Sky Live preview: Andrew Luck aiming to bounce back against the New York Jets
Friday 18 September 2015 22:07, UK
The Indianapolis Colts will be aiming to bounce back from their week one loss to the Buffalo Bills when they host the New York Jets on Tuesday.
Andrew Luck and the Colts were viewed as serious Super Bowl contenders heading into the season but they looked anything but in an error-strewn performance in Buffalo last Sunday.
Indianapolis committed three turnovers including two picks by Luck, who didn't throw the first of his two touchdowns on the day until the final minute of the third quarter.
"They beat us pretty bad," said Luck. "You don't let one game necessarily define you, but that doesn't make it any easier of a pill to swallow."
If the Colts failed to meet the expectations placed upon them in week one, the Jets exceeded theirs as they cantered to a 31-10 victory at home against the Cleveland Browns.
In Todd Bowles first game as head coach, New York forced five turnovers, ran the ball well with Chris Ivory racking up 91 yards and two touchdowns, and veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was efficient as he threw for 179 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
"It feels good to get the butterflies out of the way, to get that first one," said first-year coach Bowles, who became the third straight Jets coach to win his debut. "It wasn't perfect, by no means, but we did what we had to do to win."
The Jets will aim to repeat that performance against Indianapolis and will hope to use Ivory as a battering ram to wear down a defence which allowed Buffalo to rush for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
The Colts' hopes rest firmly on the shoulders of Luck, who will be aiming to rediscover his Pro Bowl form after his struggles against the Bills fearsome defence.
However he will have to be at his best if he is to put up big numbers against an equally capable Jets defence which is headlined by All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis - a player Luck has the utmost respect for.
"He's cerebral. He's athletic. He still plays like he's a 25-year old, in terms of athleticism," Luck said of the 30-year-old-Revis. "He uses the sideline to his advantage, uses your splits, uses your motions.
"He will follow guys around. He'll wall, just stay on one side. He presses .He (plays) off. He does everything. He's a complete corner, as complete a corner as you'll find in the NFL."
Pro Bowl wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is likely to be a game-time decision after damaging his knee against Buffalo and Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett will see increased roles if he cannot play.
For the Jets, cornerback Antonio Cromartie is likely to miss the trip after injuring his left knee in the second quarter of the win over Cleveland.
You can watch the Indianapolis Colts host the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday live on Sky Sports 1 HD, with coverage from 1:15am.
