5 Adjustments New York Jets Must Make in Week 2 Matchup with Indianapolis Colts

The Todd Bowles era got off to a great start with the New York Jets' 31-10 beatdown of the Cleveland Browns. If Bowles wants to really prove that he has the Jets trending in the right direction, though, the only option is to go 2-0 with a win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Let's face it: This is the type of game that the previous regime might have lost. The Jets just had an emotional, huge home win to open the season, and riding that wave of emotion might result in a letdown in Week 2 as they head to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Colts' home opener.

Bowles does not seem like one to ride the week-to-week highs and lows of an NFL season, but he'll have to prove it Monday night.

The Jets can't do the exact same things they did against the Browns and expect to win. Likewise, the Colts showed some weaknesses in their loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Jets will have to make some adjustments to their game plan in order to come out of Indianapolis with their second win of the season in as many games. 

More Blitzing

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What? Really? The Jets blitzed 50 percent of the time against the Cleveland Browns, yet somehow they should blitz more against the Indianapolis Colts?

It may be difficult to pull that off without becoming predictable, but there's some merit to the idea when looking at the numbers. The Buffalo Bills blitzed Colts quarterback Andrew Luck on 25 of his 53 dropbacks (47.2 percent), and Luck completed just nine of 23 passes when he was blitzed (39.1 percent) for 118 yards, one touchdown and two picks. 

Jets head coach Todd Bowles built a reputation as an aggressive defensive play-caller in his time as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. Given the Jets' personnel and coaching staff, the Jets will probably be one of the league's most blitz-happy defenses by the end of the 2015 season.

Why not let it rip against the Colts?

Bring the Silent Snap Count

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It's going to be loud at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night. Very loud.

The Colts get their home opener in Week 2 on prime-time television. Their fans will be fired up and ready to go. The noise is likely to have an effect on the offense at some point, whether it's the ability to call checks at the line of scrimmage or hear the snap count. The former of those two issues could cause miscommunication, but the latter could cause penalties.

The Jets' only recourse could be the silent snap count, which would reduce the likelihood of false-start penalties due to a lineman who couldn't hear the quarterback go through his cadence.

The problem with the silent snap count is that the defense can sometimes get a jump on it, putting the offensive line at a disadvantage if a defensive lineman is able to start his rush even a nanosecond before the blocker can get set. That being said, the advantage of avoiding 1st-and-15 is worth seeking.

Stick with the Running Game

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This isn't much of an adjustment, since the Jets ran the ball consistently and effectively on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns to the tune of 36 carries, 154 yards and two touchdowns. 

But until the Colts prove they can consistently stop the run, every opponent they face should be looking to pound it down their throats. In their past two games (2014 AFC Championship, 2015 Week 1), the Colts have yielded 324 yards on 76 carries (4.3 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns.

Whether it's a hard runner such as the New England Patriots' LeGarrette Blount or a quick-cutting back such as the Buffalo Bills' Karlos Williams, the Colts have not proved they can slow down a consistent running game.

The Jets have one of the most physical running backs in the NFL in Chris Ivory. Not only can the running game keep the Colts offense off the field, but it can also keep the wind out of the sails for Colts fans. Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey needs to make sure that Ivory is involved consistently if the Jets want to come away victorious. 

Start Stronger on Defense

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If the Jets want to be recognized as one of the best defenses in the NFL, they can't come out as sluggishly as they did against the Browns in Week 1. 

The Browns marched down the field 90 yards in 17 plays before forcing a goal-line fumble by Josh McCown, which resulted in the quarterback being knocked out of the game. It appeared their job was about to get easier, until backup Johnny Manziel promptly threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin just minutes later. 

"I felt we started off a little bit slow today, especially in the first quarter, the first drive," cornerback Darrelle Revis said after the game. "They moved the ball pretty well, McCown did and he had us on our heels. We finally kind of settled down and started making plays. One thing for us, I say coming out of this game is at the start of the game we need to start a little faster."

The Jets won't be so lucky against the Colts. Andrew Luck is more likely to take advantage of a slow start than McCown or Manziel. In 2014, the Colts scored 13.8 points per game in the first half, seventh-best in the NFL, according to Team Rankings.

Be Physical with T.Y. Hilton

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Getting physical with the 5'9", 180-pound T.Y. Hilton is easier said than done. Just ask the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts' top wide receiver is quick and shifty off the line of scrimmage and well-versed in the art of avoiding a jam.

But how effective will he be in Week 2—if he plays at all?

Hilton suffered a knee injury against the Bills, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media (h/t NFL.com) reports "the team will be cautious with their top target" and adds that "Hilton could miss one to two games, depending on how the wideout feels." 

If Hilton is available for this game, the Jets need to get physical with him at the line of scrimmage. His best asset is his long speed, and letting him get a free release is a sure way to give him every opportunity for a huge game on Sunday. 

If the Jets get beaten by the likes of tight end Coby Fleener and slot receiver Donte Moncrief, that's a result they'll have to accept. They can't allow themselves to get beaten by Andrew Luck throwing bombs to Hilton every time the Colts have the ball.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release. Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.