Jets Vs. Colts Week 6 Preview: Can The Jets Win 2 In A Row For The First Time In Over A Year?

I’m incredibly excited for this game. I get excited for every game because I’m moderately pathetic but that’s neither here nor there. From an unbiased, rational perspective, this Week 6 matchup against Indy is a perfect litmus test for where this young and talented New York Jets squad stands after 5 games in the 2018 NFL regular season.

First of all, the Jets haven’t won 2 games in a row in over a year since they beat the Browns on October 8th of 2017 for their 3rd win in a row. Obviously, that team was very different last year as they trotted out the ageless wonder in Josh McCown, much to the dismay of fans across the globe. No one really cared what they did because the expectations in both the present and future were very, very different.

For me, I just want to see consistency on Sunday. That’s the type of growth this team needs to display for people to start taking them a little more seriously. I’m not even necessarily talking about Sam Darnold. Yes, consistency and growth from him would be amazing, but I’m more worried about the rest of the guys on the roster doing the things they need to do well for the 2nd game in a row.

Frankly, I do think this is a great matchup for the Jets on both sides of the ball, and I think it’s a very winnable game. I also thought that about the Browns game though, so it doesn’t really count for shit. Whatever though. Here’s what the Jets need to do to get to .500 on the season and start to build momentum as they head into the meat of their schedule.

Let’s get into it.

This Is A Favorable Matchup For The New York Jets

Here are the facts. The Colts are giving up 27.6 points per game so far this year. They’re actually ranked 10th in rush defense, but that’s more a product of teams being able to throw so easily, as they’re currently ranked 28th in the NFL giving up almost 283 yards per game through the air.

Beyond that, they’re banged up. It’s looking like they’re getting their OTs back on the line, but they’re also expected to be without at least 2 starters inside. Furthermore, Andrew Luck still looks like he’s throwing a shot-put as opposed to a pigskin, and many expect T.Y. Hilton to be out on Sunday.

If you strictly look at what the Jets did well last week, the blueprint translates perfectly into another successful game against the Colts. It all comes down to consistency. If the Jets can get Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell rumbling again, enabling Sam Darnold to continue to be aggressive down the field, the offense should be able to move the ball.

Defensively, if the Jets can once again put pressure on Andrew Luck and make him move his feet, they can undoubtedly force him into some mistakes or at the very least get him off the field. The Colts have not been able to run the ball effectively much at all, and the Jets rush defense has been the most consistent thing we’ve got going so far this year, so I’m not too concerned with that at all.

I swear to God and Jesus Christ this isn’t just blind optimism; there’s a reason the Jets are favored in Vegas yet again, and it’s because on paper things actually look pretty good for the Green and White on Sunday.

Isaiah Crowell Is 3rd In The NFL In Rushing And He Needs To Be That Guy Again On Sunday

I’ve talked about this a lot and I’m gonna talk about it some more. I apologized last week after Isaiah Crowell lit the Broncos the FUCK up. He looked really good. I’ll go on record again saying I think his skillset is perfect for this offense, but none of that matters if the running game disappears again in Week 6.

Obviously, it starts with the guys up front. I thought Kelvin Beachum and James Carpenter had a great game last week run blocking and Brian Winters has been our best lineman all season. In a rushing attack that likes to focus on attacking the edges with stretch runs and zone blocking schemes, it’s so important for these guys to be able to be athletic and pass D-lineman off double-teams to get up to the linebackers, while the TEs seal the edge.

Chris Herndon is a guy who had a few key blocks on the edge to free up Crowell for some big runs, so I’ll definitely be watching him as well as someone like Neal Sterling who’s expected to be suit up and play again after missing time with a concussion.

If the Jets can run block effectively, it should be another long day for the Colts on defense.

Jeremy Bates Must Continue To Dial Up Looks Downfield For Sam Darnold

This one and the last one really go hand and hand. As I’ve mentioned multiple times at this point, what the Jets did offensively against Denver last week should be the blueprint for the entire season. Establish the run game with outside runs, then build off that once you force the opponent to load the box a bit with play-action and deep drops, giving Sam Darnold a chance to attack the secondary downfield.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Robby Anderson‘s breakout game came in the same game that Isaiah Crowell set the Jets’ all-time single game rushing record. When a defense has to use it’s safeties to help in run support, it becomes nearly impossible to contain someone as explosive as Anderson for 4 quarters. For a guy whose game plans had been ripped apart early in the season, I thought Jeremy Bates (OC) did an awesome job setting the offense up for success last week.

This doesn’t mean I want them to be throwing bombs all day; it’s super important to get Darnold in rhythm with quick hitting routes early and get Quincy Enunwa and Jermaine Kearse involved as well. All I’m saying is there should no longer be any doubts that Sam Darnold is capable of completing aggressive throws and taking the top off a defense when necessary, and the Jets’ offense has looked it’s best when he’s put in a position to do so.

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Injury Report

Buster Skrine has been officially ruled out, so the Jets are gonna have to figure out who fills his shoes in the slot. Thank god that T.Y. Hilton isn’t expected to play, because he’s incredibly effective out of the slot and it may have been a perfect storm of misfortune for the Jets’ D. Thank fucking GOD.

Look for Daryl Roberts and Parry Nickerson to see a significant increase in playing time in Skrine’s absence.

Trumaine Johnson is listed as doubtful, so I’m not expecting him to play, and frankly as long as the Jets are able to get some consistent pressure on Luck and control their run game, it shouldn’t matter. The Jets were fine without Tru last week, and I’m optimistic they’ll be okay again.

Marcus Maye and Isaiah Crowell are listed as questionable, but Maye has been banged up all season and managed to have a pretty nice game last week so I expect more of the same. As for Crowell, obviously anytime you see an RB with an ankle injury it’s not ideal, but he did participate in practice today and I’m fairly confident in saying after rushing for well over 200 yards, his lack of participation most of the week was more about them keeping him healthy as opposed to him being in too much pain to practice. Cross your fingers please, but he should be more than ready to go on Sunday.

Prediction

At this point you guys should know I’m gonna pick the Jets regardless because this team has enough bad juju and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I picked them to lose and then they won. That’s also why I never bet against the Jets, but that’s a no brainer.

In all seriousness though, I think I outlined a pretty reasonable blueprint and realistic expectation as to how this game can go right for the Jets. A lot of people on the TV screen are talking about how this could be a “get right” game for Indy, but absolutely fuck that. That narrative is cute and makes for a nice talking point for Stephen A Smith and Max Kellerman to yell over each other about. But the thing that people forget is that for every potential “get right” game for any given team, there’s an opponent who knows exactly what the opponent’s narrative is, and you can bet your sweet little asses the Jets have no desire to be another team’s “get right” game like their NFC roommates, the lousy and diminished New York Giants.

I’m not sure if it’s a product of Todd Bowles or some of the young and proud talent that’s suddenly stepping up on this roster, but the Jets are undoubtedly starting to look like they’re undergoing a culture change in terms of expectations and the standard they’re setting for themselves on a week to week basis.

Look for the Jets to establish the ground game early, setting up Darnold to take some more shots downfield. The big guys up front still need to give him time, but it’s a lot easier when the running game is rolling. I expect Quincy Enunwa to bounce back and be involved early, and I think the return of Neal Sterling will do nothing but help Sam Darnold find a nice rhythm early.

Defensively, I’m so far from ready to declare Andrew Luck back, and I think the Jets new, moderately impressive pass rush should be able to make him move his feet and make some mistakes. Andrew Luck threw the ball 59 TIMES against the Patriots in Week 5. If he has to throw the ball anywhere near that many times against the Jets defense, it means the Jets are winning the battle up front and on their way to another W.

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Jets 27-23

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