Colts: 3 things Indy must do to avoid trap game vs Jets

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines in the game against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines in the game against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Colts
Colts DC Matt Eberflus (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Get Off the Field On Third Down

The Colts can kill the Jets’ morale by forcing them to punt on Sunday.

The Jets’ offense has been nothing short of a disaster through the first two games, as it ranks 32nd in the NFL in yards (265.5) per game and 31st in points (15.0) per. That’s in a 32-team league, by the way, so it’s clear the group is bereft of confidence right now, and the Colts can keep that narrative afloat by getting off the field on third down and forcing them to punt.

New York has a quarterback in Sam Darnold who, for as many boneheaded mistakes as he makes from time to time, is incredibly talented and more than capable of winning a game in spite of his laughable assortment of positional playmakers. Nothing builds a gunslinger’s confidence more than putting a few completions together and overcoming third-and-long scenarios, and the former No. 3 overall pick fits that bill more than most signal callers.

The Jets’ wide receiving corps isn’t nearly as talented as Jacksonville’s, but it could burn the Colts’ secondary, which is riding high after its performance in Week 2, if they aren’t careful. Being discipline and keeping composure is key to getting off the field on defense, and it will be huge in determining whether Indy avoids this trap game, especially if Rock Ya-Sin is back in action.