Thursday-and-Long: Can the Jets Run on the Colts?

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: Colts, Jets, NFL Playoffs, NFL Analysis

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Time was -- and it wasn't long ago -- you could run the ball against the Colts. And a team with two running backs as good and as healthy as the two the Jets bring into Saturday night's playoff game in Indianapolis would have been all set to do just that.

The Colts ranked 24th against the run in 2009 (not that it slowed them down too much on their way to the Super Bowl), and this year they finished the regular season ranked 25th. They gave up 127 rushing yards per game, more by far than any of the other 11 of this year's playoff teams. (Yes, even the Seahawks.)

And yet, something changed in the final month. Over their last three games -- all meaningful, important games against teams with good running backs (Oakland, Jacksonville and Tennessee) -- the Colts suddenly got stingy against the run. They allowed an average of just 66 rush yards per game over their last three. And while the Jets feel good about their chances to pick up yards with the backfield tandem of Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson, they are aware of that trend.

 

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