JACKSONVILLE --- The Colts put up some gaudy numbers in Sunday's 44-17 win against the Jaguars at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, and apparently, the energy and enthusiasm started well before the coin toss.
First, the numbers:
44 points, the most the Colts have scored in a regular season game since putting up 44 at Baltimore week 14 of the 2007 season
Quarterback Andrew Luck tied a career-high with 4 touchdown passes.
Luck's 140.4 passer rating was a career-high, far exceeding the 127.9 rating he posted in the season-opener vs.Oakland last year
Luck completed passes to 9 different receivers
Running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson averaged 5.8 yards per touch (Richardson's 27 yard run in the 1st half was his longest as a member of the Colts)
30 1st half points are the most the Jaguars have allowed in franchise history
The Colts defense scored on a Greg Toler interception returned for a touchdown, the third straight game in Jacksonville Indianapolis has come up with a pick-six.
The Indianapolis defense sacked the Jaguars quarterbacks four times, a season-high.
We could go on, but to the point...the Colts matched the energy they had on the field in the locker room before the game.
"I think there was great energy all day," said back-up quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. "A few guys talked to the team. I think it really got Coach Pagano fired up. Chuck was fired up pre-game. It just kind of carried on."
Even at halftime, when the Colts led 30-0, the energy didn't stop.
"The offense meets right here at halftime. The defense meets over there. We could hear them calling for what they wanted to do, and they could hear us calling for what we wanted to do," explained Hasselbeck. "I think we just feed off one another that way. Like I said, it started pre-game with a couple leaders and Chuck. It was just great to see."
As Greg Toler was being interviewed about his interception returned for a touchdown afterwards, defensive teammates chimed in with "Greg Toler is the man!" and other praises for the Colts cornerback. The excitement in the locker room afterwards was palpable. It was an emphatic first win of the season and a total team extraordinary effort.
"It's a collective unit," said Toler. "It's always good to come out with the 'W'. We let up off the gas last week."
But this week, the Colts put the pedal to the metal.
