NFL Playoff Picks: Colts A Home Favorite; Can Jets Defense Stop Peyton Manning

The Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets will meet in Indy on Saturday night for the second NFL playoff game of wildcard weekend. The Colts are a three point favorite in this game and it’s not too hard to see why -- Peyton Manning at home. It’s a dangerous thing, even in a year like when the Colts have struggled more than we normally see.

Manning and Co. have a good record against Rex Ryan coached defenses so there’s some thinking out there that the Colts have the Jets number and Indy should win it. Based on history, that’s a fair prediction because Ryan hasn’t had much success against Manning (then again, who has?).

The Jets key to this game is to keep it close by running the ball, being conservative in the passing game and controlling the clock. Manning can’t score if he doesn’t have the ball. That’s one of the reasons I’m predicting this as a low-scoring game and one where defense will play a big role.

The Jets have an excellent defense and, with a turnover or two, they really could win this. The key to Manning is stealing a possession -- an interception returned for a big gain or a touchdown, a fumble recovery or something like that. You have to steal one possession from one him.

I think the Jets do that and I think they win. This just doesn’t seem like the “same old Colts” this year and they have more flaws than I remember ever seeing in the Manning era. Give this one to the Jets, 24-17.