Here is a stat: 147 yards.

That’s the amount of yards the Colts gave up to dynamo running back Chris Johnson. What is so significant about a number that in reality has nothing to do with the Colts’ upcoming game against the Jets? Well their rookie running back Shonn Greene has rushed for 263 in the first two rounds of the playoffs and, in the process, becoming the first rookie running back to rush for more than 125 yards in consecutive games in the playoffs. It is because of his performance that the Jets are so confident coming into Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Jets also had the top-ranked rushing offense during the regular season, while the Colts were 24th against the run. On paper, this is a complete mismatch, but the importance of the above statistic cannot be overstated. Johnson is by far the league’s most explosive back and has arguably become the most complete runner in the NFL, yet the Colts held him way below his average in their two meetings. What the Colts have been able to do very effectively this season is take away a team’s strength. So regardless of how good Greene has been in the last two games, he is still nowhere near the caliber of runner that Johnson is.

So while Greene may give the Jets a spark in the ground game while Thomas Jones is beginning to show his age, the Colts are more than capable of stopping him if they decide to focus their resources on the running game, which is the only thing that makes sense considering who the Jets have at quarterback. The Colts also held the Ravens potent running attack to under 100 yards last week and kept their stud Ray Rice to 67 yards. While the Colts are generally considered a little small on the defensive front, they have proven to be able to hold up against stout offensive lines so while the Jets line is lauded as the best in the league, the Titans line that paved the way for CJ isn’t far behind. When you combine this sturdiness with their speed, intelligence and sure-tackling, it will not be as easy to run on the Colts as the Jets may think. Just ask the Ravens.
--- BRANDON KOPCEUCH.