One of the interesting aspects of the AFC Championship game is that it will be a game where both head coaches are in their first year with their teams. Neither has ever led a team, and now they’re both playing for the right to win a Super Bowl. Pretty unusual situation. I guess the days are gone when it took a head coach four years to develop a playoff contender.
For Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell the pressure wasn’t to build a team but not to screw it up. Indianapolis has been one of the best teams in the NFl the last few years under Tony Dungy. Big shoes to fill, but with Manning at the helm it had to be easier. Rex Ryan on the other hand, had to put together a team reeling from a late season slump and feeling the effects of Brett Favre flu. Having Favre bolt to the Vikings had to be an insult to the collective minds of the New York Jets but nobody is crying today with the rise of Sanchez. I thing they’re happy.