. I guess you would have to ask him. I know he missed it.

On if he saw a difference this week in Ellis…

I could see that there was something. I know that when I asked him (how difficult it was to watch the Houston game on television), I knew the answer. I knew that it would be like that before I even asked the question. I clearly saw that he was missing the game. He looked forward to coming back.

On how important it is to see players excited about the game…

That’s huge. Everybody in this league has talent. Some of the special players, there is something about them. When you get those guys, and we’re not the only team in the league that has those kind of players, guys that just love to play, they are so passionate about it. They can’t wait to compete against the best. Shaun is like that. We have a number of our players that are like that. I know there are a number of players like that through the league. That is what you love as a coach. Guys that love to play the game and would do it for a lot less, but they don’t have to (laughing). I think the same thing about coaches. I know I would do it for a lot less but if you’re going to have to pay somebody, it might as well be me (laughing).

On his awareness of New England’s game…
You’ve got to be aware of their screen game.  (It) depends on what you have, but you might put a spy on a screen.  Especially early in the game, they want to slow that pass rush down, and that’s a way to do it.  I think our screen game is decent too (with) Leon (Washington) back there.  Both teams are very capable of running.

On if he’s reached out to Fireman Ed…

No.  I saw him last week though.  I met him last week, so that’s good.  He’s a pro out there.  He knows how to do it.  I’m just a rookie. 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Now, on to footballl.

This kid quarterback with the Jets,, Sanchez, has that certain something that the real good ones (too soon to say great ones) seem to have. They are perfectionists, no matter how well they may fill the stat sheet in a game. Yesterday, after throwing for a career-high six touchdowns against the Detroit Lions, Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback talked about his interception and the mistakes he had made. His team had scored 45 points and moved up and down the field but Brees wasn’t entirely happy with his performance. Peyton is the same way. So was Staubach, for you old-timers. And Montana.

Sanchez put on a tremendous show yesterday in Houston against the Texans, winning his NFL debut, throwing for 272 yards (the third most by a rookie starting his first NFL game) while showing the type of poise and footwork rarely seen at this level. Yet, in his post-game comments, Sanchez could only talk about the egregious “rookie mistakes” he made yesterday. His self-critical remarks in the face of a big, opening day win on the road over a team many feel to be an up and coming contender seemed real and not a form of false modesty. Sanchez recognized the good things his offense accomplished but this is a kid with the poise and ability to self-explore that will hold him in good stead as his career moves along. He is also incredibly poised for a player who came out of college after his junior year. The bright lights of the big city he represents (no, not Florham Park, N.J.) do not seem to detract from his focus. His teammates are drawn to him, to his infectious attitude and he has the arm strength to make all the throws he needs to make. 

On the other hand, there remains the 100 million dollar quarterback who plays for the NY Giants. Eli, at what point in your career are you going to learn to look off receivers who are surrounded by multiple defenders and either find your second and third options or tuck the ball in and take a quick stroll down the field for a few yards. When you forced that ball towards Smith with triple coverage around him and, the ball on your own 20, there were only two things that could have occurred. Neither of them good. It was going to be either incomplete or an interception. Smith could not have made a catch on that throw unless his arms were 10 feet long but, you forced it in there anyway. This is a rookie mistake, Eli. A pass we expected from you six years ago when you broke in, not this year, Not with your experience, your pedigree, your background, and the hard work you put in every week preparing for each game. We expect Sanchez to make those kinds of “rookie mistakes” as the young, Jet QB acknowledged he will from time to time. Not you, not anymore.

One gets the sense watching these two New York quarterbacks that Sanchez, with his unique footwork, quickness, field generalship, vocal leadership, and strong arm, he’s going to arouse fans’ excitement and pull games out when his team had no business winning. He takes the hit when he has to, he applauds his teammates good plays. He plays as if he loves the game. Eli, I know you love the game (I’m almost sure you do) but you don’t exhibit that love with a sense of joy. Yes, it’s a serious business but it’s also a game. Your teammates look to you now for the passion. They’re still waiting to see it on the field. They may be waiting a very long time.

Yes, I understand Eli has won his championship and will forever be a NY hero. But, Eli will never be a player who makes lesser players better than they are. He needs stars around him to perform at their best to be a winning quarterback and, he is not someone who is the clear leader of his team, though he should be at this stage. Sanchez has the “it” factor, of that there is no doubt. After six years at the helm, Manning still doesn’t have IT.