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Sports

Jets coach Ryan sick of losing to Colts

By Reuters
Published | Updated

By Larry Fine

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - New York Jets coach Rex Ryan still feels sick when he recalls last season's AFC Championship game against Indianapolis.

The Jets (11-5) hope to erase those painful memories on Saturday when they visit AFC South champions Indianapolis (10-6) in a wildcard playoff game.

"I think every time you get beat and knocked out of the playoffs, it hurts," Ryan told reporters at the Jets practice facility, adding that watching replays of that defeat was a painful experience.

"When you watch it, you kind of get sick," he said. "We never disrupted (Colts quarterback Peyton Manning) enough. He got comfortable."

Ryan said the Jets had more weapons to hurl at Manning and the Colts this time. He has a defensive backfield partner for Darrelle Revis in Antonio Cromartie. Pass rusher Jason Taylor has been added to the defensive line.

On offense, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who won a Super Bowl MVP award with the Pittsburgh Steelers, gives the Jets another deep threat.

The best news for the burly coach was the improved condition of his quarterback Mark Sanchez, who rested his sore throwing shoulder in last Sunday's regular-season finale.

"He can zip it," Ryan said about the pace on Sanchez's throws in Tuesday's practice. "I don't think it's a problem at all."

Sanchez is critical to the Jets' playoff hopes.

"Being his second year, the experience he gained last year and the weapons we added (such as) Santonio Holmes, we can be more explosive on offense," Ryan said.

Including his years as defensive coordinator and line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Ryan has lost five of six times to Manning and the Colts, with the only win coming last season when Manning sat in the second half with Indianapolis in the lead.

Ryan takes the showdowns against Manning personally, since the coach loves to blitz opposing quarterbacks to hurry them into mistakes, while Manning is a master at beating the blitz by quickly identifying open receivers.

"With Peyton Manning, I'm going to beat him. I don't know when, but I want it to be Saturday," said Ryan. "Is it personal? Yes." (Editing by Peter Rutherford)