Colts vs. Jets 2016, NFL picks and predictions: Indianapolis is a heavy favorite on Monday night

The Indianapolis Colts have hardly played inspired football this season, but they’re getting Andrew Luck back this week, which is an obvious boost to the team’s playoff hopes as they prepare to face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

Luck suffered a concussion in Week 11 and sat out the team’s Thanksgiving game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With backup QB Scott Tolzien having a short week to prepare, Pittsburgh was predictably dominant in the 28-7 win. The Colts dropped to 5-6, but they’re still well within reach of the AFC South title, with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans both sitting at 6-6.

The Jets are essentially playing out the string of a lost season. They actually had a spirited performance against the New England Patriots last week, holding a narrow lead for most of the game. Of course, Tom Brady did what Brady does, leading his team to a last-minute comeback win. The Jets had a chance to retake their lead with less than two minutes left, only for Ryan Fitzpatrick to get strip-sacked, sealing the 22-17 loss.

At 3-8, the Jets’ playoff hopes are just about dead and buried. They’ll be mathematically eliminated with a loss, and that should come sooner rather than later. It’s a disappointing sophomore campaign for head coach Todd Bowles, who led the Jets to 10-6 in his first season. It seems like only a matter of time before he goes back to Bryce Petty, if only to see what he has in the young QB. Fitzpatrick isn’t the answer, both in the present and future.

Not surprisingly, the Colts are heavy favorites in this game with a returning Luck. They’re being picked by a 7-2 margin at ESPN, and seven of eight writers at CBS Sports are also picking them. Here at SB Nation, our panel is actually more even, with just four writers picking Indy and four more, plus the OddsShark computer, taking New York.