Jets (2-5) at Colts (3-5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Tipico Sportsbook line: Colts by 101⁄2
Jets’ keys to victory: Coming off the upset win, QB Mike White must stay aggressive against the Colts’ zone defense. Indy struggles with generating pressure, so White should have time to work in the pocket to get the ball to his playmakers. Rookie RB Michael Carter is taking over the backfield after seeing 24 touches for 172 total yards and a touchdown in Week 8. The Colts will try to defend the run first, so White will need to get the ball to WR Jamison Crowder and rookie WR Elijah Moore. Defensively, forcing turnovers will be the key to staying in the game.
Colts’ keys to victory: It all comes down to QB Carson Wentz making smart decisions with the ball. His two interceptions last week doomed the Colts, so keeping turnovers low is a must. It’s necessary for head coach Frank Reich to feature RB Jonathan Taylor, who saw only 16 carries in last week’s loss. The connection with WR Michael Pittman Jr. must remain strong. He’s leading the Colts with 45 receptions and 594 receiving yards. Even with the pass rush being inconsistent, DT DeForest Buckner and rookie DE Kwity Paye have to make an impact to make White uncomfortable.
Matchup to watch: Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Jets CB Bryce Hall. The passing game runs through Pittman, while Hall has been the best player in New York’s secondary. It should be a fun matchup.
Who wins? Even on a short week, the Colts should take care of business at home. Taylor and the offense will do enough to secure a win after scoring 30 points in each of the last three games. Colts 31, Jets 20