Jacksonville, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Andrew Luck led a tenacious Colts
offensive attack with four touchdown passes and Indianapolis crushed the
Jacksonville Jaguars, 44-17, on Sunday.
Luck completed 31-of-39 passes for 370 yards and Indianapolis (1-2) was never
challenged by the winless Jaguars, marching out to a 30-0 halftime lead and
cruising the rest of the way.
“The play of the quarterback was outstanding,” Colts head coach Chuck Pagano
said. “Offensive line did a great job, runners ran extremely well.”
The Colts dominated every phase of the game in the opening 30 minutes,
outgaining Jacksonville 330 yards to 55. The Jaguars only picked up two first
downs before halftime.
Hakeem Nicks, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen and Ahmad Bradshaw all caught
touchdown passes from Luck, while T.Y. Hilton paced all receivers with five
grabs for 80 yards.
Chad Henne had just 33 yards on 4-for-7 passing for the Jags and was replaced
after halftime by rookie Blake Bortles. The highly touted rookie drafted third
overall out of UCF made his NFL debut and threw for 223 yards with two
touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I was kind of told during the week to be ready,” said Bortles, who was told
after the game that he would be the starter going forward. “I was prepared,
just like I had been the previous games.”
Since going up 17-0 on Philadelphia in Week 1, the Jaguars (0-3) have been
outscored 119-27.
The Colts scored points on all six of their drives in the first half. Adam
Vinatieri was pure with a 48-yard field goal to open the scoring. Following a
Jacksonville three-and-out, Luck led another scoring drive that ended with a
six-yard dumpoff to Bradshaw.
Luck did most of the work on Indy’s third series, hitting Allen and Hilton for
22-yard gains and Reggie Wayne for 15. Bradshaw’s 9-yard scamper down to the
1-yard line led to Allen’s 1-yard TD reception from Luck.
Two more Vinatieri field goals and a 7-yard touchdown by Fleener sent the
Colts into halftime with a commanding lead.
After a punt both ways, Bortles led Jacksonville’s first scoring drive of the
contest. His 20-yard run highlighted a drive that led to Josh Scobee’s 41-yard
field goal.
Luck’s touchdown to Nicks from a yard out made it 37-3, but Bortles gave the
home fans something to cheer about on the next Jaguars touch. After connecting
with Allen Robinson on third and long to extend the drive, Bortles and Allen
Hurns hooked up for a 63-yard touchdown connection.
Greg Toler, who picked off Nick Foles last Monday night in Indianapolis’ loss
to the Eagles, had his second interception in as many games and ran it back 47
yards for the score that made it 44-10.
Bortles had one last chance to impress the coaching staff and took advantage,
guiding the Jags down on an 80-yard scoring drive to end the game. His 10-yard
touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts III capped the scoring.
“It was average,” Bortles said of his performance. “I thought there was some
good stuff and some bad stuff.”
Game Notes
Earlier this week, Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis was placed on short-term
IR with a high-ankle sprain. Jacksonville was also without receiver Marqise
Lee, who missed the game with a hamstring injury … The Colts have won three
straight games in Jacksonville and four straight overall in the series.
