There are certain locks during the playoffs of any major sport. Some player will pop off and make a guarantee. A pair of hilarious mayors will make an equally hilarious bet over a big game. And a team’s merch’ department will jump the gun on selling championship gear for a championship they haven’t even won yet. And this time it’s the Jets who are hocking AFC Championship tees and hoodies on their official website!

The others have done it, but the Jets are the only ones promoting it. And I don’t think it’s a mistake. Rex Ryan probably told them to do it! I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up to his pressers this week, rocking an AFC Championship lid! I’m shocked they’re not already selling their Super Bowl Champions merch’! You can’t tell me he hasn’t sent his championship parade route to the New York Post for publication.

Never mind the Post, he’ll probably purchase a full page ad for the route in the Indianapolis Star News!

I’m telling you…it’s all setting up perfectly for the Jets. Well, except for one little thing. And that’s the dude up at the line barking out Charley, Omaha, X-Ray, 57’s the Mike…that guy isn’t Curtis Painter…or even Philip Rivers. That’s number ‘18’…and I’m guessing Peyton Manning has broken some tape this week. And I know he’s not giving them the game.

Sure, Darrelle Revis will get him once…you know he will. But the Jets can’t sit back and expect Manning to rattle and gag. You want to beat ‘18’, you have to hit ‘18’. You want to knock the Colts out…you have to knock Peyton down. There’s nothing I’d like more than to spend my week in Miami talking up the Jets, but I’m not going to get the chance.

I hope I’m wrong, but I’m usually not.