The New York Jets dropped their eighth consecutive nationally televised game on Thursday in Indianapolis.
- New York Jets 30 (2-6)
- Indianapolis Colts 45 (4-5)
- NFL, Week 9, Final, Box Score
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
The New York Jets’ good vibes brought about by the Mike White emergence came to a swift and unfortunate end on Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
White had 95 yards and a score before departing with an injury—one that wouldn’t allow him to return.
Josh Johnson performed respectably in his absence, (career-best 317 yards and three scores) but that wasn’t enough to overcome 260 yards on the ground from the hosting Colts, who earned a 45-30 triumph in prime time.
The Jets (2-6) dropped their eighth consecutive nationally televised game (dating back to September 2018) and also fell to 0-5 on the road this season.
After doing the unthinkable—forcing the White-led Jets into a punt—the Colts immediately followed through on an eight-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a 34-yard scoring run by Nyheim Hines.
White responded in a familiar fashion: a glorious touchdown toss. His 19-yard strike to a wide-open Elijah Moore allowed the second-round rookie to score the first touchdown of his NFL career and knot the game at 7-7 in the late stages of the opening quarter.
Nyheim Hines just bouncing off his own linemen on the way to a 34-yard TD run.
Colts strike first.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/aHnkp9bIvx
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 5, 2021
.@e_moore03 gets his first TD catch of his career! ✈️@nyjets tie it up! #TakeFlight
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/9GFmXUOFE4— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
Alas for the Jets and their long-suffering fans, that would the last White sighting of the night. He spent the rest of the event being evaluated for a wrist injury and was labeled questionable for a return that never came.
Indianapolis kicked the Jets while they were down, responding with two touchdowns: Jonathan Taylor went 21 yards for a tally while Carson Wentz found Jack Doyle for a short one-yard tally that followed a Ty Johnson fumbled forced by Darius Leonard.
Wow, Colts O-Line came to play❗️
Great patience by Jonathan Taylor on the touchdown ❗️
Colts up, 14-7 pic.twitter.com/rQWKjD3CyT
— Alex Xaviel (@SnakeDraftViper) November 5, 2021
Darius Leonard is different
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/KU6hftYWsL
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 5, 2021
JACK DOYLE
Colts (-10) are cruising
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/Lxc6aeRBuq
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 5, 2021
Under the watch of well-traveled backup Josh Johnson, the Jets managed to narrow the gap with a short Matt Ammendola field goal, but the Colts embarked on one last quick scoring drive, a 75-yard trek that took 94 seconds. It ended with an 11-yard touchdown reception for Michael Pittman Jr.
Who else?
Michael Pittman Jr. scores his 5th TD in his last five games
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/keuU0Jeq2c
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 5, 2021
The carnage continued in the second half.
The Jets were able to force a turnover on down at the cusp of their end zone, but the Colts earned two high-profiles scores.
Wentz first found reserve offensive lineman Danny Pinter for a two-yard tally before Taylor score again, this time on a showstopping 78-yard run to glory.
BIG MAN TD! 🗣️🚨🗣️🚨@Colts | #ForTheShoe
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/JmvUB28EH4— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
JONATHAN TAYLOR IS HAVING A NIGHT 💪
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/WhMVvWANSx
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 5, 2021
To their credit, Johnson and the Jets managed to keep things competitive, posting the first three-touchdown game of his career in ending the game on a 20-3 run.
Moore earned another tally while the others went to Ryan Griffin and Ty Johnson.
ELIJAH MOORE BREAKOUT PARTY pic.twitter.com/dvVcBKrDrP
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 5, 2021
Ryan Griffin +800 ATTS ✅pic.twitter.com/WEtSxOx8k9
— DRF Sportsbook (@DRFSportsbook) November 5, 2021
Heck of an effort by Ty Johnson to get in for 6 😤@nyjets | #TakeFlight
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/LeBfmashaP— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
The Jets return to action on Nov. 14 at home against the Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
