3 things we learned in the Jets’ 20-7 win over the Colts

The new look, revamped New York Jets are now 2-0, a 20-7win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night a measuring stick for where this team is at.

A big night from the Jets defense, which forced fiveturnovers againstan offense that last year was the strength of a team just a game away from the Super Bowl, keyed the Jets to an ugly win. A strong defensive showing coupled with an offense that was overly conservative at times turned out to be the recipe for the team’s first 2-0 start since 2011.

A touchdown pass to Eric Decker and then a Nick Folk field goal staked the Jets to a 10-0 lead at halftime but the story was on the other side of the ball for the visitors.

Two first half turnovers, an interception by Calvin Pryor and then a strip of Andrew Luck on third down late in the second quarter, led to just seven points for the Jets as Folk plunked a 48-yard effort on the stroke of halftime off the post. But it was the zero points for the Colts through three quarters that kept the Jets in the game as the offense sputtered.

That trend would continue after halftime.

With the Colts driving on their first possession of the second half, Colts running back Frank Gore fumbled on the goal line and Darrelle Revis was there for his second fumble recovery of the game. The turnover ended an 18-play, 79-yard drive that ate up 9:39 off the clock. It alsokept the Colts off the scoreboard.

On the Colts next drive, Revis then intercepted Luck on third down, the Colts fourth turnover of the night.

Luck would connect with Donte Moncrief in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-7 game but the Jets answered back, with Ryan Fitzpatrick hitting Brandon Marshall for a 15-yard touchdown, a tremendous physical play from the wide receiver to extend with the ball to get across the goal line.

Marshall finished with seven catches for 101 yards with a touchdown and Deckerhad eight catches for 97 yards and that first quarter touchdown.

Three Things We Learned in Week 2:

Darrelle Revis is the Game’s Best Cornerback – An interception (he nearly had a second in the fourth quarter) and two fumbles (one he forced then recovered) capped off a tremendous showing by the game’s best cornerback. Darrelle Revis came back to the Jets after two years away for moments like this. And on the national stage, Revis showed that he is still the best in the game.

Jets Offense Kinda Blah…But Kinda Effective- This game could have been much bigger of a lead for the Jets at halftime and truthfully, the offense seemed downright bland. Especially since the Colts were missing their top three cornerbacks by the second half of the game, one would think the Jets could have moved the ball more effectively. Making matters worse, one week after the Bills ran all over this defense, the Jets didn’t do much on the ground till late in the game when Chris Ivory began to heat up. That coincided with the Jets much needed drive in the fourth quarter, seven plays and 80 yards in 3:47 to put the Jets up 17-7. The offense wasn’t very pretty but it got the job done and limited mistakes.

Folk Is Strangely Human in September – Over the past four seasons, kicker Nick Folk has been impeccable in the season’s first month, to the tune of 28-for-28 in September. His last miss in the ninth month of year came in Week 3 of 2010 in what was a win at the Miami Dolphins. Folk missed at the end of the second quarter, pushing a 48-yard effort that clanked off the upright. He would nail a 46-yard field goal late to ice the game.