Colts Implode Against Jets, Fall 20-7
By Evan Reller
The Indianapolis Colts offense fell apart against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. The Colts turned the ball over five times en route to a 20-7 home loss.
For the second year in a row, the Colts open the season at 0-2 but this time aren’t showing any signs of life on offense. Andrew Luck failed to bounce back from last week’s effort as he threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball on a scramble. Luck was 21-for-37 for 250 yards and one touchdown.
Luck wasn’t the only one to fumble as Frank Gore had a clear path to the end zone, but never corralled the hand off. Gore had some good looking runs early in the game, but the Colts offense was so inept that he never really got going, finished with 57 yards on 15 carries.
For the second straight week, the Colts faced a stifling secondary that held the likes of T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson in check. Hilton finished with four receptions for 45 yards (and a monster stiff arm of Darrelle Revis) while Johnson had just three catches for 27 yards.
Only Donte Moncrief showed up to play for the Colts offense, the one player to receive the memo that he has to play better. He finished with seven receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown.
The defense managed to play a masterful game, albeit with a completely depleted secondary. Darius Butler and Greg Toler were ruled out before the game and Vontae Davis left in the second quarter with a concussion. The Colts also held the run heavy Jets to 101 yards at a 3.7 per carry average, with the team’s biggest runs coming in the final minutes of play.
The defense managed to hold the Jets to 10 points for the first 50 minutes of play until the offense finally showed up to help. The Colts desperately needed another stop, but the Jets drove the 80 yards by picking on the depleted secondary for lead extending touchdown.
Down 10 the Colts started to drive, but Luck was hit on a deep pass and the ball was picked off once again, effectively ending all hope of a comeback. The Jets managed to move the ball once again for a game sealing field goal, and even had luck on their side recovering a fumble in their own territory.
The Colts will be desperate to figure out how to right the ship this week as they prep for a trip to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.