Big Apple Swelling With Jets Pride After Win Over Patriots
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Forget the snow.
Since Sunday night, plenty of New York and New Jersey residents alike have been painting the town green after the Jets pulled off a Cinderella-style win to reach the AFC Championship game, as CBS 2's Sam Ryan reports.
Next stop: Pittsburgh.
First it was Peyton Manning and the Colts, then came Tom Brady and his Patriots' turn to feel the wrath of the New York defense – to the tune of five sacks – as Gang Green knocked off two of the NFL's elite quarterbacks on their way to their goal.
"We came here for a reason," Coach Rex Ryan said. "We believed."
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Second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez outplayed the seasoned veteran with the Super Bowl rings, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Jets did almost everything right against the team that many had thought would win it all.
"We're moving on, same old Jets, going to the AFC Championship for the second year in a row," Ryan said. "Only difference, we plan on winning this one."
The Jets move on to Pittsburgh for Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Steelers, a rematch of the Dec. 22 game at Heinz Field – which the Jets won 22-17.
It's now just Ben Roethlisberger and his team standing in the Jets way of their Super Bowl goal.
Probably the only people who are as happy as the New York Jets Monday are their dedicated fans, and come Monday morning, they were looking for anything green to wear to show off their pride.
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"I've got just about every piece of Jets apparel there can be," said fan Ron Stern. "So if there's something else that catches my eye, maybe a new jacket to wear in Dallas, then that's what I'm going to get."
That kind of confidence is booming among gear-hungry Jets fans that flocked to the Jets store on the East side Monday.
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And perhaps not so surprisingly, going Gang Green is definitely going to cost you some green. As CBS 2's Jay Dow reports, a hat, t-shirt, sweatshirt and a jersey will set you back about $190.
"I feel so good," said fan Angel Vasquez, who told Dow he needed to but a hat before heading to work Monday morning, so everyone knew he was Team Green. "I'm so happy."
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The best selling Jersey at the Madison Ave Jets store? Mark Sanchez's number six.
Gang Green sent the message loud and clear: it's time for the New England Patriots to go home, and for their super-star quarterback to hang up his helmet for the season, and perhaps return to our City for another Broadway show with his supermodel girlfriend.
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"They played absolutely unbelievable from the beginning of the game and we knew they could do it," said Jets fan Jonathan Seligson.
"It's a tough loss. It's tough to eat," said Patriots fan Ben Schmidt.
Surrounded by pouty New England fans at the Hairy Monk Bar in Grammercy Park, Brian Kelly proudly wore his Jets jersey. "It's OK. I can take care of myself. It's alright," he said.
After Sunday's resounding 28-21 victory, Kelly was already looking ahead to the Jet's next big challenge, which will hopefully lead to the team's first Super Bowl appearance in more than 40 years.
"We're going to win in Pittsburgh and then we're going to Dallas," said Schmidt.
