Colts will be without 2 key defensive players against Jags

The weather is immaculate for the matchup with temperatures in the low 80’s and still need the win in Jacksonville, especially with the Houston Texans still vying for the AFC South division title.

Indianapolis and Houston are tied for the AFC South lead with 6-7 records. Among teams scoring 30 or more points, only Eli Manning’s microscopic 0.2 QBR in this 38-21 win against the Buffalo Bills was worse.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on here that I can’t explain”, Colts safety Dwight Lowery said. That’s what I’ve told the guys.

Indianapolis won that meeting 19-16 with third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky leading the way.

Jacksonville (5-8) is still alive in the division, now just a game back of the Colts and 1 1/2 games behind the Texans, who play host to the Patriots Sunday night. All his catches were from Matt Hasselbeck, who was sidelined twice in the game with injuries.

Indianapolis isn’t expected to decide on their quarterback options until later this week, although there is a chance that Hasselbeck will be able to suit up against Houston. “[He’s] banged up”, Pagano said. “(He’s) taking it day by day. “But hopefully will be out there Thursday”.

The Colts coach fully understands the enormity of this week’s game with Houston and what it might mean if Indianapolis were to lose. This team will stick together, I know that. May have taken things for granted in the past.

Chuck Pagano was asked if he was at all anxious about his job security during this tumultuous season, to which he responded, “The can fire you, but they can’t eat you”. Luck’s return would certainly qualify, but the quarterback isn’t going to let external circumstances influence a decision regarding his internal organ. He wants to play, badly, but will only do so when the team’s medical staff gives the thumbs-up.

42 in the second half alone. Hasselbeck completed 18 of 35 passes for 252 yards and was sacked three times before giving way to Charlie Whitehurst.

-RUSHING OFFENSE: C plus. But once the game got out of hand, the running back was largely forgotten.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. He ended up with 62 yards on 11 carries. But three fumbles provided a spark. One of his fumbles was returned for a touchdown by Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis. The Jaguars subsequently scored their final touchdown. So, if both feet are not (out), you’re a runner and the defense can hit you.

The status of Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon is unknown as Jacksonville shifts its focus to the Atlanta Falcons.

-SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus. This would have been an A except for Jason Myers’ seventh missed extra point. Punter Pat McAfee averaged 34.6 yards net on seven punts, 47.9 yards overall. It was another terrible week for the Colts offense inside the 20-yard line. He also had five touchbacks on kickoffs, McAfee has had 53 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs this season.

When the Colts went three-and-out on their next possession, punter Pat McAfee kicked to Jaguars returner Rashad Greene. Two of the players who have been a focus of that criticism have been defensive ends Chris Clemons and Andre Branch.

They had two in a row and three of four after a 19-13 victory over Tennessee on November 19. Still, despite the poor showings against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, Indianapolis controls its own destiny. They hadn’t lost a division game since 2012 until last week, but they’ll recover with a win over the Texans.