INDIANAPOLIS 27 JACKSONVILLE 10
Inspiration one week, domination the next.
The Indianapolis Colts became the latest team to hammer the Jacksonville Jaguars at home, winning 27-10 on Thursday night behind two rushing touchdowns from rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.
Darius Butler returned an interception for a score as the Colts (6-3) won their fourth consecutive game and snapped a three-game losing streak in the series. The Jaguars (1-8) have lost six straight.
The Colts had cause for concern following an emotional victory four days earlier, one in which cancer-stricken coach Chuck Pagano delivered a passionate, postgame speech in the locker room. Interim coach Bruce Arians was worried the team might crash from the emotional high.
Not even close. Indianapolis scored on three consecutive possessions in the first half, opening a 17-0 lead that started emptying the stands at EverBank Field.
Luck, coming off an NFL rookie record 433 yards passing against Miami, wasn't quite as sharp. He didn't need to be, either.
Luck completed 18 of 26 passes for 227 yards, with an interception and a fumble. But he was unstoppable near the end zone, deking defenders with two pump fakes and scrambling for a 5-yard score on one drive and then plunging across the goal line on fourth down on the next possession.
That was plenty against the Jaguars, who have the league's worst offence and played a third game without star running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Jacksonville has lost every game since a come-from-behind victory at Indianapolis. Blaine Gab-bert hit Cecil Shorts III for an 80-yard touchdown in the final minute, stunning the Colts.
There was no drama in the rematch. The Colts essentially sealed the victory when Butler stepped in front of Gabbert's pass in the flat and went untouched for an 11-yard score early in the third quarter.
