NFL Playoffs- The Colts will host the AFC Championship Game against the Jets by Stephen Lars

It's a bit funny how things work out sometimes. Lets take the AFC Championship game for example. We covered this story a couple weeks ago, but here is a recap. During week 16 of the regular season, The New York Jets were 7-7 and about to be kicked out of the playoffs. They were facing the Indianapolis Colts and with MVP Payton Manning at the helm the Jets were down 15-10 with 5:36 left in the third quarter. And that is when the Colts´ Head Coach, Jim Caldwell, pulled out Manning and some of his other key starters. Backup quarterback Curtis Painter came into the field and before a booing crowd guided the Colts to their first defeat of the season, 29-15.

The Jets then went on to pull off some spectacular games. They faced the Bengals in their last regular season game, and just swipe them off their feet with a 37-0 victory. So, at the moment, it seemed that the Bengals were not trying too hard. They had already secured a spot in the Wild Card Round and there was no reason to push its players harder. So, one could say, they had an "easy" entrance into the Playoffs.

But they have fought with all their might to stay in. In their Wild Card Round game against the Bengals, the Jets were the underdog by 3½ points. And this time, the Bengals were going at it for real. But it mattered very little if the Bengals were trying harder or not. With a strong defense, and some nice plays by rookie Mark Sanchez the Jets just whooped them again, 24-14.

Last week they were facing non other then the well rested San Diego Chargers in what seemed like a tough road game. With an 11-0 win streak the Chargers were the favorite team by -7 points in the spread by midweek. An hour before kickoff, Instant Actions Sports line movers had made them favorite by -9 points with a -115 juice. But then the unexpected happen. The Jets came back from a 7-0 halftime deficit to win the game 17-14.

Bottom line is they played the game quite smartly. First they set up their top-rated strong and agile defense. Then they ran the ball in a swift offensive strategy that kept pushing the chains. They didn't ask much from rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and with good rushing plays they were able to leave the Charges behind. It seems simple, but it has allowed the Jets to win 7 of their last 8 games.

And that sure makes one team extremely happy. Peyton Manning and the Colts have enough experience behind them to know that they cannot (and will not) take their game against the Jets lightly. But if we look back into their last two seasons, it must be quite a relief for the Colts to know that the Jets already took care of the San Diego Chargers.

The San Diego Chargers have defeated the Colts in their last 4 games. What is more important here is that the Chargers have kicked the Colts out of the Playoffs in their last 2 seasons. And truth be said, all though the Colts have already lost to the Jets earlier in the Season, the Jets defeated Curtis Painter´s version of the Colts.

As of press time, the Indianapolis Colts are the favorite by 7 ½ points on the spread. Just like the Chargers were last week. It is not quite certain if the Jets are going to be able to pull out and upset. It seems quite possible that the Colts are going to take the game. If by any chance, circumstance, or fate, the Jets do win, one cannot forget that it was the Colts, and the Colts alone who gave them an easy pass into the Playoffs.