Indianapolis Colts vs New York Jets Match Player Stats On Dec 05, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 5, 2016

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Quarterback Andrew Luck and tight end Dwayne Allen connected on three first-half touchdown passes Monday night as the Indianapolis Colts moved into a tie for first place in the AFC South by routing the New York Jets, 41-10, at MetLife Stadium.

The Colts (6-6) joined the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South. Indianapolis has already swept Tennessee and hosts Houston on Sunday. The Texans defeated the Colts, 26-23, on Oct. 16.

Luck, who missed the Colts' previous game due to a concussion, was 22 of 28 for 278 yards and four touchdowns, the last of which was a 3-yarder to Donte Moncrief with 8:54 left the third quarter. Running back Robert Turbin capped Indianapolis' scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run just 6 seconds into the fourth quarter, after which Luck took a seat for Scott Tolzien.

The three touchdown catches matched Allen's total in his last 22 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. Wide receiver T.Y Hilton had nine catches for 146 yards.

The Jets (3-9) officially fell out of playoff contention with their third straight loss but likely started a new era at quarterback. Second-year signal caller Bryce Petty took over for Ryan Fitzpatrick to begin the third quarter and went 11 of 25 for 135 yards, one touchdown - a 41-yard strike to Robby Anderson - and two interceptions.

Fitzpatrick, a 34-year-old who is a free agent after the season, was just 5 of 12 for 81 yards and an interception in the first half.

The Colts dominated the Jets in the first half, during which they outgained New York 268-115 in taking a 24-3 lead.

While the Jets failed to record a first down on either of their first two possessions, Luck opened the game by directing 51-yard and 69-yard drives that ended with touchdown passes of 7 yards and 21 yards to Allen, who was wide open each time.

The Jets finally got a first down on their third possession before marching from their 3-yard-line to the Colts' 3-yard line on their fourth possession. The latter drive ended with New York settling for a 38-yard field goal by Nick Folk with 10:31 left in the half.

Adam Vinatieri booted a 53-yard field goal on the Colts' next possession to extend the lead to 17-3. After another three-and-out by the Jets, Indianapolis went 70 yards in nine plays and went up 24-3 on Luck's 21-yard touchdown pass to Allen.

The Colts nearly lengthened the lead again in the final minute of the half, but Jack Doyle fumbled out of the end zone while diving for the pylon on a 14-yard reception.

NOTES: A moment of silence was held prior to the game in honor of former Jets RB Joe McKnight, who was murdered in a road rage incident last Thursday. McKnight, a fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2010, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in three seasons with the club. ... Among the Jets' inactives were NT Steve McLendon (hamstring), who was hurt Nov. 13 and aggravated the injury Nov. 27, and SS Calvin Pryor (concussion). C Nick Mangold (ankle) returned after missing four games while DE Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle) played despite being added to the injury report on Saturday. ... Among the Colts' inactives were OLB Robert Mathis (bicep), who was injured against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thanksgiving night, and CB Patrick Robinson (groin), who aggravated an existing injury against the Steelers.