NFL Playoffs, Jets Vs. Colts: Running Game Gets Gang Green Back In It

What did I say about the Jets running game?

After a drive spent plugging away at the undersized and injury-ravaged Colts, LaDainian Tomlinson took in a one-yard run for a touchdown early in the third quarter in Indianapolis, tying the game 7-7.

Tomlinson and Shonn Greene have combined for 117 yards on the ground, and are averaging 5.6 yards per carry. That’s more than Mark Sanchez is averaging per attempt through the air, and a good sign that the Jets might have found something that works against the Colts defense.

Suddenly, a 7-0 deficit has evaporated, and with Darrelle Revis helping shut down Reggie Wayne and the Colts’ runners unable to do much against the Jets front seven, the key matchup of the second half may be Peyton Manning against Antonio Cromartie and the rest of the Jets secondary.

In that case, I’ll take Manning nine times out of 10, and that’s even without knowing that he completed 10 of 13 passes in the first half for 122 yards and a score.