A week after a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Indianapolis Colts will look pick up their first win of the season when they welcome the New York Jets to town on Monday night. The Jets are coming of a strong defensive performance in their Week 1 win over Cleveland in which they forced five turnovers.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Jets and Colts.
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1. Pressure Andrew Luck
The Bills stymied Luck and the Colts in Week 1, holding them to 14 points. Much of that is thanks to the Bills' ability to get pressure on Luck with four pass rushers. The Jets will need to do the same with Leonard Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson, and the rest of the defensive line in order to drop seven into coverage against the Colts.
2. Sustain long drives on offense
The Jets don't have the league's most explosive offense despite putting up 31 points against the Browns. Because of that, the Jets will need to control the battle of time of possession. The Colts have the ability to put up points in bunches, so the Jets will need to keep Luck off the field as often as possible.
3. Take away T.Y. Hilton
T.Y. Hilton suffered a knee injury Week 1 against the Bills, but all indications are he's going to play. If the Jets can take away Hilton, it will leave Luck without one of his top targets. Darrelle Revis has the ability to be a shutdown corner, so it's certainly doable for the Jets' secondary.
1. Get Frank Gore going
Last week against the Bills, Gore carried the ball just eight times for 31 yards. At one point in the first half, Indianapolis reeled off 18 straight passes. It's imperative Gore get more touches to add balance to the offense. The Colts have gone 41 straight games without a 100-yard rusher. That streak may well continue, but the team at the least needs to get more out of the running game.
2. Put Vontae Davis on Brandon Marshall
Colts Pro Bowl cornerback Davis was extremely effective in neutralizing Buffalo's Sammy Watkins last week, holding him without a catch. Davis will need to turn in the same kind of performance shadowing Marshall. Last week against Cleveland, Marshall caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
3. Utilize the tight ends
As good as he is, Darrelle Revis can't cover everyone. Revis may well occupy himself with Hilton or fellow receiver Donte Moncrief, but that creates an opportunity for Luck to get the ball to his pair of talented tight ends, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. Both have the ability to make life difficult for the Jets' defense.
