2020 NFL Week 3: Jets at Colts Second Half Open Thread — Colts lead 17 - 7

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FIRST HALF THOUGHTS

The Colts head to the half with a 17-7 lead, one that they should be able to protect in the second half for an important win early in the 2020 season. Veteran corner Xavier Rhodes has filled the stat sheet with two interceptions, including one that was returned for the touchdown. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox put up 46 receiving yards and on receiving touchdown in 2 receptions on his 2 targets.

Ignoring some of the positives and outliers, the Colts haven’t looked particularly good in the first half. The secondary has been picked apart for much of the game. Rhodes did have two first half interceptions but his second was on a blown coverage and was more luck than skill. The Colts do have a 10 point lead but rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed his second field goal of the young season by bouncing his attempt off of the upright after a nice offensive push to get into field goal range.

The vaunted rushing offense? It really hasn’t been a factor in the first half. The defensive line? Hasn’t been able to rattle Sam Darnold and has missed out on multiple opportunities for sacks or negative plays. The rush defense? It is allowing Frank Gore and castoff rushers go for more than 4 yards per carry. Braxton Berrios may not play more than 10% of the offensive snaps the rest of the way for the Jets once Jamison Crowder returns and he has looked like an all-world talent.

While most half time speeches are influenced most by the scoreboard, this could be an example of the coaching staff expressing deserved disappointment in a first half performance that has relied more on chance and less on skill. The Colts should be dominating the Jets and instead look kind of lucky.

Let’s hope the second half is different.