Sooner or later in the young regime of head coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets might realize how to put together more than one good half of football in an AFC title game.

And, they might even discover how to reach that game without having to do it the hard way.

For the second straight year however, an end to the Jets’ long Super Bowl drought wasn’t meant to be.

One year after New York surprisingly rode a five seed to the AFC championship game only to get outscored 17-0 in the second half of a 30-17 loss to Indianapolis, the sixth-seeded Jets (13-6) ran out of road miracles in a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4) after falling behind 24-0 late in the first half of this year’s AFC title game at Heinz Field on Sunday.

Several times this season, New York looked like it might be a team of destiny, and for a while, it again appeared that way against the now Super Bowl-bound Steelers.

Six times this year – including five times on the road, once in the playoffs, and once, five weeks ago against Pittsburgh – the Jets had rallied from second-half deficits to pull out unlikely victories.

This time, the hole was just too big for New York to dig out of despite a terrific effort that turned a first-half laugher into a serious situation for the Steelers down the stretch.

The physical Steelers took it to the Jets in the opening half, pushing the New York’s offensive and defensive lines around with ease.

Behind a stout defense and an unstoppable running game, Pittsburgh outgained New York, 231-50 (135-1 on the ground), and held the ball for 21:04 to New York’s 8:56, while getting 16 of the game’s 21 first downs during the first half.

The tone was set early, on the game’s first drive.

Although the Jets began a Week 15 win in Pittsburgh with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Ryan decided to defer the opening kick, a decision for which New York would pay by subsequently allowing a long, punishing Pittsburgh drive.

The Steelers consumed 9:06 before the Jets touched the ball, going 66 yards on 15 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a first-down, one-yard touchdown plunge by running back Rashard Mendenhall, who rushed for a game-high 121 yards (95 in the first half) on 27 carries.

Pittsburgh then forced a punt on New York’s first possession and moved 55 yards to the Jets’ 32 yard-line, but a 4th-and-1 pass by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (10-19, 133 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT) deflected off of Mendenhall’s hands and was caught by linebacker Bryan Thomas for the first turnover of the game.

The Jets then had their first of three consecutive three-and-outs, the last of which, ended with what proved to be a decisive fumble return for a touchdown.

Before that, the Steelers would score on two straight possessions.

Pittsburgh went 60 yards on eight plays in 3:41, to lead 10-0, on a field goal by kicker Shaun Suisham with 6:54 left in the half, and traveled 66 yards on seven plays in 3:57 to extend its lead to 17-0 on a two-yard touchdown run by Roethlisberger with 2:05 to go in the half.

The backbreaker came three plays later for the Jets, as Sanchez (20-33, 233 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) fumbled after being hit from behind on a blitz by cornerback Ike Taylor. The only New York turnover was scooped up by cornerback William Gay, who raced 19 yards into the end zone to give the Steelers what eventually became an insurmountable 24-0 lead with 1:13 remaining before halftime.

Sanchez, who left the field after the play, holding his non-throwing left arm in considerable pain, showed some great toughness, immediately directing the Jets on their first scoring drive of the game.

He completed four passes to move New York 44 yards on seven plays in just 1:04, to set up kicker Nick Folk for a 42-yard field goal attempt which hooked left before fading right, just inside the left upright.

The kick trimmed the Steelers’ lead to 24-3, nine seconds before halftime, and just as importantly, gave the Jets a much-needed emotional boost which they carried into the second half.

Taking the second-half kickoff, New York struck quickly, going 90 yards on five plays in just 2:47, with half of the drive coming on a 45-yard touchdown bomb up the right side to wide receiver Santonio Holmes (2 catches, 61 yards). The former Steeler whose game-winning catch as a Super Bowl MVP won Super Bowl XLIII for Pittsburgh, pulled the Jets to within 24-10, just 2:38 into the third quarter.

The play was just the beginning of a second half that flipped around New York’s disastrous first half and gave the Jets some realistic hope late in the game.

New York outscored Pittsburgh 19-0 and outgained the Steelers 239-56 after halftime.

Roethlisberger moved Pittsburgh 35 yards and into Jets’ territory, but he was intercepted by safety Brodney Pool, and New York took over at its own 14 yard-line.

The teams then traded punts, before the Jets embarked on their longest drive of the game, only to come away empty.

The Jets went 80 yards on 17 plays in 8:06, as Sanchez threw incomplete on second and third down before running back LaDainian Tomlinson (9 carries, 16yards) was stopped on 4th-and-goal with 7:44 left in the game.

However, with starting center Maurkice Pouncey lost to an injury earlier in the game, a bad exchange on the next play led to Roethlisberger covering the ball up in the end zone for a safety in the same end zone in which the Jets had a key safety in the fourth quarter that helped them beat the Steelers in Week 15.

Trailing 24-12, New York drove for another score to get even closer, going 58 yards on ten plays in 4:32, cutting Pittsburgh’s lead to 24-19, on a four-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (5 catches, 33 yards) with 3:09 remaining.

The Jets had all of the momentum and needed one more stop to give Sanchez and New York’s offense an opportunity to send the Jets back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969.

But, it never came, as Roethlisberger, who hadn’t completed a pass In over 21 minutes, connected on a pair of 14-yard throws to clinch the win for the Steelers.

A completion to tight end Heath Miller (2 catches, team-high 38 yards) gave the Steelers a first down at the Jets’ 44 yard-line, and facing a 3rd-and-6 from the New York 40 yard-line with two minutes left, Roethlisberger completed to rookie wide receiver Antonio Brown (his only catch) for a first down to the Jets’ 26 yard-line.

Three Roethlisberger kneel-downs ran out the clock and ended the Jets’ dreams of once again defying long odds to reach their elusive Super Bowl.

The Steelers’ win marks the eighth straight year that one of this season’s top three AFC seeds, each with Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks – New England, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis – has represented the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Jets were trying to finish off beating that trio of teams on Sunday, after playoff wins over Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, and over Tom Brady in New England, to reach Pittsburgh.

Instead, it’s a fairly safe bet that New York Jet fans, some of whom have been waiting as long as 42 years to finally see their team back in the Super Bowl, might be thinking, “If only the Jets could have put together last year’s first half and this year’s second half over the past two AFC title games, we wouldn’t be waiting anymore.”

But, as Sanchez said after the loss, “You can’t play 30 minutes in a game of this magnitude.”

Next, year, the Jets will again try to win the AFC East and avoid the tough road route to the Super Bowl, especially after starting last season 7-7 and winning two road playoff games each of the past two years only to come a game short of the Super Bowl in each year.

Just after Brown’s catch gave the Steelers the final first down they needed, Ryan ripped the headset off his head and threw it to the ground in disgust.

Reflecting later on, he said “I believe in our football team… We’ve got a lot of heart… Our team is resilient… I’m proud of our guys. We played a good half, we just never played a good game… There’s obviously a huge amount of disappointment… [but] our goal for next year won’t change… we’re going to chase that Super Bowl until we get it, and then we’re going to chase it again.”

When asked if he would have toned down the Jets’ brash, trash-talking nature, he responded defiantly, “I’d change the outcome of this game, that’s the only thing I’d change. We’ll be back and you’ll see… this football team’s going to be good for a number of years.”

Quite possibly, as the future for the Jets appears bright. But, for now, the team that very prematurely boasted of winning the Super Bowl since being filmed on HBO during the preseason, ends its season for a second straight year the way It began – with hard knocks, indeed.

In addition to writing for New York Sports Day, Jon Wagner contributes at Pro Football NYC (www.profootballnyc.com) and Giants Football Blog (www.giantsfootballblog.com

In the end, even destiny couldn’t beat Peyton Manning.

The Indianapolis Colts’ future Hall of Fame quarterback ultimately proved once again that he is indeed that dominant, and that this year, “MVP” might as well stand for “Most Valuable, Peyton.”

Through four straight wins and nearly half of what looked to be a fifth, the New York J-E-T-S had lived off of F-A-T-E, and appeared destined to become the second New York franchise in three seasons to make an improbable journey from an unheralded five seed to the Super Bowl.

Instead, Manning did exactly what you’d expect from the player who won an unprecedented fourth NFL MVP award this season –- make a good defense look bad.

As a result, Manning and the Colts (16-2) return to the Super Bowl for the second time in four years, while the Jets’ magical ride is D-O-N-E.

Facing a surprising 17-6 deficit with 2:11 left in the first half of Sunday’s AFC championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Manning took over, rallying the Colts’ offense for the game’s final 24 points, in a 30-17 comeback win.

Four weeks prior, same setting, same opponent, Manning stood on the sideline, leaving his helmet on, annoyed that team president Bill Polian wouldn’t allow Manning or the Colts (then 14-0) to protect a 15-10 lead against the Jets (11-8) and try for a perfect season.

Manning certainly wasn’t being pulled this time.

And, with rapid-fire efficiency, the Colts’ signal caller carved up a vaunted Jets defense which not only came in as the top-ranked defensive unit in the league both overall and against the pass, but which had allowed a total of just 75 points, for a 9.375 points per game average, over its previous eight games.

It was no problem for Manning, not even when forced to rely upon a largely inexperienced receiving core.

After a 48-yard field goal by Jets’ kicker Jay Feely capped New York’s 17-point second quarter and had Jet fans everywhere dreaming of a super ending to Gang Green’s fairy-tale ride, Manning swiftly dashed the hopes of the Jets’ faithful.

The Colts responded in a mere 58 seconds, going 80 yards in just four plays, with Manning sending rookie wide receiver Austin Collie (7 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD) on his way to his first-ever 100-yard receiving day.

Manning hit Collie for 18 yards to the left, and then went right back to him for 46 yards over the middle. It was the turning point of the game, and Manning and the Colts knew it.

“That play down the field to Collie before the touchdown is the play that I think really got us going,” Manning said. “From that point on, we really had a good bead on things.”

The next play, Manning found Collie again, in the back of the end zone for a leaping 16-yard touchdown catch, with 1:13 left in the first half.

Though the Jets still took a 17-13 lead into the locker room, it was as if the Colts had already taken control of the game.

“You think about 17-6, we thought we were in a good position at that point,” Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said. “But… they got the drive right before half, and after that it was downhill from there.”

The quick jaunt downfield was nothing new for Manning and the Colts. In Week 2, while possessing the ball for just 14:53 (the least amount of time by a winning team since 1977), the Colts won 27-23, scoring all 27 points on offense, in ironically, Miami — the site of Super Bowl XLIV in two weeks, on the same field in which Manning got his only Super Bowl win, three years ago.

The next key moment which sealed the Jets’ fate came early in the third quarter, when Gang Green had a good chance to regain momentum.

New York took the opening kickoff of the second half 39 yards before stalling at the Colts’ 34 yard-line.

On 4th-and-7, it was a typical ‘too short to punt, yet too long to try a field goal’ scenario.

A perfect time for the brash, big-talking Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan to back up his bravado with some guts and call a play that would have fit his over-confident and over-the-top attitude which fueled the Jets’ playoff run.

To that point, the Jets, normally relying on solid defense and a strong rushing game, were enjoying surprising success with their passing game, with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez (17-30, 257 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) completing most of the big throws he had to make.

It would have been a great time to go for the first down and keep the drive going. Even a fake field goal or fake punt might have been a better choice than trying a long field goal, especially since Ryan had already gone into his bag of tricks in the second quarter, with former Missouri quarterback-turned-multi-purpose option Brad Smith completing his only pass of the season, a 45-yard play that set up the Jets’ second touchdown of the game.

Although Ryan didn’t go ultra-conservative and punt, he also didn’t exude the persona of his coaching style or of his team by settling for a long 52-yard field goal that sailed harmlessly wide right off the foot of Feely.

The missed kick gave Manning great field position at the Colts’ 42 yard-line, and again, Manning went to work fast.

The next eight plays were all Manning passes, six of them completions, on a drive that took 3:31 and which ended on a 4-yard touchdown pass to second-year receiver Pierre Garcon (game highs of 11 receptions and 151 yards), who did a nice job to keep his feet inbounds in the end zone, along the right sideline, to put Indianapolis ahead for good, 20-17, with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter.

After the game, Garcon, for the second straight week, raised the Haitian national flag in honor of his relatives in earthquake-ravage Haiti.

For all of the pre-game talk of the Jets’ rookies (Ryan, Sanchez, and running back Shonn Greene), it was the Colts’ youngsters who helped Manning and Indianapolis win the AFC crown.

“They made some huge plays for us today,” Manning said of Collie and Garcon, who became Manning’s primary targets with Jets’ shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis keeping Colts’ leading wide receiver Reggie Wayne (3 catches, 55 yards) in check.

Jets’ nickel back Donald Strickland going down with a groin injury in the first quarter also helped open up some opportunities for the Colts’ passing game.

Meanwhile, Greene (10 carries, 41 yards), whose prolific rushing helped carry the Jets to its two postseason wins to reach Indianapolis, was limited in part, by a rib injury he suffered in the third quarter. He would leave the game, but would later return.

However, the Colts’ defense was stopping the Jets on the ground, anyway. A Jets’ rushing game which led the NFL with 172 yards per game in the regular season, remained consistent in the playoffs with 171 rushing yards in Cincinnati and 169 more in San Diego. On Sunday though, it was the Colts (ranked last in the league in rushing) who actually outrushed the Jets, 101-86, as the Indianapolis defense shut New York out in the second half.

That was all of the defensive help that the Colts’ offense needed, as Manning closed things out, leading Indianapolis on consecutive scoring drives in the fourth quarter.

Manning (26-39, 377 yards, 3 TD, 0 turnovers), who recorded an NFL postseason record seventh 300-yard passing game, took the Colts 51 yards in 3:33, putting Indianapolis ahead, 27-17, on a 15-yard scoring toss to tight end Dallas Clark, with 8:52 left in the game.

“There’s a reason why he’s the MVP of the league,” Ryan said of Manning. “He’s that good, and you’ve got to be on top of your game to beat him… if you can’t disrupt his rhythm he’s gonna kill ya, and we couldn’t disrupt it enough.”

The Colts iced the game on a 12-play drive that resulted in the third field goal of the game by Matt Stover, who will turn 42 on January 27th and will become the oldest player ever to play in the Super Bowl.

It was the second time in as many AFC championship games hosted by the Colts in Indianapolis, that Manning rallied his team from a double digit deficit to win. The Colts also trailed New England in the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis, 21-3, in the second quarter, before beating the Patriots, 38-34, in the 2006 AFC Championship game, en route to Manning’s only other Super Bowl appearance.

The Jets’ first road loss in six games provided some perspective on just how difficult and unlikely the 2007 Giants’ run to a Super Bowl title was. The Giants won 11 straight games away from home that season, and the end of their regular season as well as the beginning of their playoff run that year mirrored what the Jets had accomplished prior to Gang Green falling to the Colts on Sunday.

While Manning and the Colts choose to do all of their talking on the field, the loss seemed to humble the usually outspoken Ryan, who declared his Jets Super Bowl favorites before the playoffs.

“Today wasn’t our day,” he said. “There’s no question. You have to give credit to the Colts. Obviously they’re the cream of the crop right now.”

Adding more to the thoughts of what might have been for Jets fans, this year’s Super Bowl was originally scheduled to be hosted by the Jets, but plans for New York City’s proposed West Side Stadium fell through years ago, after the city, state, and the Jets could not agree on funding. The game was then awarded to Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and the Jets will instead open play in the new Meadowlands stadium next year.

However, Jet fans should feel encouraged knowing that their team no longer appears to be the “same old Jets” as many have often described the franchise. With a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback, realistic expectations should have included nothing more than a playoff berth this year.

To be just 32 minutes away, after seemingly being “Jets-tined” to reach the Super Bowl certainly hurts, but to be so close was really just a bonus for this season. With a very solid foundation in Ryan, Sanchez, Greene, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (who turned down a head coaching opportunity in Buffalo), and one of the league’s best defenses, the Jets figure to remain Super Bowl contenders for several years to come.

“Everybody’s disappointed that we didn’t go to the Super Bowl, especially when we were this close,” Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson said. “We didn’t do everything that we needed to win. But, at the same rate, we did do a lot of great things [this season].”

Strong safety Jim Leonhard added, “Maybe this football team needed to get here and have this experience in order to take the next step.”

Indianapolis meanwhile, will face the New Orleans Saints (15-3, after starting 13-0), on February 7th, in a matchup that will feature two number one seeds in the Super Bowl for the first time in 17 years (when Dallas beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII).

On a couple of different levels, the game will bring things full circle for Manning and the Colts, who will be making their fourth trip to football’s ultimate game, while seeking their third Super Bowl victory.

The Colts’ three previous visits to the Super Bowl were all in Miami, where the Baltimore Colts won Super Bowl V, and the Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI (in which Manning was named the game’s MVP).

The Saints are marching into the Super Bowl for the first time in their 43 seasons, after capturing the NFC title with a thrilling 31-28 overtime victory over Minnesota on Sunday, four-and-a-half years after the city of New Orleans (Manning’s birthplace) was decimated by Hurricane Katrina.

watch the YouTube Video Here

When the red hot San Diego Chargers, whom many predict to be Super Bowl bound, take the field Sunday to face the surging NY Jets, the 13-3 AFC West champs will look to unleash a high octane air attack as good as any in the NFL. To earn a berth in the AFC Championship game, the Bolts will have to do it against the Jets, who own leagues top defense and running attack. A contrast in styles will be clear from the onset as Gang Green looks to create their own tempo by pounding the ball on the ground with the running back combo of Thomas Jones and star on the rise rookie Shonn Greene. The Chargers will  air it out. Owners of the league’s 31st rushing attack, the Bolts are the league’s best screen pass team, using it instead of run plays which make their bottom feeder running ranking deceiving. Something has to give when these two clash

in the AFC Divisional playoffs this weekend. The one left standing will be just sixty minutes from the Super Bowl.

The Jets, winners of 6 of their last 7, bring a new found swagger on Defense that comes when you  realize that you own the leagues’ top cover cornerback in Darrelle Revis. Forget the fact that voters chose Green Bay’s Charles Woodson as NFL defensive player of the year.  Revis has shut down every top wideout the Jets have faced. He has single handedly helped to shut down one side of the field for a defense that leads the league in pass yards given up with a mere 153.0 yards per game. Now the Chargers, who are number one in receptions for 20 plus yards, love to throw it downfield. If WR Vincent Jackson, QB Phillip Rivers’ top deep threat, falls victim to Revis Island and a pass rush that is gaining steam with the help of coach Rex Ryan’s blitz schemes, the Chargers will be forced to matriculate the ball downfield with other quality big sized receivers such as Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee. This will give the Jets  chance to settle into the game.

Besides Jackson , the Bolts other major weapon in the passing game is star TE Antonio Gates. Gates,  the former 6′5 division one basketball standout poses a mismatch for every opponent because of his size, ability to get open, run after the catch, and hold onto the ball. He’s the best in the business at the position.. Gates will be guarded at times by FS Kerry Rhodes, who held Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez down in week 15 for much of a game that many mistakenly felt, after the 10-7 Jet loss, had ended the Jets season. Gates is  not only a safety valve, he’s a tight end who can stretch the field. His eight TD’s were second among tight end’s only to the Colts Dallas Clark.

The Jet front four combined with Ryan’s blitz packages have to pressure Rivers into rushing those seven step drops that with the proper pass protection, turn into big gains more often than any other team has enjoyed in football. 67 completions have gone for twenty plus yards for the Chargers in 2009. The Chargers are fifth in the NFL in pass plays that have covered more than forty yards.

As for a running attack that averages under four yards a carry, the Bolts RB tandem of Ladanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles still present unique threats to the Jets. “LT” was the NFL’s premier back before a series of turf toe injuries began to slow him down a few years back. That ability to get to the second level of a defense and break it for big yardage, ala the Titans Chris Johnson,  is not there anymore. This season he’s rushed for just 730 yards at 3.3 yards per carry Not LT type numbers. However, he’s still a shifty red zone threat, having scored 12 TDs on the year. Darren Sproles is a Leon Washington type, who hides well behind his blockers before bursting for big gains. Sproles, like the injured WAshington, is a threat to score anytime he touches it.

If the Jets can prevent long plays on first and second down, and force Sproles and LT into modest gains, the Chargers will be left in third and long spots where some pressure combined with a press coverage that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said that Jet cornerbacks were comfortable implementing (hint hint), could keep the Chargers from lighting up the scoreboard. The Jets have given up 20 plus points only four times in 2009 .The Chargers have scored 20 plus in EVERY game this year. Keeping the Chargers from running may be key in giving the Jets the ability to apply the heat on Rivers.

The Jets come into the contest now at 18-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. This down from the 50-1 odds they rolled into Cincinnati with. The spike in confidence coming out of Vegas is still light years away from coach Rex Ryan’s comment last week that the Jets ought to be favorites to win the whole thing. Whether Ryan’s boasts were to divert attention from his players, motivate them, or came out of a core belief that handing out an itinerary ending in a ticker tape parade could make it happen, one thing is for certain. These are not the “Same Old Jets”. Or the Jets many saw slump after starting out 3-0.

This Jets club NOW, is one where ball security , the primary reason for the club’s mid season struggles, is on the rise.  QB Mark Sanchez who threw 20 picks in 2009, has 0 int’s in the past 3 games.  RB Shonne Greene has as of late, eliminated fumbling issues that plagued him just as he was set to really take off weeks after Washington’s season ending injury out in Oakland.

Sanchez was flawless in Cincy throwing for a TD and coming up big on some key third down throws.  More importantly, the rookie provided much needed leadership in orchestrating the offense by maximizing it’s efficiency with a 12-15 day throwing. Greene rushed for 135 yards, fifteen yards short of Ryan’s predicition for him. This week Ryan has set his crystal ball sights on struggling WR Braylon Edwards. Edwards dropped his third long touchdown in the past five games last week. If the former Cleveland wideout can get back on track however, and turns into the big play killer that the Jets brought him here to be in October, the Jets may have an X factor who could change the story of Sunday’s battle.

The last time these two old AFL rivals met in the postseason back in 2005, Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s dad Marty,  was head coach of the Bolts. Rookie K Nate Kaeding’s last second 40 yard FG went wide right. This gave Jets K Doug Brien the chance to hit the 28 yard game winner with 5 seconds left in the first OT and allow the Jets a 20-17 win. For the Chargers, the gut wrenching first round loss after their 9-7 2005 campaign was followed by a 14-2 2006 season, earning them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Then Bill Belichick and Tom Brady came to town, as the Pats upset the Bolts 24-21.

This quick playoff exit for the elder Schottenheimer, the ninth of the snake bitten coach’s career, the second on three years in San Diego, paved the way for current coach Norv Turner. Turner seeks to do what Schottenheimer couldn’t do, and that’s return the Chargers to a second Super Bowl appearance. The first one coming in 1994,  which resulted in a 49-26 loss to the 49ers.

Rex Ryan became the Jets head coach off the heels of a 2008 collapse that saw Gang Green fall from 8-3 to 9-7. QB Brett Favre ended up in Minnesota, a place he wanted to land in from the start, after the Packers decided that Aaron Rodgers was their signal caller for the future and the present. Coach Eric Mangini was canned as well, not just because of the  club’s December slide but as a result of a secretive, uncharasmatic demeanor that owner Woody Johnson felt did not represent the personnel. Ryan certainly has been the polar opposite. Quotable, bombastic, even bordering at times on ridiculous, the son of former Super Bowl III Jets assistant and creator of Chicago’s 46 Defense in the mid 80’s Buddy Ryan, Rex has made the Jets believers in themselves. Trying to rid a franchise of it’s habits of self wallowing, and a penchant for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is a big job. One man can’t do it alone. Ryan has had help. However the rookie head coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator has created a culture of confidence and resiliency.

The Jets have had their share of struggles in 2009. Sanchez lost his way during the October swoon. The Atlanta loss  that prevented the Jets from being in the Wildcard drivers seat in week 15, was the third in which the number one defense in football couldn’t stop the opponent’s final drive. Nonetheless, the Jets perseverance coupled with a few late season breaks, have allowed the Jets to be where they are today. Headed to San Diego with a chance to get to the AFC championship for only the third time since the AFL NFL merger in 1970. For the first time since the Jets held a 10-0 lead in Denver back in 1999 before John Elway completed his own career ending quest for Super Bowl glory.

The Jets head into Sunday as eight point underdogs. Yet somehow you gotta know that Ryan is thriving in the role of  motivator  with a team that is listening to his “us against the world” locker room rants. The Jets themselves appear to be

relishing the role of proving the doubters wrong. Sunday in San Diego the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS get that chance once again. The stakes around here haven’t been higher in over a decade.

THREE KEYS TO THE CHARGERS:

Make SD’s offense one dimensional: We’ll steal a page out of Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s press conference on Thursday. To make the Chargers one dimensional would do wonders for a defense that is already locked in on the Air attack.

The Chargers CAN run despite what the stats will tell you. Yet if the Jets can keep LT and Sproles pinned down, the front seven can pin their ears back on third and long situations and look to create some plays of their own.

Braylon, Come on!! This week Rex Ryan predicted or was wishfully thinking out loud for a breakout day from the big play guy who can’t seem to catch the deep ball. He said sooner or later Edwards would put up three TD’s in a game. He then added “let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.” There’s no time for feeling sorry for yourself if you’re Edwards right now. Sanchez’s confidence is growing. Schotty is calling deep shots that have had potential to work. It’s up to Edwards to get over his slump and get going. How about a few early short throws to him for some confidence? If Edwards can relax like his rookie QB has learned to do this month, we may have the X factor of the game right here in #17.

Withstand the early onslaught. What the Jets cant afford is a few big plays and mistakes hitting them hard early. They came back from a 7-0 deficit last week vs the Bengals and certainly could do the same out West. A 21-0 deficit caused by quick Rivers strikes and  a special teams gaffe, well that would create a hole to big to crawl out of. The ground and pound has room for growth from Sanchez and Edwards should he get going. A big early Chargers lead HAS to be avoided at all costs. Stay in the game. Let it develop. With each passing moment, a close game will become a winnable one for the Jets.