The surprise of the 2010 NFL Playoffs has to be the New York Jets. Once a team looking from the outside in, the Jets needed a win over a week 16 win over the then 16-0 Indianapolis Colts to even get into the wild card. They got a 29-15 win with the help of a fourth quarter-less Peyton Manning and J.V. Colts defense. Now Rex Ryan has instilled some serious confidence in an already talented Jets defense that racked up six sacks in Sunday’s 17-14 win over the Chargers. On top of suffocating pressure, rookie running back Shonn Greene had the break out performance of his young career; 23 touches for 123 yards including a 53 yard touchdown run to put the Jets on top 17-7 in the fourth.
For the Colts on the other hand, they are in a position that everyone expected them to be in. Led by MVP Peyton Manning, the Colts’ impressive 20-3 win Saturday over the powerful Baltimore Ravens was a big statement. A defense that had all season just done its job rose to the occasion and held the Ravens to just 270 yards of total offense.
This AFC Championship will be will versus strength. It’s hard to say the Jets really belong there, but they are, and now the biggest X-factor will be rookie quarter back Mark Sanchez. If the Jets D plays at a higher level than they did against San Diego then they will be in a position to win. But Sanchez needs to play at with more purpose then he ever has. For the Colts, Peyton Manning will have to work to get the ball to his receivers around the Jet’s Darrelle Revis. Coach Jim Caldwell will need to have his linemen stay late after practice to study up on the Jets defensive front who could be the key to the game. Indianapolis is a better team in the end and if they play like it, a trip to Miami is as sure as another Peyton Manning commercial.
Brett Favre couldn’t have been more perfect against the Cowboys. Favre showed that not only he ages like wine, but that his best is yet to come. A four touchdown performance against a Dallas defense that came into the game ranked second in points per game (allowing 15.6 ppg) and ninth in yards per game (allowing 316 ypg) showed the strength of the Minnesota offense. Favre flexed all his options, hitting Sidney Rice six times for 141 yards and three touchdowns, Visanthe Shiancoe for a late 11 yard touchdown for his only catch and hit veteran Bernard Berrian three times for 32 yard.
Just like the Colts, the New Orleans Saints hit the 13-0 mark hard and fast. But unlike the Colts who chose to lose, the Saints lost a tough Saturday night game back on Dec. 19 to the Cowboys 24-17. The Saints went on to lose two more games to end 
the season on a three game skid leading into the playoffs. Some wondered if the Saints would be rusty against an Arizona Cardinals team that just came off an overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers in the highest scoring playoff game in NFL history, 51-45. As a matter of fact, the Saints were the opposite of rusty, bashing the Cardinals for 45 points in the Super Dome.
The Vikings and Saints will match up for the most exciting game of the season. Skill versus skill. Ultimately this game will come down to the quarterbacks. The 40-year-old expertise of Brett Favre or the moxy of Drew Brees. Both with tremendous receivers to throw to, but only one will rise to the occasion.
Super Bowl Picks
The Colts win in style 24-14. The smartest man to play quarterback slowly picks apart the Jets defense.
Vikings edge Saints 34-31. Brett Favre is the best off-season accusation of any team and lifts the Vikings to the big game for the first time since 1977.
