Can the Jets shake off their away curse?
This week’s Thursday Night Football Game looks to be a comparatively clear-cut affair. In the Indianapolis Colts – New York Jets match-up, the bookmakers are clearly predicting a win for the former. But what is it all about?
The two teams playing in the American Football Conference (AFC) have each lost five times so far this season. While the Colts blew a 14-point lead last week and even lost to the Titans in overtime, the Jets defied expectations to beat the Bengals, who have been very strong so far.
For the upcoming Indianapolis Cols – New York Jets game, our tip with betting odds of 1.93 is for those to score more than 46.5 total points, as neither team has been stellar with a defensive performance this season. With the exception of the Colts – Texans game in Week 6, both teams received a lot of counter points even in their wins, which is why we believe in a high-scoring game.
Although they are clearly in the underdog position, the New York Jets are finally looking for their first win in a foreign stadium this season. The Colts, on the other hand, have only won once at their Lucas Oil Stadium since the end of the preseason. We’re looking forward to a high-scoring offensive battle.
Indianapolis Colts – stats & current form
Despite their five losses, the Indianapolis Colts are currently second in the AFC South. Only the Tennessee Titans are ahead of them in their own division. The two teams met last game day. In Week 9, the Colts play in American prime time for the first time in four years.
Basically, the Colts did everything right in the early stages of the game. However, with unnecessary turnovers, the team from Indianapolis squandered a lead of up to 14 points and finally lost the game 31-34 in overtime. Can the Colts recover from this disappointing defeat or is it still too deep in their bones?
Recovery by Wentz
With two game-winning interceptions, the first in the final quarter and the second in overtime, Colts quarterback Carson Wentz played a big part in the late loss last game day. “I feel like I beat us with those turnovers” he commented on his own performance after the game, although he had only been guilty of one interception so far this season.
In the 2021 season, the QB has almost 2,000 passing yards, and his 14 touchdowns thrown have also been indispensable for the Colts’ three victories so far. Thanks to him and his offence, the Indianapolis team is averaging 25 points. Despite their 3-5 standing, the Colts also have a positive point differential, which doesn’t seem common for teams in their situation.
In the upcoming Indianapolis Colts – New York Jets clash, it is also advisable to bet on more than 27.5 points for the Colts, as Wentz is expected to perform above average in order to make up for his performance in the last game. And that despite the fact that T.Y. Hilton is out with a concussion.
Key Players:
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr.
WR: Zach Pascal
LB: Darius Leonard
New York Jets – Statistics & current form
The Jets will have to do without their original star quarterback Zach Wilson again this week. In an interview, New York head coach Robert Salah confirmed that Wilson will not return to practice until the tenth game day in order to sufficiently cure his knee injury.
But the Jets are also plagued by injuries on defence, with Sherwood, Cashman and Nasirildeen, three players at the linebacker position, being placed on the “Injured Reserve” list. Carl Lawson is also on this list, while Kyle Phillips and Vinny Curry are out permanently, so the team from New York also lacks defensive ends.
White still inexperienced
Mike White can pat himself on the back after the amazing win against the Cincinnati Bengals. In only the second game of his career, he completed 82 percent of his passes and threw 3 touchdowns. But this is exactly the risk the Jets are taking with White as their starting QB – his lack of experience.
With the addition of rookie star Zach Wilson, the second player ever picked in this year’s draft, out until at least Week 10, White is under massive pressure. Wilson was a big hope and was supposed to fix the Jets’ long-standing quarterback problem.
In Colts vs. Jets, our prediction is that while White may well help the so-called “Gang Green” score some points, his inexperience is a crucial point as to why the Jets will lose the game. After all, they have yet to win an away game.
Key Players:
QB: Mike White
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Corey Davis
WR: Jamison Crowder
LB: C.J. Mosley
Indianapolis Colts – New York Jets Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
This game shouldn’t be all that clear-cut thanks to the Jets’ upswing with White at quarterback, but his opposite number is Carson Wentz. The latter was a key performer until his Week 14 loss in Philadelphia, when the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
Both teams put up very poor defensive performances, partly due to injuries. While the Colts are averaging 23 points from their opponents, the Jets are averaging more than 29. Another weakness the teams share is their susceptibility to their opponents’ passing game.
Indianapolis Colts – New York Jets Tip
Due to the fact that both teams have big gaps at the moment, especially on defence, good odds can still be achieved with over / under bets in the Indianapolis Colts – New York Jets game. An example of this would be the value bet on over 9.5 points in the first quarter.
Both offenses are designed to play a pass-focused game, gaining an average of around 250 yards of space, while the defenses seem particularly susceptible to doing just that. Carson Wentz’s experience is not the only thing that puts him ahead of his direct opponent. Also in statistical characteristics such as passing yards or touchdowns. This, however, can be explained by White’s lack of action.
It seems more than unlikely, however, that the Jets QB can repeat his dominant performance from last week. Our tip is therefore Over 46.5 total points.
