Nick Folk lifts Jets to 17-16 win over Colts..
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on January 9, 2011
Nick Folk hit a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the New York Jets to a 17-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, as both teams that appeared in Super Bowl XLIV are now eliminated.
Pierre Garcon accounted for the only points during the first half, as his 57-yard touchdown reception from Peyton Manning gave Indianapolis a 7-0 lead with 5:25 remaining until halftime.
Mark Sanchez had a chance to get the Jets even in the closing seconds of the 2nd quarter, but threw a goal-line interception to Justin Tryon.
New York made up for their turnover to start the 3rd quarter, as LaDainian Tomlinson’s 1-yard touchdown tied it 7-7.
Adam Vinatieri then connected on the first of three second half field goals, as his 47-yarder put the Colts back up 10-7 with 4:53 left in the 3rd quarter.
Tomlinson added his 2nd touchdown of the game in the 4th quarter, as his 1-yard run put the Jets back up 14-10 with 9:59 to go in regulation.
Vinatieri then added two more field goals, as his 50-yarder put Indianapolis up 16-14 with 53 seconds remaining.
It was at that point when Mark Sanchez engineered a game-winning drive, as he was a perfect 3-3 for 38 yards passing, as Braylon Edwards snagged a crucial 18-yard grab to set up Folk’s kick.
As Folk nailed the game-winner through with no time remaining, a jubilant Rex Ryan raced midfield to begin celebrating with his team.
Afterwards, Ryan was thrilled to beat the team that cost his Jets a Super Bowl berth last February:
“We’ve been in some close ones this year, but to come out and pull this game out against a great football team, against a great quarterback, it was a Herculean effort. I mean really, I’m just thankful for the men I coach. Thankful for the two backs we got, that pounded it in there. Thankful for that coaching staff. Thankful for Nick Folk, and I’m thankful that I finally got to beat Peyton Manning.”
The Jets will travel to New England for their 3rd meeting of the season with the Patriots next Sunday, as they are only 1 of 2 teams to hand them losses.
They’ll also seek payback from a 45-3 drubbing on National TV during Week 13, as Ryan called it “the biggest butt-whipping i’ve ever taken”.
Ironically, Indianapolis is 0-3 when entering the postseason as a 10-6 team in the Peyton Manning era, as they also lost in 2000 to the Miami Dolphins and in 2002, which was also to the New York Jets.
