Can the Jets' Improbable Run Continue?

Football fans everywhere thought the New York Jets were lucky to even be in the AFC playoffs. Following their wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals in the final two weeks of the regular season, where each of their opponents essentially gave way to Gang Green, the Jets have morphed into a true title contender.

In the wild card round of the playoffs they handily defeated the Bengals and last week took down the heavily favored San Diego Chargers. Gang Green now heads into the AFC Championship against the Colts with what many NFL analysts are calling a "legitimate chance of winning."

With Gang Green's mammoth defense leading the way, it is now time for the ultimate test: Peyton Manning and the high-octane offense of the Indianapolis Colts. So can the Jets stop them and continue this improbable run to Super Bowl XLIV? Many Port Washington residents clearly think so.

"Manning doesn't like a physical game," said Joel Katz, a retired CPA from Port Washington. "The Jets have been able to get in the face of quarterbacks. If they can do that, they have a good shot at winning. Miracles happen."

More and more people seem to jump on the Jets' bandwagon each week, hoping that rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez can take the Jets to their first championship since Joe Namath's 1968-69 team. It has also been 11 seasons since Vinny Testaverde took Gang Green to the AFC Championship game, where they fell to the future champion Denver Broncos, 23-10.

Many New York fans are simply amazed by the team's results over the past few weeks. "I didn't think the Jets were going to make it this far," said Alex Aguira, an employee at Magic Cuts Barber Shop who has lived in Port Washington for two years. "I can admit that I was skeptical, but they are there and I really hope they win it all." Aguira added that he is rooting for a Jets-Vikings championship because of the beating New York took at the hands of the Saints in Week 4, which included three Sanchez interceptions and a season-low 27.0 quarterback rating.

But apparently not everyone in town is drinking the Gang Green Kool-Aid. Marty Giandalia, a Giants fan and optician at North Shore Vision on Main Street, said he thinks the Jets don't matchup well against the Colts. "It's nice to see a New York team there, but I think their run will end," he said. "They've had a couple of terrific games. They took it to the Bengals and manhandled the Chargers. I did think they'd beat the Chargers, but I don't see them doing that against Peyton Manning."

Others hope to see the Jets win, but won't get their hopes up because of the team's lousy track record. "They have been teasing me for years, and now I just hope this isn't another one of them," Jose Rivera said while working at Gino's Pizzeria and Restaurant. "I hope they win, I really do, but I won't be surprised if they don't."

A large faction of Port Washington football fans feel that these aren't your father's Jets, and that they won't disappoint as they have in the past. "This is a different team now because it's gotten its act together," said Angelo Hilas, owner of the Port Washington Diner. "I want them to play [in the Super Bowl] and beat the Saints. Rex Ryan has a good attitude. He pumps everyone up. That's what you need."

Hilas was even bold enough to predict the game's outcome. "The score will be 20-17," he said, "Jets over the Colts."