Darrelle Revis recorded three takeaways as the New York Jets forced a trio of Andrew Luck interceptions in a 20-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. Here's what you need to know:
- The Jets generated just 13 takeaways all last season under noted defensive mastermind Rex Ryan. They already have 10 in two games under new coach Todd Bowles. That fumble luck will regress to the mean, but Bowles still deserves credit for dialing up blitzes at opportune times. Look for Revis to garner AFC Defensive Player of the Week consideration with the interception, two fumble recoveries and sticky coverage on T.Y. Hilton.
- A sloppy, chaotic mess, the Colts' offense has been shut out in the first half of consecutive games for the first time since 1997. The problems are manifold, with enough blame to go around the entire unit. The offensive line has negated a host of big plays with ill-time penalties and has failed to pick up third-down blitzes. Going back to the AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots, the wide receivers have shown a disturbing penchant for losing man-to-man battles. Andre Johnson is making the Texans look prescient for cutting bait on his decline phase. Frank Gore cost the team an easy touchdown by fumbling untouched at the goal line. An increasingly careless Andrew Luck hasn't thrown the ball with authority and his laudable pocket presence is starting to show cracks. Coordinator Pep Hamilton missed a chance to increase the tempo and spread out the Jets' defense as the Patriots did to the Bills on Sunday. The ultra-reliable Adam Vinatieri even missed a 29-yard chip shot.
This offense bears no resemblance to the hyped "Greatest 'Shoe on Earth." At Tuesday's team meeting, coach Chuck Pagano should play a running loop of ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico: "Pocket collapsing, nobody open downfield."
- Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn't quite as impressive as he was versus the Browns last week, but he's still set up for a career year throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. While the Jets wait patiently for second-round deep threat Devin Smith to add a speed element, Fitzpatrick is leaning on a pair of power forwards to post up smaller corners in the red zone. Marshall, in particular, has been a beast near the goal line. The duo got the better of Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis, who left with a concussion at halftime after allowing his first touchdown since Week 13 of the 2013 season.
- If there is a bright spot for the Colts through two weeks, it's the play of third-round defensive end Henry Anderson and fifth-round nose tackle David Parry -- a pair of former Stanford stars. Labeled the "steal of the draft" by Pro Football Focus, Anderson has been a demon against the run, recording six tackles for loss in his first six NFL quarters. The defense that couldn't stop Jonas Gray and LeGarrette Blount last season has held LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory to 3.2 yards per carry.
- Pagano entered a make-or-break season on the hot seat due to reported philosophical differences with general manager Ryan Grigson. Between the lack of discipline displayed by Pagano's players and Grigson's aging roster with little semblance of playmaking ability, the finger-pointing only figures to increase in degree and frequency if the season doesn't turn around quickly. Fortunately, the Colts toil in the NFL's least competitive division. There's plenty of time to climb out of the AFC South basement.
- Bowles revealed after the game that Decker will undergo an MRI for a knee injury sustained in the second half. The Colts lost Dwayne Allen to an ankle injury, but the team didn't provide an update on Allen after the game.
