National Football League

Jets' big task is stopping Manning for 4 quarters

Published Jan. 21, 2010 2:23 p.m. ET

foxsports

Kerry Rhodes was watching film of Peyton Manning when something jumped off the screen.

There was the four-time MVP quarterback hitting the turf, trying at all costs to avoid contact.

``He doesn't want to get hit,'' the New York Jets safety said Wednesday. ``So, if there's a free guy, he'll actually just go down and give up the sack. If you get pressure on him, once you do that, he gets to talking to his linemen and they're a little edgier and a little rattled.''

The trick is actually getting to Manning, of course. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was sacked just 10 times during the regular season, the fewest in the league, and he's a master at figuring out defenses.

``I compare him to a conductor in an orchestra,'' defensive tackle Sione Pouha said. ``He knows when to call for the trumpets, the violins and the cymbals and when to bring them all in one accord. With the offense, he's just able to orchestrate the best way to get at a defense.''

The Jets' top-ranked defense held Manning and the Colts' high-scoring offense mostly in check the last time they played. Well, at least for the two-plus quarters they were in the game. They know they'll see Manning & Co. for four quarters this time in the AFC championship game Sunday, and will need to pressure him early with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

``You can't let him sit back there and get his feet planted and throw with ease,'' linebacker Calvin Pace said. ``We need to get him off his spot a little bit, give him a couple of different looks that he hasn't seen. There is no one better than Peyton Manning, and everybody knows that.''

Despite allowing only 15 points, the Jets were unable to put much heat on Manning. Before taking a seat early in the third quarter, Manning was 14 for 21 for 192 yards in New York's 29-15 victory over then-undefeated Indianapolis in Week 16.

``If I take anything away from that game, it's that I must know my job that much better than he knows his job,'' defensive lineman Marques Douglas said. ``Saying that, I have to press the pocket and get in his face because a guy like that, if you don't pressure him, it's going to be a long day.''

The Jets realize the Colts could've put more on the scoreboard against them if not for some errant throws. Manning missed Reggie Wayne by a step early on a long pass that likely would've been a touchdown. He also overthrew Dallas Clark by a step or two on another long toss that might've gone for a score.

``You don't trick him very often,'' safety Jim Leonhard said. ``You don't confuse him very easily, not that you're not going to try. You've got to throw a lot of different things at him and just get him to think that extra split-second.''

And, sometimes, you can have the perfect defense called and it still won't matter.

``It was ridiculous,'' Rhodes said. ``There was one play we did something and he pointed out, out of the 11 people, probably 10 jobs and still had 10 seconds to get the play off. It was pretty remarkable.''

The key to Manning's success is his ability to get the ball and accurately heave it so quickly, avoiding pressure simply because defensive linemen and blitzing linebackers can't get there soon enough.

``He feels pressure and he moves around the pocket well,'' linebacker Bryan Thomas said. ``Tom Brady is the same way. You know how hard it is to look at your receivers and know there's pressure's all around you and still be able to step out of it? That's hard to do.''

Things get even more hectic when Manning goes to the no-huddle, 2-minute offense, waving his arms, moving his receivers around and trying to confuse the defense.

``It's a lot like a kid sitting down in front of his favorite meal,'' Douglas said. ``He's at home when he does that.''

If the Jets can clamp down on the Colts' running game, which ranked last in the league by averaging under 81 yards, they might put Manning in more third-and-long situations - and increase the chances for mistakes.

``It's going to be fun out there on Sunday,'' Douglas said. ``It should be like Avatar hits Indianapolis on Sunday as far as people not turning their TV and wanting to see what is the talk all about. You know, is this defense really that good? Is Peyton Manning still on his game? For us, if we put it out there that we're No. 1, regardless of who we play, we should step up.''

And, to a man, the Jets believe they will do just that - even with four quarters of Manning.

``We were playing with him and holding them down and were confident,'' defensive end Mike DeVito said. ``We're confident going into this week. We have a great plan and we're ready to go, and I don't think there's any doubt that we can go out there and win this game.''