INDIANAPOLIS –The Colts failed to turn two home games into a 2-0 start by falling 24-20 to Miami Sunday when they overcame an 11-point deficit to take two different leads before losing.
The miserable, sour feeling present Sunday was just as prevalent Monday, particularly when the outcome could have been different.
"We had our chances to win. Looking at the tape, you look for positives," said Pagano. "We pointed those out. We made the corrections and tried to emphasize in all areas is mistakes being made and the corrections we're making we can't have repeat offenders.
"To move forward, you have to clean them up and put them to rest. It's over and done."
Moving forward was a bit harder because of self-inflicted moments where points were left on the field.
"You look at the tape and hash it out, you drive the length of the field the first series (and) you have a third-and-one, you don't convert. The field goal comes off the left (upright). There's three points there," said Pagano. "You're on the 23-yard line, where it ended. (If) we're kicking a field goal, we could drain the clock down to five seconds and had a walk-off homerun, so to speak. You look at that.
"You look at the (Coby Fleener) touchdown called back. You look at (our) two-minute (touchdown) drive to end the half, (and) defensively we give up a big play and they hit a (54)-yard field goal. That's three points there. We left a lot of points on the field. They made the plays when they had to, and we didn't."
The series of instances lodged the Colts at 1-1 for the second straight year. Five AFC teams are 2-0, and the winner of Monday's Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game will join the Colts and six other teams at .500.
Indianapolis sizzled in the first half against Miami, gaining 315 of its 448 yards and 17 of its 20 points. Andrew Luck was 17-of-27 for 242 yards in the opening half, but ended 25-of-43 for 321 yards.
T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne had 10 combined receptions for 152 yards to open, but Wayne's 18-yard reception on a last failed drive was the only snare by the duo in the second half.
It was the second straight week the Colts did not finish with a strong second-half kick.
"Other than just continue to execute for 60 minutes, I think that's the biggest thing," said Pagano of what needs to be done. "Guys make adjustments, we make adjustments. We have to play 60 minutes of consistent football on both sides of the ball and on special teams. We'll continue to look at ways to make sure we can do that."
Indianapolis was facing a salty Miami defense that factored into matters, one that has lifted the Dolphins to two road wins to open the year.
"Credit Miami, their front seven and their (pass) rush. Any time you can make a quarterback uncomfortable, make him move his feet, get him off his spot, things we tried to do defensively against Ryan Tannehill, it makes it difficult," said Pagano. "We had some guys open down the field, and we had a strike tipped by a linebacker underneath. There are a bunch of things that factor into that.
"They had a hand in it. We had a hand in it. Those are the things we look at and try to get corrected so we can play a solid 60 minutes."
Said Andrew Luck of the two-week situation, "I just think we need a little more focus, realize it's a long game. We realize we can't survive our mistakes every week. We realize we can't make as many mistakes, especially in the second half.
"Maybe that is a bit of a lack of focus. I don't think I can put my finger on it, but it's something we'll focus on and hopefully improve upon."
Luck moved the Colts from their 14 to the Miami 23 before four final plays stalled. On the previous drive, he was intercepted to snap a string of 164 consecutive attempts without a theft.
San Francisco dropped a 29-3 fight at Seattle to fall to 1-1. Pagano expects both teams having weeks without fun, and one will have fun on Sunday.
"Both facilities will be similar in their approach. Any time you lose, it's never fun," said Pagano. "We talk about the 24-hour rule when you win. It doesn't apply when you lose for some reason. I don't know why, but it just doesn't apply. You come in after a win, 'Hey, 24 hours, onto the next one.' Everybody's miserable until you tee it up the following Sunday.
"Hopefully, you get a win and get that sour taste out of your mouth. They're coming off a tough loss. We're coming off a tough loss. I think the mindsets will be very similar."
INJURY UPDATE –Pagano said the MRI on Darrius Heyward-Bey was negative and surveyed basically his whole back area. Heyward-Bey could practice Wednesday, no later than Thursday. Donald Thomas will have surgery in the next couple of days on his quadriceps and is headed to injured reserve. Dwayne Allen is day-to-day with his hip injury.
