Pro Sports

Colts defense, Rivers come up big as Colts ground Jets 36-7

Posted September 27, 2020 7:00 am

By MICHAEL MAROT

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes (27) runs back an interception for a touchdown against the New York Jets In the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Xavier Rhodes delivered the first punch Sunday for the Indianapolis Colts.

T.J. Carrie finished it off on a milestone day for Philip Rivers.

Rhodes and Carrie each returned an interception for a touchdown, Indianapolis recorded its second safety in as many weeks and Rivers added his 400th career TD pass as the Colts routed the New York Jets 36-7. It's the first time since October 1970 the Colts returned two INTs for scores in a game, which also happened against the Jets.

'œAny time we touch that rock, that's the most important part of the game," Carrie said. 'œIt's not just saying something, you have to actually go out and practice it."

The Colts (2-1) came in with the league's top-rated defense and could stay there after picking off three more passes, giving up just 260 yards and seven points.

But for a franchise better known for high-scoring offenses, getting 18 points from the defense in two victories has been a welcome addition.

Couple that with Rivers, who got rid of the ball quickly and crisply while avoiding mistakes on a milestone day.

The 38-year-old quarterback went 17 of 21 with 217 yards, becoming the sixth player in league history to throw 400 career TD passes and the sixth to top 60,000 yards. He passed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for fifth all-time in completions and broke a tie with Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton for eighth in league history with win No. 125..

Rivers now has exactly 400 TDs, 60,065 yards, 4,980 completions.

'œI think it's OK when you don't caught up in it to go, '~Oh man,'" he said. 'œWhat it's done for me in this little short bit of time is you start thinking about all the guys who caught so many of those balls. You know it's all about the team. But I'm certainly thankful and I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't care.'ť

For the winless Jets, it was another ugly chapter in a season already filled with them after only three weeks.

Rhodes picked off Sam Darnold on the fifth play of the game, returning it 44 yards for his first score since 2016.

Darnold answered with a 16-yard TD pass to Braxton Berrios to tie it midway through the first quarter. He finished 17 of 27 with 168 yards, one TD and three interceptions.

Then, it was all Colts.

After the Jets drew a pass interference call in the end zone, Rivers found Mo Alie-Cox for a 1-yard score to break the tie. Rodrigo Blankenship extended the halftime lead to 17-7 with a 42-yard field goal. Jonathan Taylor scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal in the third quarter and Carrie's 47-yard interception return on the final play of the quarter sealed New York's fate.

The Jets are 0-3 for the second straight season.

'œIt's frustrating," Jets coach Adam Gase said. 'œI'm frustrated for our guys, our coaches. I mean, we're the only ones that can fix it. We have to do it. We have to figure out a way to clean up all the things that aren't going right for us.'ť

INJURIES

Jets: New York opened the game without starting receivers Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder, or right tackle George Fant. All three were inactive. Left tackle Mekhi Becton left in the first half with an injured shoulder and did not return. Linebacker Jordan Willis and safety Bradley McDougald got hurt in the fourth quarter.

Colts: Starting cornerback Rock Ya-Sin missed his second straight game with a non-football related stomach illness and rookie receiver Michael Pittman injured his ankle in the first half, but returned later.

STAT PACK

Jets: Had the first 19 plays of the game, holding the ball for nearly 10 minutes. ... New York had 188 yards of offense in the first half against the league's No. 1 defense but finished with 260. ... Frank Gore ran 15 times for 57 yards against his former team. ... Kalen Ballage caught five passes for 44 yards to lead the Jets. ... Darnold's quarterback rating was 53.2

Colts: Rhodes had two interceptions, one more than his total from the previous two seasons. ... Alie-Cox finished with three catches for 50 yards. T.Y. Hilton had three receptions for 52 yards. ... Taylor ran 13 times for 59 yards. ... Team officials announced 7,480 tickets were distributed. Indy has played in front of fans all three weeks.

UP NEXT

Jets: Hope to snap a three-game losing streak Thursday when Denver visits.

Colts: Will try to win in Chicago for the first time since 2004 next Sunday.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

New York Jets wide receiver Braxton Berrios (10) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes (27) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

New York Jets wide receiver Braxton Berrios (10) celebrates a touchdown with offensive guard Alex Lewis (71) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) pressures New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) In the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes (27) intercept a pass intended for New York Jets receiver Lawrence Cager (86) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) breaks the tackle of New York Jets defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (94) in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

New York Jets cornerback Pierre Desir (35) breaks a a pass to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman (11) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (81) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of New York Jets outside linebacker Tarell Basham (93) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Justin Houston (50) sacks New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) for a safety in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Justin Houston (50) and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) celebrates a safety against the New York Jets in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is chased out of the pocket by Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and defensive back Kenny Moore II (23) in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) The Associated Press

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