Jets at Colts
RCA Dome
Indianapolis, Ind.
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000
AT A GLANCE: The Jets and Colts square off for sole
possession of second place — if not a share of first — in the AFC East. Both
teams stand at 6-3, one game behind the Dolphins and one game ahead of the Bills.
|
| OVERVIEW: The seemingly always-crowded AFC East race
remains muddled at the top with three teams vying for dominance. After Week 10, the
Dolphins moved one game ahead of both the Jets and Colts, who square off on Sunday night.
The winning team will keep pace and earn an extremely valuable division win. The Jets
have been a team of magical comebacks in the first half of the season. Their rallies have
endeared them to fans who want to see all kinds of excitement, but the comebacks also
demonstrate severe problems with the team. The Jets have struggled all year to play a full
four quarters, often awakening only in the final frame.
But the magic seems to have run out on the Jets in the past two weeks. In Week Nine,
the Bills beat them 23-20 on a last-second field goal, and in Week 10, the Broncos
defeated them 30-23 after QB Vinny Testaverde short-hopped what would’ve been a TD
pass to FB Richie Anderson on the Jets’ last offensive play.
The Colts have been come-from-behind artists as well, but they fell short in a 27-24
loss to the Bears last week. The Colts had scored 24 unanswered points when the Bears
recovered QB Peyton Manning’s fumble with 1:05 left to seal the win.
Both the Jets and Colts will need to figure out how to play a full game if they are to
continue to win games and keep pace in the playoff hunt.
WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL:
Aside from Week 10, RB Curtis Martin has been and will continue to be the focal point
of the Jets’ offense. Martin has had only two 100-yard rushing games this year after
having four by this time last season.
Martin has stepped up his production in other areas, such as helping protect
Testaverde, and becoming more of a receiving threat. The Colts’ LB corps has been
solid all season but faces a very tough challenge this week vs. Martin. Overall, the Colts
have not been particularly strong against the run. |
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|
| RCA Dome |
| Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Date: Sunday, November 12, 2000 |
| 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
New York Jets |
6-3-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
6-3-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets |
6-3-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
5-4-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
New York Jets (R) |
3-1-0 |
| |
Indianapolis (H) |
3-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets (R) |
4-0-0 |
| |
Indianapolis (H) |
2-2-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
New York Jets |
0-1-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
5-1-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets |
1-0-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
4-2-0 |
|
|
| The Jets’ passing game has been searching for a complement to WR Wayne Chrebet
all season. Rookie Laveranues Coles started the season slowly but has shown flashes of
ability lately, including a breakout game in the Week Eight Monday-night comeback win.
Coles and his teammates could have a big game against a Colts defense that has been banged
up and ineffective against the pass. The Colts’ defensive line has been sporadic in
its pass-rush production all season. Rookie DT Josh Williams has been a
better-than-advertised fourth-round draft pick, filling in as a starter in four games
because of injuries. He’s also been a much-needed playmaker.
Testaverde has gotten very good protection from an offensive line that has stayed
fairly healthy this season. C Kevin Mawae missed some time but is back anchoring a line
that has given up only nine sacks all season.
WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL:
The Jets’ defense sparked much of the first-half magic for the team, playing
solidly and forcing turnovers. Defenders figured in on several trick plays on offense and
special teams, and morale was high.
But in recent weeks, the sheen has been tarnished on the stellar start because the
defense has been unable to hold its own late in games. The Colts hope to take advantage of
that on offense and work some of their own magic.
QB Peyton Manning has to be quick, decisive and on the mark if the Colts are to win. In
the Colts’ three losses, Manning threw six TDs and six interceptions. In the
Colts’ wins, Manning’s ratio was 14-4. As Peyton goes, so go the Colts.
The Jets cannot overly concern themselves with one facet of the three-headed monster
that is the Colts’ offensive attack. They need to bring a balanced defensive package
and get better play from their secondary, which has been torched in recent weeks.
Also, the Jets need to shut down RB Edgerrin James, who started out slow this year but
has rebounded recently. The Jets’ defense has not held a team with a definitive No. 1
back to under 100 yards yet this year, and they will be facing one of the top running
backs in the league.
The Colts’ offense seems to be starting games out sluggishly, as if they feel they
can score at will. Once they find themselves behind, they have to move away from the
running game, and that opens up more opportunity for mistakes. If the Colts come out
firing on all cylinders from the opening kickoff, the Jets will have their hands full on
defense.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Nov. 5, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
89 WARD, 87 Coles* |
| OLT |
69 FABINI, 71 Jenkins, 70 Slaughter* |
| OLG |
71 JENKINS, 79 Loverne |
| C |
68 MAWAE, 63 Machado |
| ORG |
77 THOMAS, 63 Machado |
| ORT |
74 YOUNG, 69 Fabini, 81 Banta, 85 Wiggins |
| TE |
84 BAXTER, 88 Becht* |
| WR |
80 CHREBET, 86 W. Hayes* |
| QB |
16 TESTAVERDE, 6 Lucas, 10 Pennington*, 7 Tupa |
| RB |
28 MARTIN, 34 Parmalee |
| FB |
20 ANDERSON, 33 Sowell |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
95 LYLE, 97 Boose, 91 Wiltz |
| NT |
72 FERGUSON, 93 Logan, 73 Anderson* |
| DRE |
98 BURTON, 93 Ellis*, 97 Boose |
| LOLB |
57 LEWIS, 94 Abraham* |
| LILB |
51 COX, 53 Ledyard |
| RILB |
55 JONES, 54 Gordon |
| ROLB |
56 PHIFER, 58 Farrior |
| LCB |
31 GLENN, 24 Mickens |
| RCB |
42 COLEMAN, 27 Scott*, 38 Moreland* |
| SS |
21 V. GREEN, 30 C. Hayes, 23 Williams |
| FS |
23 WILLIAMS, 47 Frost |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
7 TUPA |
| PK |
9 HALL |
| H |
9 HALL, 47 Frost, 6 Lucas |
| PR |
89 WARD, 27 Scott*, 31 Glenn |
| KR |
87 COLES*, 31 Glenn, 23 Williams, 86 W. Hayes* |
| KC |
81 BANTA, 68 Mawae |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 WILKINS, 84 Green |
| OLT |
78 GLENN, 73 Meadows |
| OLG |
76 McKINNEY, 74 Jackson |
| C |
63 SATURDAY, 54 Armour |
| ORG |
50 MOORE, 69 Gilbert |
| ORT |
73 MEADOWS, 74 Jackson |
| TE |
85 DILGER, 81 Pollard, 83 Keur* |
| WR |
88 HARRISON, 86 Pathon |
| QB |
18 MANNING, 13 Holcomb, 14 Hobert |
| RB |
32 JAMES, 43 McDougal*, 30 Gordon |
| H-b |
36 FINN, 39 Shields |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
79 HOLSEY, 90 M. Thomas |
| DLT |
95 WHITTINGTON, 64 Chester |
| DRT |
96 J. WILLIAMS*, 65 Miller*, 62 Johnson |
| DRE |
92 BRATZKE, 99 Scioli, 93 Barnes |
| LLB |
97 BENNETT, 53 Washington*, 98 Sword |
| MLB |
56 HOLLIER, 51 Glover |
| RLB |
52 PETERSON, 55 R. Thomas |
| LCB |
20 BURRIS, 41 P. Williams*, 31 Crosby |
| RCB |
38 POOLE, 28 Macklin*, 31 Muhammad |
| SS |
37 COTA, 47 Austin |
| FS |
29 BELSER, 26 Blevins |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 SMITH |
| PK |
12 VANDERJAGT, 7 Kight |
| H |
17 SMITH |
| PR |
80 WILKINS, 41 P. Williams* |
| KR |
41 P. WILLIAMS* |
| KC |
48 SNOW*, 85 Dilger |
* Rookie |
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