The AFC Championship game is a matchup between completely different teams. The Indianapolis Colts don’t have as a huge of an advantage as it may seem. The Colts had the best record in the NFL and won home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But if you take a closer look at the Jets, whatever the Colts can throw at the Jets offensively the Jets can defend it.

Now they only question that remains is can the Colts D handle what the Jets offense can do.

The following is a breakdown on who has the edge in the AFC Championship and will give you better insight when placing your bets this weekend.

Quarterback: This does not have to be debated?

Edge: Colts.

Running Game: The Colts had the worst rushing offense in the NFL during the regular season and nothing has changed in the playoffs.

Joseph Addai hasn’t been top RB in the league ever. He is good at catching short screen passes and is competent at picking up the blitz.

As for the Jets, they have the best offensive line in the playoffs plus a great duo of running backs that know how to find the hole. Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene will find plenty of room to run this weekend.

Edge: Jets.

Wide Receivers: New York won’t be throwing the ball often for 2 reasons:

1.No one wants to put such a big game in the hands of a mostly unproven rookie QB, especially when he has 2 of the best defensive ends coming at him (Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis)


2.They don’t have any wide receiver that can break the game open. NYJ were hoping it was Braylon Edwards when they picked him up from Cleveland but he has been dropping balls that my Granny could catch. Jerricho Cotchery will be looking into double coverage all night. TE Dustin Keller will be matched up with LB Gary Brackett.


The Colts on the other hand have plenty of reliable targets for Peyton Manning to find:

•Reggie Wayne: one the best WR in the league
•Dallas Clark: a top three tight end in the NFL
•Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie: two young receivers with a skilled set of hands.


Edge: Colts.

Defense: Both teams have playmakers on defensive.

Indianapolis ranked 24th against the run but held the Ravens' potent rushing attack to 87 yards last week. The Colts' defense relies on speed, and Caldwell wanted the unit playing faster at the end of the season even if it meant resting starters.

The Colts will likely stack the line of scrimmage in an attempt to stop the run, forcing Sanchez to beat them. Sanchez, though, has played mostly mistake-free over his past four games, and has made big throws when the Jets have needed them.

The Jets defense was the best in the league during the regular season and this has stayed true during the playoffs as they stopped offensively strong teams like Cincinnati and San Diego.

One of the main reasons why they have the best defense in the NFL is because they have CB Darrelle Revis. His job is to cover the top opposing WR. So far in the playoffs he has shut down Chad Ochocinco and Vincent Jackson, but can he shutdown Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clack, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie?

Edge: Jets.
Coach: For the first time in NFL history 2 rookie head coaches go against each other in a divisional championship game. And both of these coaches are great coaches in their own right.
Jim Caldwell has been near perfect this season and for those who think he has never been here before your wrong, he was here for most of the Tony Dungy era. I know he hasn’t had the opportunity in leading this team until now but he has been a Dungy student for years and knows how to win.
The same goes for Rex Ryan, he was a defense line coach when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000 and they arguably had the best defense at the time. He maybe a rookie head coach but he comes from a bloodline of coaches.
Edge: Even.

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