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With an Indianapolis Colts Week 9 game scheduled against the New York Jets, the holders of the horseshoe are in a must-win situation in the middle of the season. Here are some Jets-Colts predictions for Indianapolis on Thursday Night Football.
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Indianapolis Colts Week 9 Predictions
4. Indianapolis Colts QB Carson Wentz will throw two interceptions
Everybody makes mistakes. Human beings are imperfect. Athletes won't be at their best every week. Yet, with Carson Wentz, honest mistakes are just a small part of the story. Some of Wentz's errors are not “honest mistakes” anyone would make. No, they're mistakes Carson Wentz is making for the Colts.
For our conversation about Jets-Colts on the Establish the Pass podcast, click below:
It's hard to imagine any quarterback — even Nathan Peterman or Drew Lock or Geno Smith — throwing an interception as ugly and costly as the one Wentz threw in the fourth quarter on Sunday in the loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Colts know Wentz is in the middle of a transition year in his NFL career, but that doesn't explain the pure panic from the man Frank Reich gambled on to be the field general for his offense, when other (better) quarterbacks were on the open market.
Wentz endured a total meltdown at the end of the Colts-Titans game. Yeah, he did lead his team to a touchdown after his brutal interception, but that was aided by terrible play from the Tennessee secondary, which has been a problem for the Titans all season long. Wentz then threw a game-changing pick (again!) in overtime, leading to a brutal home-field loss.
Wentz is not going to enter this Thursday game with great confidence. The Colts will try to establish their ground game, but Robert Saleh of the Jets is too good a coach to let Indianapolis do whatever it wants on offense. This will put Wentz in some uncomfortable situations and limit his effectiveness, at least in the first half.
3. Colts will score 10 points in the first half
The Colts have had a knack for getting off to strong starts and then blowing leads late, but this Thursday game might be an exception to that pattern. Robert Saleh confused Joe Burrow in the first half of the Jets' win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He can certainly confuse Carson Wentz. Moreover, Indianapolis will begin this game in a fog on offense after the brutal ending against Tennessee. It's a game in which a first-half hangover will affect the home team's offense in Week 9.
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The Colts' defense will be a different story, as we'll explain below:
2. Colts will contain Mike White and the Jets' offense, getting three takeaways
Mike White ambushed the Bengals and took the NFL by storm in Week 8. The Colts, however, have game film on him and can make appropriate adjustments. Let's also realize that as good as he was for the Jets, White threw multiple interceptions against the Bengals and does make reckless plays.
It will be a big ask to expect White to stack together consecutive quality games for the Jets. Chances are he will not put up huge numbers but will still put a few throws in places where Colts defenders can snag them. Also keep in mind that for all of White's heroics, New York needed a Joe Burrow interception with under five minutes left in regulation to win that game. If that mistake isn't made, we might not be talking up the Jets' chances as much.
1. Indianapolis Colts will narrowly beat the New York Jets in Week 9
While the Colts won't dominate this game, their defense will set a positive tone early while Carson Wentz struggles. The Colts won't get a huge lead, but they will have a 10-3 or 13-6 lead midway through the game.
Mike White will eventually force a pass he shouldn't. The Colts will pick it off. They won't run away from the Jets and bury New York in Week 9, but they will get a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter and will preserve that advantage (enough) to survive in a game they have to win.
This will be a one-score win in which the Colts will get just enough from play-action passing to generate a few late first downs and prevent the Jets from getting a good chance to win in the final minutes.
