The New York Jets (1-0) will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts (0-1) tonight at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
The Colts, a preseason pick by some analysts to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year, are coming off a physical 27-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills and are desperately trying to avoid an 0-2 start to the season. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is questionable for tonight's contest with a knee injury though Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said he is "optimistic" that Hilton plays. Even if the speedy fourth-year receiver can't suit up, Indy is deep at the skill positions with Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, Philip Dorsett and Frank Gore. Quarterback Andrew Luck will not want for weapons in this one.
Indy's lines, however, are a different matter. The offensive line surrendered two sacks and six QB hits last week against Buffalo, while Luck was the fourth-most hit QB in the league in 2014. On the other side of the ball, the defensive line for the Colts suffers from inexperience and just allowed 147 yards on the ground to the Bills. Does Indy have enough meat up front on both sides of the ball to win the battles in the trenches?
The Jets, meanwhile, are coming off a scrappy win against the Cleveland Browns. Veteran QB Josh McCown drove down the field on Cleveland's first possession last week before being knocked out of the game with a concussion. Although backup Johnny Manziel had his moments, New York's defense eventually clamped down and held on for a 31-10 win.
Perhaps most impressive was New York's offense, led by a steady if unspectacular Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets managed a respectable 333 total yards of offense and capitalized on Cleveland's five turnovers. Is that the type of play that's going to get you on highlight reels? No. But with New York's deep front seven and, when healthy, talented set of cornerbacks, the Jets don't need to have a powerhouse offense to win games.
Tonight is a pivotal matchup for both teams and will go a long way in laying the groundwork for the remainder of the season. You can watch the live stream by clicking here or you can listen to the radio broadcast by clicking here.
