The Jets and Colts are getting together for a rematch of last season's AFC championship game only this time they are having it in the Wild Card round. The Colts are not as good as they were last year and, by all accounts, the Jets are better. That should equal a bevy of experts predicting a Jets' victory, right? Apparently not.
Source | Winner | Notes |
Miami Herald | Colts | Greg Cote: This is the Colts' record-tying ninth consecutive playoff appearance, and although this isn't Indy's best team, the Colts have been very good the past month, finding their full gallop at just the right time. The combo of that momentum, Peyton Manning and the home field tilt this result. Colts 27, Jets 20 |
CBS Sports | Colts | One expert likes the Jets to win on the road but the other four are all on the Peyton Manning train. |
Fanhouse | Colts | Chris Burke: As we've come to expect from Rex Ryan, the Jets head coach is talking a big game heading into the playoffs. It's not that the Jets can't run the table as the AFC's No. 6 seed and get to the Super Bowl, but is it wise to further motivate Manning, who's already got the memory of last year's Super Bowl loss in his mind? Sanchez could take a big step forward in his development by defeating Peyton at his place, but it's still hard to pick against Manning in this situation. Colts 31, Jets 24 |
What If Sports | Jets | This was the closest wild card game in their simulations with the Jets winning 54.7 percent of the simulations. Jets 20, Colts 19 |
Sports Illustrated | Colts | Peter King: Look for Manning, who is getting more and more comfy with his replacement tight end, to throw double-digit chain-moving passes to Jacob Tamme to try to out-possess the Jets. Whether it's Brad Smith or some anonymous defender, someone on the Jets you don't expect will have to come up big for the Jets to make enough plays to win. Colts 30, Jets 24 |
USA Today | Colts | Seven of the eight experts like Peyton Manning to beat the Jets. |
Sporting News | Colts | It's a little closer at USA Today but still four of six experts like the Colts. |
The Jets won more games, played a tougher schedule and are still not predicted to beat the Colts. I know it's the Peyton Manning effect and you never want to bet against him in the playoffs but the four best teams in the AFC all season have been the Patriots, Steelers, Jets and Ravens and I can't envision a scenario where they all don't play in the divisional playoffs next week. I like the Jets here.