INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts 2015 home opener will come on Monday night with former center Jeff Saturday being inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.
On the field, it will be the Colts second AFC East matchup of the season, this one coming against the 1-0 Jets.
What should fans be looking for when the Colts welcome the Jets to Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night?
1. Offensive Rhythm
-For the second straight week, the Colts are going to see ample pressure coming from the opposing defense. Andrew Luck stressed this week how important finding a rhythm is needed against the Jets. It seemed like every time the Colts pushed into Bills territory last Sunday, a mistake of their own thwarted any early scoring opportunities. An early score would do wonders for the offense come Monday.
2. Control Field Position
-Last season, the Colts were a team that had an edge virtually every week in the battle for field position. That was absent on Sunday in Buffalo with three Colts drives starting inside their own 10-yard line. In the Jets season opener, they had a remarkable drive start of their own 45-yard line. The Colts need to get back on track and try to set up some shorter fields to drive against such a stout defense.
3. Hilton's Status?
-The status of T.Y. Hilton is likely not to have a firm answer until the list of inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff on Monday. Having Hilton out there will impact several matchups in this one. The biggest one being what the Jets do with All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. If Hilton plays on Monday, you would have to think Revis is going to draw that assignment in a shadow role.
4. Mathis Back?
-Just like Hilton, projecting Robert Mathis into Monday's game is difficult. He has practiced for a little less than a month now and appears to be having no residual effects. Is a home return in order from No. 98 this week?
5. Bouncing Back
-Under Chuck Pagano, the Colts are an incredible 14-1 following a loss. The lone stretch of back-to-back defeats came to start last season (Denver and Philadelphia). Just like last year in Week Two, the Colts are back on Monday Night Football, at home, trying to even their record at 1-1. This will be the first of five primetime matchups for the Colts in 2015.
*6. Eliminating Jets Ground Attack *
-In their Week One victory over the Browns, the Jets ran the ball 36 times. Only one team ran the ball more in Week One than the Jets. The two-headed attack of Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell will definitely be counted on again to try and play keep away from Andrew Luck.
7. Get Gore Going
-The Colts would love to establish Frank Gore on Monday night to alleviate some of the pressure that will inevitably be coming at Andrew Luck. Gore had eight carries for 31 yards in the season opener but there were a few potential pass plays to the 32-year-old-running back that irked Luck after the game. The Colts want to get Gore more involved in both the run and pass game.
