INDIANAPOLIS – With their playoff aspirations finished, the Colts will try and keep things as normal as possible in the final week of the season.
Chuck Pagano's team will get back on the practice field Wednesday in preparation for the season finale on Sunday afternoon against the Jaguars.
Here is the Monday notebook Pagano meeting the media:
**INJURY NEWS
**Here are the lone injury updates coming out of last Saturday's loss to the Raiders:
- CB-Darius Butler (concussion): Butler left Saturday's loss to the Raiders with a concussion. He's in the concussion protocol.
- WR-Donte Moncrief (shoulder): Moncrief is undergoing an MRI on the same shoulder that forced him to miss a month and a half earlier this season.
Chuck Pagano on missing the playoffs for a second straight season:
"It's unacceptable where we are at.
"That's not us. That's not this culture. That's not what was developed around here, long before I got here."
Bowen's Analysis:* *Chuck Pagano said on Monday that he takes full responsibility for his team missing the playoffs for a second straight season. The insult to injury comes from the Colts having Andrew Luck healthy for all but one game this season (he missed nine games last year, when the Colts also didn't make the playoffs). Plus, Houston, the division champs for a second straight year, has played without their best player (J.J. Watt) for virtually all of 2016.
Pagano fielded questions Monday about his job security. He acknowledged that it's part of what comes when you have a job with such magnitude. Pagano says he does hate that his family has to hear such talk, but they are frustrated, just like the fans, at this team missing the playoffs for a second straight season.
Chuck Pagano on resting starters in Week 17:
"Why would we?
"I don't see any reason to do that. You play to win the game."
Bowen's Analysis:* *Chuck Pagano put to bed any thought of resting guys this weekend with the playoffs no longer attainable. Pagano listed personal pride, team pride, respect and winning as reasons to go out there and try to reach .500 for the season.
If the Colts need any motivation for Week 17, revenge should be alive and well inside that locker room. The Jaguars have beaten the Colts the past two times they've played. Jacksonville has played a major role in the Colts' elimination from the playoffs again this season.Chuck Pagano on the play of the offensive line lately:
"Those guys rose up and did a nice job."
Bowen's Analysis: It's not a group that we expected to see playing together in 2016, but the numbers indicate the quintet up front has been the most effective combo pass protecting wise. LT-Anthony Castonzo, LG-Jonotthan Harrison, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Joe Haeg and RT-Le'Raven Clark have allowed zero sacks the last two weeks. That's the first time Andrew Luck has gone consecutive games without being sacked in his five-year NFL career. Luck has actually been sacked just twice in the last four weeks (the second best four-game stretch of his career).
That stat is even more impressive when you consider that Harrison, Haeg and Clark weren't even starters combing into the regular season. Plus Harrison (a more natural center) and Haeg (a more natural tackle) are starting in rather unfamiliar spots. With the Colts having all their linemen under contract for 2017, it's clear the personnel is in place going into next season. But the starting five is up for grabs with Jack Mewhort still a definite starter and Denzelle Good/Joe Reitz also having past starting experience.
