PLAYER NOTES
–This week’s signing of safety Mike Mitchell is an indication the Colts will be without starting safety Clayton Geathers (neck/concussion). And it appears Geathers could miss extended time. Mitchell has started 84 of 137 NFL games for three teams and has the reputation of being a hard hitter, a trait Geathers also possessed.
–Rookie LB Darius Leonard missed the last game with an ankle injury but is still the NFL tackle leader with 54 total stops. The second-round selection’s 38 solo tackles rank second, behind Cincinnati’s Nick Vigil at 41.
–QB Andrew Luck has thrown a touchdown pass in 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the second-longest streak in team history behind only Johnny Unitas at 47.
–The Colts lead the league in third-down conversion at 50.6 percent (39 of 77).
–DE Margus Hunt is No. 1 in the NFL with nine tackles for loss.
–The Colts are 15th in points scored (23.6 per game) and 27th in points allowed (27.6 per game). They’re 23rd in total offense (357.4 yards per game) and 23rd in total defense (389.4 yards allowed per game).
–The Colts are third in fewest punt return average at 4.9 yards and eighth in lowest kickoff return average at 18.6 yards.
–K Adam Vinatieri has 206 career regular-season wins, just three shy of George Blanda’s league record. Vinatieri’s 226 career wins including the postseason are tied with New England quarterback Tom Brady for the most in NFL history. Vinatieri, the league’s all-time leader with 568 field goals, needs 20 points to surpass Morten Andersen (2,544) to become the NFL’s career scoring leader.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: TE Eric Ebron. The fifth-year pro shook off a drop on an initial pass and finished with nine receptions for 105 yards and two TDs at New England. Ebron, in his first season with the Colts, now leads all NFL tight ends with five touchdown receptions. His 26 receptions rank fourth among NFL tight ends and second on the team. His 255 receiving yards also rank second on the team. The extended loss of tight end Jack Doyle to a hip injury has translated to more chances for Ebron, a key offseason addition who signed a two-year deal worth up to $15 million including incentives.
GAME PLAN: The Colts’ rushing defense, which is tied for 14th in fewest yards allowed at 106.8 yards, will be put to the test early by a sixth-ranked Jets rushing offense that amassed 323 yards in Sunday’s home win over Denver, the second-highest total in Jets history and most since 1972. The Colts specifically must limit the effectiveness of Jets running back Isaiah Crowell, who had a franchise-record 219 yards rushing on just 15 carries against the Broncos. The Jets will look to try to make life easier on rookie quarterback Sam Darnold by establishing the run to open up passing lanes. When Darnold throws, he’s up against a Colts secondary missing several starters, which means it’s imperative that the Colts pass rush gets pressure on the pocket, something that didn’t happen in the previous game at New England.
The Colts offense has been so one-dimensional in relying on quarterback Andrew Luck to move the chains in the passing game, it’s doubtful the Jets defense will be too concerned with the visitors running the football. The Colts have called run plays just 28.3 percent of the time. As much as Colts head coach Frank Reich wants balance, Luck has the hot hand and is the team’s obvious strength. Opponents typically crowd the line of scrimmage because the Colts usually attempt short-range passes, often to the running backs, so Reich and Luck need to figure out a way to stretch the field to force the Jets to cover and play more honest. Although a 1-4 record doesn’t reflect it, the Colts have moved the ball effectively against all five of their opponents, even when the defense knows what’s coming. That’s mostly a credit to Luck and an offensive line that has allowed just 10 sacks despite a league-high 246 pass attempts.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Colts RT Denzelle Good vs. Jets LDE Leonard Williams. The Colts needed Good to return after he missed the last game and was away for several days to be with family in mourning the loss of a younger brother killed in a drive-by shooting. Williams, the sixth overall pick in 2015, is coming on strong with three sacks in the past two games, including two against the Broncos. A banged-up Colts offensive line has held up reasonably well, but elite players have made their share of plays, most notably pass rushers J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney of Houston, who had two sacks each in a Week 4 Texans win. Except the Colts to help Good with chip blocks of Williams involving a tight end or running back.
–Colts LB Darius Leonard vs. Jets RB Isaiah Crowell. Strong run defense starts up front with strong line play, but linebackers must react quickly and be able to shadow shifty running backs. Expect that responsibility to fall upon Leonard, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, but leads the NFL in tackles because his tremendous athleticism allows him to run down everything from his weak-side position. After rushing for a franchise-record 219 yards last week, Crowell ranks third in the NFL with 390 rushing yards. He’s also one of only two players with more than 350 yards rushing and five touchdowns, the other being Todd Gurley II of the Rams. Leonard, the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month in September, will be shadowing Crowell from the first snap.
