After a scathing defeat, the Indianapolis Colts will want to give their playoff hopes a lift when they play the struggling New York Jets at the MetLife Stadium. With the Jets fading with every passing game, this Monday Night Football contest will be a chance for the Colts to get their season back on track.
The Colts went down to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their last game, with Indianapolis failing to find any kind of offensive rhythm in the absence of their starting quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck will be back playing against the Jets, after recovering from a concussion that kept him out of the loss to Pittsburgh, giving Indianapolis a chance to go level with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans at 6-6 in the AFC South.
"You want to have all your guys out there and certainly Andrew is a guy you want to have on the field," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "Everybody is excited about that."
Last week, Luck had admitted he is itching to get back on the field, after being forced to watch on as the Colts went down 28-7 to the Steelers. "Sitting and watching is no fun," Luck said. "Playing is fun. Practicing is fun. Winning is fun.
"To have opportunities and to go out and try to win a football game and get a little closer to your goal, that is absolutely special."
With a three-way tie at the top of the AFC South possible, the Colts know they need to get the job done on Monday, especially considering they will be playing a New York Jets team that has won just three games all season.
"That's what makes football so exciting this time of the year," tight end Dwayne Allen said of the close nature of the standings in the division. "December football.
"It's our job to run the table. In order to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs, we have to run the table. You can either be intimidated by that or be excited because that means the coaching staff, the players, are going to give it everything they absolutely have to win a football game. And that's exciting football."
Exciting football is something the Jets haven't produced too often this season, and with a record of 3-8, their chances of making something of 2016 is pretty much over. Points late in the half is what's cost the Jets the most, and that needs to change if they are to salvage some pride for the rest of this season.
Where to Watch Live
Colts at Jets MNF is scheduled for an 8.30pm ET (1.30am GMT, 7am IST) start.
USA: TV: ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Live Streaming: Watch ESPN.
India: TV: Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Live Streaming: Sonyliv.
Canada: TV: TSN1. Live Streaming: TSN TV.
Mexico and Latin America: TV: ESPN. Live Streaming: ESPN Play.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 1. Live Streaming: Sky Go.
Australia: TV: ESPN. Live Streaming: Foxtel.
International: Live Streaming: NFL Game Pass.
