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In an upcoming matchup, the Indianapolis Colts (4-6) will visit the New York Jets (3-7) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with coverage on CBS. The Jets are currently favored by 3.5 points according to BetMGM NFL odds. This season, the Colts have a strong 7-3 record against the spread, compared to the Jets’ 3-7 record. Historically, the Colts lead the series with a record of 44 wins to 32 losses, and they won the last encounter 45-30 in Indianapolis on November 4, 2021.
Last week, the Colts faced a loss against the Buffalo Bills, falling 30-20, while the Jets experienced a more significant defeat against the Arizona Cardinals, finishing 31-6. The Colts’ offense ranks 19th overall, 14th in rushing, 19th in passing, and 18th in scoring. Conversely, the Jets sit at 26th in overall offense, with 30th in rushing, 17th in passing, and 26th in scoring. Defensively, the Colts struggle, ranking 29th overall, while the Jets’ defense stands out, holding the 7th position overall.
For the Colts, keep an eye on quarterback Anthony Richardson. Head Coach Shane Steichen announced that Richardson, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, will return as the season’s starter after being benched for two games in favor of Joe Flacco. Richardson initially took the field in the first four games, missed two due to a hip injury, and played two more before sitting. In his six outings this season, he has accumulated four touchdown passes alongside seven interceptions and holds a dismal completion rate of 44.4%, which is the lowest in the league.
On the Jets’ side, veteran QB Aaron Rodgers is another player to watch. After an impressive performance against Houston, where he threw three touchdown passes, he struggled against Arizona, completing 22 of 35 passes for only 151 yards. In that game, he managed just one completion beyond 10 yards and recorded a career-low 4.3 yards per attempt. Currently, his quarterback rating stands at 86.8, placing him 23rd in the NFL and marking the lowest rating for a season where he has started multiple games.
A critical matchup to note is between Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and the Jets’ defense. Taylor achieved his 20th career game with over 100 rushing yards last week against Buffalo and was one of only three players this season to reach that milestone in the first half of a game. The Jets’ defense has been under scrutiny for their run-stopping abilities and has seen numerous missed tackles throughout the year.
In terms of injuries, the Colts have a weakened offensive line with right guard Will Fries (lower leg) and Ryan Kelly (knee) sidelined. If left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) is also unable to play, the Colts may field three rookie linemen for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. remains uncertain as he missed last week’s game due to a back injury that was expected to keep him out for several weeks. For the Jets, wide receiver Davante Adams began the week with an illness and a sore wrist, potentially affecting his availability. In addition, left tackle Tyron Smith is being evaluated for a neck injury sustained in Arizona, and if he is out, rookie Olu Fashanu would step in. Other key injuries for the Jets include linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck), defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (knee), cornerback Brandin Echols (concussion), and offensive lineman Jake Hanson (hamstring).
Historically, the Colts have recently dominated this series, winning three of the last four matchups. Notably, the winner of each of those four games scored over 40 points. The Jets notably delivered the Colts their most significant playoff defeat, a 41-0 loss in January 2003. Furthermore, the Jets triumphed in the most important contest between the two teams—a Super Bowl victory in January 1969, defeating the then-Baltimore Colts 16-7, fulfilling Joe Namath’s famous guarantee.
Statistically, this game features one of the NFL’s youngest starting quarterbacks, Richardson (22), up against a seasoned veteran in Rodgers, who will turn 41 on December 2. The Colts are on a three-game losing streak, trailing behind Denver for the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. New York is just one game back from Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The Colts’ road record this season is a disappointing 1-4. Rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell had a standout performance last week with six receptions for 71 yards, while second-year receiver Josh Downs also excelled with seven catches for 72 yards. Colts receiver Alec Pierce leads the NFL in yards per reception.
On defense, the Colts have recorded six takeaways over the last three weeks and have limited opponents to nine points or fewer on their opening drives in every game this season. Linebacker Grant Stuard tied for the NFL’s high with an 18-tackle game earlier in the season. Meanwhile, the Jets have only secured one victory in five games since interim coach Jeff Ulbrich took over. Rodgers has not surpassed 300 passing yards in 32 consecutive regular-season games, marking the league’s third-longest drought in the last two decades. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson is having a strong season, ranking second in reception totals and fourth in receiving yards.
In terms of fantasy potential, running back Breece Hall from the Jets has only managed one 100-yard rushing game this season and has been somewhat stagnant in the last four games. Given that the Colts have one of the lower-ranked defensive units, this could be an excellent opportunity for Hall to shine, both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield.
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