INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Pittman Jr. continued to show why he is the Indianapolis Colts‘ No. 1 receiver when he went into tight coverage, didn’t let New York Jets linebacker Jarrad Davis jumping in the air or cornerback Bryce Hall being draped on his back stop him from snagging quarterback Carson Wentz‘s 11-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the first half on Thursday.
The only question about the play was whether Jets safety Marcus Maye knocked the ball out of Pittman’s hands before he got two feet down in the end zone. The play was originally called an incomplete pass, but was changed to a touchdown after it was determined that Pittman got one foot down and took two additional steps to complete the process of a catch.
It was the Colts’ fourth touchdown on their first four possessions. Running back Nyheim Hines started the scoring on their opening drive. He took the handoff and started right before bumping into center Ryan Kelly and cutting left. Hines, a former track athlete at N.C. State, broke to the outside, leaving Jets cornerback Brandin Echols flailing his arms in desperation trying to catch him.
Primetime players make primetime plays.
📺 FOX/NFLN/Prime
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 5, 2021
Hines dove head first into the end zone to complete the 34-yard touchdown, giving the Colts a quick 7-0 lead. And to top off his career-long run, Hines did a flip in the end zone for a celebration.
The Jets responded on their next possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mike White to Elijah Moore, tying the score.
But running back Jonathan Taylor added a 21-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and tight end Jack Doyle caught a short TD pass as the Colts increased their lead before Pittman’s grab. Offensive lineman Danny Pinter even got in on the scoring with a short TD catch for the Colts.
THERE GOES HINES FOR 6! @TheNyNy7 @Colts | #ForTheShoe
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/VBY3osSRS5— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
The J-Train keeps on rolling 🚂@JayT23 | #ForTheShoe
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/ARyGPziATg— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
TOUCHDOWN DANNY PINTER!!
📺 FOX/NFLN/Prime pic.twitter.com/24OxNtZBUJ
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 5, 2021
