INDIANAPOLIS — Woody Johnson was standing outside the Jets locker room, greeting every player with a handshake. When Darrelle Revis walked by, the two former adversaries shared a hug.
The reunion, so far, is worth celebrating. Revis got his big contract and the Jets got their money player back.
It felt like old times for the Jets, lifted by their superstar cornerback to a big victory Monday night on the road.
Revis produced three takeaways — two fumbles and his first interception of the season — in the Jets’ eye-opening 20-7 win over the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, spearheading a dominant defensive performance that has Gang Green 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
“It was really fun,” he said, flashing a smile. “It’s Monday Night Football. It doesn’t get better than this.
“There’s no better place to be than 2-0. This is where we want to be.”
In two weeks, Revis now has come up with four turnovers. The Jets, as a whole, had 13 all of last season. The three takeaways on Monday by Revis were all important, none bigger than his second fumble recovery.
After a dominant first half, the Jets held a 10-0 lead, but the Colts marched right down the field, going 89 yards in 18 plays to open the third quarter. On third-and-goal from the 1, Frank Gore had the edge, but he bobbled the ball, and Revis hit him before he could gather it again. Revis also secured the ball, returning the momentum to the Jets.
“You never know how the ball is going to bounce, how you’re going to create turnovers,” he said. “You got to do your job.”
This wasn’t just classic shutdown Revis — it was also opportunistic Revis. He spent time on all the Colts receivers, and though Andrew Luck thew for 250 yards, Donte Moncrief had 122 of those, few of them against Revis. He held T.Y. Hilton to four catches for 45 yards.
“He’s the best in the game at the corner position and he shows it every week,” Jets linebacker Calvin Pace. “It was sad to see him go for those couple years, but, man, that’s why we brought him back.”
Revis spent most of his postgame press briefing with reporters praising his teammates, talking up the talent on both sides of the ball, the help he has in the secondary with fellow cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, the pass rush the Jets employ.
But everyone else on his side of the ball was focusing on him in the giddy Jets locker room. For all the offseason defensive changes the Jets made, from Cromartie to Skrine to safety Marcus Gilchrist, bringing back Revis has had the most profound effect.
“It changes a lot,” linebacker David Harris said. “He’s that guy. He’s Revis Island for a reason. He’s been doing it for a long time.
“Put him on the opposition’s best receiver and he’s always up to the challenge.”
