Colts reflect on win over Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WISH) - The Colts recorded their most decisive victory of the season with a 27-10 win over the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Thursday night.

“Reggie, a couple weeks back said, ‘You know, they don’t all have to be this stressful, Andrew, one day you’ll get to experience some,’” said Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. “But obviously, Jacksonville never stopped fighting, but defensively, what a great job our guys did.”

Added Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians: “It’s never over until it’s over, but it was nice to have a nice lead, and I was pleased with the last drive.”

The defense finally forced a turnover, snapping a five-game streak without a takeaway. The Colts have been insisting for weeks that once they got one takeaway they’d come in bunches, and they were right. They got three of them against the Jaguars.

Cornerback Darius Butler had a hand in all three, coming up with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“That was huge,” said Colts defensive end Cory Redding. “You want takeaways. We haven’t gotten a lot this year, and the biggest thing is putting the ball back in 12’s hands.”

It was also the first time fans saw the team’s new look. About three dozen players, including Luck, shaved their heads this week in support of their ailing head coach, Chuck Pagano.

“It’s a true team,” said Luck when asked what the gesture said about the squad. “Guys have each other’s back, and we have our coach’s back, and we’re glad to rally around it.”

Arians expressed hope for a full recovery for Pagano, who is being treated for leukemia.

“I love it.  We all do,” Arians said of the bald heads many Colts are now sporting.  “He’s smiling right now, and I know he’s going to sleep tight tonight and battle his tail off this week. And hopefully we’ll have him back soon.”

The team will now have three days off before returning to the team complex Monday.