No Letdown Here, Colts Dominate Jags 27-10 on Thursday Night Football
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) chases Indianapolis Colts defensive back Darius Butler (20) after a tipped pass was intercepted by Butler during the final minutes of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Indianapolis won the game 27-10.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
6-3 and in the playoff hunt. Is this really happening? Yes. Can a 27-10 victory appear closer than it was? Yes. The Colts, riddled with injuries, traveling for a Thursday night game, and concerned about a letdown, came in, hit first, and kept swinging despite slowing down on offense in the second half. Oh, and they forced three turnovers. Real, live turnovers. It was like Christmas, and the Jaguars were Santa Clause.
Indianapolis, on a short week, was coming off a close, emotional victory over Miami, during which a handful of key players were injured. Head Coach Chuck Pagano was able to attend the game in person for the first time since he was diagnosed with leukemia. He addressed the players before and after, delivering an inspiring speech in the locker room after the victory.
However, many feared that the team could face another letdown game, as they did after their win over the Packers. This matchup, against the 1-7 Jaguars – whose only victory was against the Colts – also had all the makings of a trap game. A young team on a win streak facing a division opponent with a bad record. Not this time. Not this team.
Indianapolis played Chuck Pagano style football as Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach Bruce Arians called one of his better games. They ran and stopped the run, limiting Jacksonville to 37 rushing yards on 12 carries, a 3.1-yard average.
The Colts, on the other hand, had the statistics of a team that was trying to eat up the clock with a big lead: 138 hard-fought yards on the ground for 3.7 per carry, skewed by three kneel downs at the end. It paid off too, as Indy dominated in time of possession for the fourth straight game, and fourth straight win, holding the ball for 35:46 to just 24:12 for Jacksonville.
Turnovers??? Playing back-ups and cast-offs at cornerback, guys like Josh Gordy, Cassius Vaugh, and Darius Butler, the Colts gave up some yards and had their issues. However, they made up for a couple turnovers from the offense by forcing three of their own. This may have been the difference between another close, hard-fought win, and cruising to victory.
The game started great for the defense, as they forced two consecutive three-and-outs. When the Jaguars, who pushed the tempo with a no-huddle, were finally able to move the ball in the second quarter, they missed a field goal after Moise Fokou broke up a pass and Gabbert couldn’t convert on 3rd down to Cecil Shorts III. 3-0, Colts.
The Colts went right back to work, with a 62-yard drive ending in a spectacular 5-yard touchdown run by Andrew Luck on a bootleg. In recent weeks, we would have expected their opponent to answer right back. But tonight was not destined to be another close game.
Up 10-0, the Indy defense finally gave up a 3rd down conversion, sort of, by way of an offside penalty on Jerry Hughes. The Jaguars finally had something go their way. Gabbert then threw a 9-yard pass to Laurent Robinson on 1st down. Robinson fumbled. Moise Fokou ripped the ball away, and Darius Butler, who was everywhere, recovered at the 39. Robinson was ruled down by contact. Arians, who was 0-2 on challenges coming in, challenged and won. Colts ball. What could have quickly become a close game could begin to look more like the blowout it should be.
Luck and the offense picked up where they left off, blazing down the field, thanks in part to a 44-yard bomb to Donnie Avery, and capping off their drive with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. The Colts took a commanding lead over the reeling Jaguars, and Andrew Luck (5) passed Peyton Manning (4) for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a Colts quarterback. 17-0, Colts
After another three-and-out by the Jaguars and an interception by Andrew Luck, the Jaguars managed a field goal before halftime. 17-3, Colts
While the offense slowed down again in the second half, a disturbing trend all season, the defense, and, yes, Darius Butler, stepped up again. After forcing a Colts punt (an excellent short punt to the 4-yard line by Pat McAfee, recovered by Sergio Brown) on their first drive of the half, the Jaguars had another opportunity to narrow the gap, albeit in terrible field position.
The Colts would have none of it, as Darius Butler jumped a hook route that the Jaguars had been running all night and snagged a pick six from Gabbert. Again, turnovers kept the Jaguars out of the game, allowing the Colts to cruise through the second half.
Indianapolis forced two straight punts before a fumble by Luck gave Jacksonville one more glimmer of hope in the 4th quarter. After taking a sack from Antoine Bethea on a scramble to the outside, Gabbert left the game with an injury. Chad Henne stepped in and marched the Jaguars downfield for a touchdown. 24-10, Colts.
The Colts got the ball back with 9:16 left and proceeded with a nice clock-eating field goal drive to finish off the Jags, 27-10. When Henne got the ball back with 3:23 remaining, there wasn’t much hope left for Jacksonville. On 4th and 1 at the Indy 35, Henne’s pass was batted up in the air by Cory Redding, then by Freeney, and Freeney again, before it was picked off and returned 51 yards by, guess who, Darius Butler. Icing on the Cake. The Offense came out and took the obligatory kneel downs to run out the clock.
Ah, what a beautiful sight the victory formation is. Andrew Luck finished the game 18/26 (4 drops by the receivers in the 1st half, or it would’ve looked even better) for 227 yards, one interception at the end of the 2nd quarter, an 80.1 rating, and those two rushing touchdowns. Vick Ballard ran for 48 yards on 12 carries as the offense managed a solid 138 rushing yards. Donnie Avery was more efficient than usual, catching 4 passes for 65 yards on 6 targets (He came in with a 50% catch rate), and Reggie Wayne led the Colts receivers with 8 receptions for 96 yards.
The defense notched three turnovers, all involving Darius butler, who finished with 4 tackles, 2 passes defended, 2 interceptions, a touchdown, and a fumble recovery. They also had 4 sacks – 3 from the defensive backs, with Josh Gordy, Antoine Bethea, and Tom Zbikowski all taking down the quarterback along with Outside Linebacker Jerry Hughes.
Tonight, the Colts made an opponent one-dimensional. They ran well (a 4.1 yard average without Luck’s kneel downs), and they got big plays on defense. The letdown game, the trap game was instead a comfortable, convincing victory for a young team fighting for their coach, and possibly, for the playoffs. As Chuck Pagano would say, Let’s Hunt.
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They weren't many, but most of Luck's issues last night appeared to be due to OL failures (no room to step up/hit arm on INT, collapsed pocked/no escape on fumble). With the exception of the first INT that was negated by penalty, I don't remember a play that I would have called a *bad decision* on Luck's part.
At the risk of the choir singing "gee, where have we heard that before", imagine what this offense could do with a legitimate OL.
@matt_has The throw to Avery ended up as a huge completion, but if Ross played it right, that was a bad throw.
I actually thought Luck's pocket presence wasn't great in teh game. He had very little time on the pick that counted, but the first sack he held the ball way too long (better than forcing a pass in field goal range, I guess). Same with the strip-sack. He'll get better, so it isn't a big deal. I was actually impressed with the o-line most of the night.
@matt_has The only part I disagree with is that he had to have known the pressure was there on the INT that counted. Granted, he might have made that throw had it not been knocked off-course, but that's a risky throw to make in that position.
Of course, he's a rookie and even the most seasoned veteran will force a throw like that from time to time, I just hope, and trust, he won't turn into a funslinger like Favre.
@matt_has You're spot on IMO. The line lost a lot of battles, as they have all season. If Luck can stay healthy with all the hits he's taking, and Grigson can build a legit o line, well, you already know. One concern I have is Luck needs to hold on to the ball better when he does take a sack.
@MarcusDugan @matt_has I think Luck has a bit of an issue with always looking to pass...always. He gets the ball out of his hands after being chased a lot, and he almost always gives his receivers a chance at it even under heavy pressure, but when the pressure gets to him too quickly, it feels like he still wants to throw when he should be securing the ball.
I'd be interested in seeing numbers on the Colts redzone efficiency. It seems like moving the ball isnt a problem but finishing off in the redzone is tough for #12. Things are much tighter there and you can tell from the two turnovers last night. It'll come with time though...
@Platinum It's such a vertical offense, there might not be a lot of good red zone passing plays. We got to see some quick slants last night, which I consider smart football. If they start utilizing them in the RZ, that could help. Having more consistent receivers outside of Wayne would help too. I'll see if I can find their red zone numbers today. You might be able to google it.
@MarcusDugan @Platinum Maybe we can find a way to utilize the hands and size of Dwayne Allen in there like NE does with their TE's and like Peyton used to do with Dallas Clark.
@AJ_ @Platinum Good call. When you put it that way, I think we're seeing more and more of that diversity each week as these guys catch up to Luck.
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@Platinum @MarcusDugan Remember that Arians has bluntly stated that the playbook is being limited for the rookies. Not for Luck, who BA said was very able to handle anything out of it, but for the other rookies. So it logically follows that there *WILL* be an increase in diversity and plays from the Colts, many of which should, if they're smart, use the TEs more and more.
Allen's a weapon, and Fleener has real potential to develop into one. Arians and Pagano HAVE to be smart enough to recognize that and work it in.
Anyway, as time goes by, I fully expect to see more diverse types of plays that will include the TEs more and more. And we'll all readily admit that Allen's already being used more and more. It's only a matter of time before he gets his on a regular basis.
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Ive tried being very harsh on Andrew thus far because I didn't want to let expectations cloud my judgement. I can safely say, while this wasn't a great overall game on his part, hes going to be amazing. His movement in the pocket, his maintenance of mechanics(generally speaking) have been superb. Once he figures out how to read defenses(which should come in time), there is no limit to his ceiling. For the first time in years, I stopped pining for Peyton.
@Ajit I think he's way ahead of any rookies on reading defenses. But he definitely still gets fooled.
@MarcusDugan @Ajit o no doubt, but I'm long passed comparing luck to rookies. He's already an above average qb compared to the rest of the league. Im measuring his skills as if he were a veteran. Really only three areas hes still weak in, completely reading defenses pre snap on early downs, throwing with better anticipation within the first few seconds( he tends to hesitate on some throws) and he still needs to up his arm strength a tad. All that said, I suspect he acquires all three traits by minimum his third season. By then he should be the best qb in the nfl.
I'm now completely and legitimately excited about the Colts this year. If a 9-7 record is what it'll take to make the playoffs, I'm fully confident we can do that. And that's just amazing. I didn't have expectations of Luck being this good, but that's probably due to my age and not fully realizing how much more prepared these guys coming out of college are to just 10 years ago. It's amazing how poised, prepared, and functional the QBs are now right out of college. That we have, what 6 or 7 rookie QBs starting right now is incredible and is making all of us reevaluate our assumptions.
Go Blue!
P.S. Thank god for Curtis Painter and the magical factor of luck. And that comes from a Purdue grad (in all honesty, I didn't care for him while at Purdue and was actually not happy he was on the Colts at all, let alone in the NFL). Without him, Jim Caldwell, and several other breaks, we wouldn't be where we are.
@TheWalkingEye yeah Painter flamed out at Purdue kind of gradually. Was surprised to see him in The NFL. There are 5 rookie QBs starting this year, and they're setting a boat load of records. It really is amazing. I've seen a lot of duds as a long time Colts fan. And I agree, I've never seen such NFL ready rookie qb's. just amazing. And Luck is off the charts.
@TheWalkingEye You know that there are rookie classes every 8-10 years or so who have this kind of success right?
@Payton @TheWalkingEye In a way, yes. But it's changing, and I just didn't factor it in, because I'm old(ish). The guys coming in are getting much better coaching in college and HS than previously, and it's been in the last 10-15 years that it's accelerated. Luck had Harbaugh as his HC and ran a pro-style offense and came in to the NFL much more prepared than Peyton did. The individual talent will still separate, but the overall preparedness is getting better and is noticeably different than 10 years ago.
