The Jets made Dwight Lowery a starting cornerback and turned Lito Sheppard into a backup for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, but one thing remained the same: They still couldn’t stop Austin Collie.

The Colts’ rookie wide receiver caught five passes for 105 yards in the first half, and his leaping, 16-yard touchdown reception pulled his team within 17-13 just before intermission. The TD catch was the last of three in a row for Collie, who also had an 18-yarder and a 46-yarder on the scoring drive.

Collie caught six passes for 94 yards during the teams’ regular-season meeting, and that success led the Jets to bench Sheppard and start Lowery, according to the New York Daily News.

Collie has become somewhat of a go-to guy for Peyton Manning in the slot, finishing the regular season with 60 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. Collie had four catches for 52 yards and one TD in last week’s divisional-playoff victory over the Ravens.

Posted in: News  | comments  |