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Have you checked the AFC playoff bracket for the New York Jets' path to Super Bowl XLV? If they are going to get to the Feb. 6 Super Bowl the Jets are going to have to navigate a minefield of superstar quarterbacks to get there.
First up will be Indianapolis and four-time MVP Peyton Manning. If the Jets survive that game, which will be Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, the road won't get easier.
Waiting in the divisional round for the Jets-Colts winner are the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben has two Super Bowl rings already and the Steelers, seeded second in the AFC, are primed for another run at a third.
After that, assuming that New England advances against the Baltimore-Kansas City winner, would come a rematch with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Can second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez and the up-and-down Jets offense get the job done against all that star-studded opposition. Well, the Jets did beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh this season. They did split with the Patriots despite a devastating 45-3 loss to New England late in the season.
"I don’t know if you can get more excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us, regardless of the fact that we’re playing Indy again. I know one thing: We’re going to give them everything we have. I feel confident in our football team. I’m excited to get dialed in. Let’s see what happens. We’re going to have terrific game plans, there’s no question about it. If we just go out and play New York Jets-style of football, we’ll be just fine," said Jets coach Rex Ryan. "I was excited last year. I thought we’d win it last year. I think we’re gonna’ win it this year, so we’ll see. Regardless of who we play, we think we’re better than any team out there. We have to go prove it, though."
Sanchez understands what Ryan means when he refers to 'New York Jets-style of football.'
"We have to take care of the football, run the ball like we have the last couple of weeks, and be efficient in the passing game," said Sanchez. "We’re excited for this next step. We made it in and we’ll take it from there."