Jets cornerback Revis faces challenge of stopping Wayne

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Reggie Wayne is ready to take another trip to Revis Island.

The Indianapolis receiver is preparing man-to-man coverage, strong-armed tactics and turbulent conditions with the hope of earning an all-expenses paid trip to Miami.

No, this is not just another job for the Colts star and the New York Jets cornerback. It’s an adventure.

“One thing about [Darrelle] Revis is he’s going to challenge you,” Wayne said. “He’s going to make you play your best. I accept that challenge. I feel like he’s one of the best. He’s going to make me play at my best, so it’s going to be exciting.”

Wayne, a four-time Pro Bowler, has plenty to prove Sunday in the marquee matchup at the AFC championship game.

Revis, runner-up for NFL defensive player of the year, has not only survived matchups against some of the league’s top receivers this season, he’s thrived.

His personal check list looks like this:

• Houston’s Andre Johnson, four catches, 35 yards.

• New England’s Randy Moss, eight catches, 48 yards in two games.

• Buffalo’s Terrell Owens, six catches, 26 yards in two games.

• Carolina’s Steve Smith, one catch, 5 yards.

• Cincinnati’s Chad Ochocinco, two catches, 28 yards in two games.

• And in an abbreviated first round against Wayne, three receptions, 33 yards.

Revis has allowed only one touchdown all season, yet Wayne may have come the closest to breaking out against him, barely missing a long catch in December’s game when Peyton Manning overthrew him by a step on a deep slant-and-go route.

Wayne also played less time than the others, departing with the other Colts starters with about six minutes to go in the third quarter of Indy’s 29-15 loss.

Round 2 could be different.

Indy receiver Pierre Garcon is expected to play after missing the first game with a bruised hand, and last week Indy (15-2) figured out a way to keep tight end Dallas Clark more involved in the offense against Baltimore’s similar 3-4 defense. The Jets (11-7) can’t simply ignore the threat of Indy’s ground game, either, after Joseph Addai burned them for an early 21-yard TD run in the first meeting.

As usual, though, the confident third-year cornerback promises his game live up to the hype.

“All this Revis Island stuff is fun,” he said. “You enjoy it, but the bigger goal is just being consistent and playing and going out there and trying to cover these guys the best way I can.”

What makes Revis so difficult for receivers?

Colts coach Jim Caldwell believes it’s Revis’ uncanny ability to locate the ball before receivers do.”