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
The Jets offense performed well 486 yds of total offense! The Colts never took out their starters on defense or offense, so there was no garbage time in this game! The defense got runover by the Colts, manhandled up front and it was happening before Mike White got hurt!