Jets Game Preview vs. Colts: Analysis, prediction, TV info

Colts at Jets -- Week 6

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (artificial turf, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Spread: Jets by 3.5

Forecast: Partly cloudy, with the temperature in the upper-60s

Records: Jets (Overall: 2-3, AFC East: 2-0); Colts (Overall: 2-2, AFC South: 0-1)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Jan. 8, 2011 (wild card playoffs) Jets 17, Colts 16; Jan. 24, 2010 (AFC championship) Colts 30, Jets 17. Series record: Colts lead 40-26.

What matters: The run game and the run defense. Coach Rex Ryan continues to express confidence in RB Shonn Greene, but if the Jets can’t get out in front and stay in front, they won’t have an opportunity to see if he can finally get going.

Who matters: QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez doesn’t have a lot of weapons and his offensive line has been spotty, but he has to figure out a way to make things happen and make better decisions at critical moments.

Key matchups: Colts WR Reggie Wayne vs. CB Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie has been playing his best football, but the Colts move Wayne around a lot and Cromartie will have to elevate his game even higher. ... Colts DE Dwight Freeney vs. the offensive line. Freeney has an ankle injury, but the line, as always, will have its hands full with him. He moves from side-to-side and is a force. They may get a slight reprieve as DE Robert Mathis is expected to be out with a knee injury.

Injuries of note: NT Sione Po’uha has been battling a bad back since training camp and missed Week 4. Eric Smith, who has had a knee and hip injury since the first game of the preseason, now has a sprained knee and will be out. Backup LB Josh Mauga has been put on IR with a torn pectoral muscle. C Nick Mangold has a sprained ankle. TE Dustin Keller may return from a hamstring injury. WR Stephen Hill is still iffy with a hamstring injury. WR Clyde Gates doesn’t look good with a shoulder injury.

Inside stuff: The Jets have two receivers who are not dealing with injuries -- Chaz Schilens and Jason Hill. Hill has been with the team less than two weeks. The team is outwardly maintaining a stiff upper lip, but there are concerns inside the building as to how the injuries are going to impact them.

Connections: S Yeremiah Bell and Colts CB Vontae Davis played together in Miami from 2009-2011. T Jason Smith and Colts CB Justin King were together in St. Louis from 2009-2011. Colts QB Drew Stanton signed with the Jets on March 16, 2012. Shortly thereafter, after the Jets traded for QB Tim Tebow, Stanton was traded to the Colts for a sixth-round draft pick, which the Jets used to select S Josh Bush. Colts NT Martin Tevaseu was with the Jets in 2010-2011.

Stat you should know: Sanchez is last in the NFL in completion percentage (48.4 percent).

Record watch: LB David Harris needs 0.5 sacks for a career total of 20. TE Dustin Keller needs two touchdowns to pass Johnny Mitchell for fifth on the all-time list for most receiving TDs by a TE. He needs three touchdowns to pass Anthony Becht for fourth. Keller has 17 touchdowns.

Looking ahead: The Jets are desperate for a win. They are 2-0 in the AFC East and a win against the Colts would give them a boost going into Weeks 7 and 8 against the Patriots and Dolphins.

Prediction: Jets 17, Colts 10

Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and @LisaZimmerman.