INDIANAPOLIS --- The Colts find themselves in a familiar position but after different circumstances. It's the same 0-2 record as last year that eventually led to an AFC Championship Game appearance, but this time, there's more distaste for it. More disgust, frankly. Still time to fix it, but in the present, the reaction was not the same after this week two.
Context is everything. Not all 0-2s look and feel alike. Last season, the Colts offense averaged more than 25 points in those two losses to Denver and Philadelphia. This season, Andrew Luck and company have three scoring drives and eight turnovers. Indianapolis is -7 in turnover margin. The next closest teams are -2.
"This year feels totally different from last year's 0-2," said tight end Dwayne Allen in the locker room Monday night, after a 20-7 home loss to the Jets. "Way higher standards, we're a better offense than what we've been showing, man."
"Upset," said wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, when asked how it felt walking off the field. "Did the same thing that we did last week, killed ourselves."
"You can't penalize yourself, you can't turn the damn ball over," said Head Coach Chuck Pagano. "You can't do it. You're not going to beat Zionsville (High School) doing that."
Andrew Luck wasn't sacked Monday night, but he was hit 11 times. He threw three interceptions for the first time since a November 38-8 home loss to the Rams in 2013. He also lost a fumble, scrambling in the open field.
"My play, turning the ball over, fumbles, interceptions, it's a pretty glaring issue," said Luck after his most recent defeat.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson wasn't a part of last year's 0-2 but did witness the Colts' resurgence from the opposite sideline, when Indianapolis won the 4th of 5 consecutive games in Houston last season after an 0-2 start.
"One thing I notice here is that there is no panic," said Johnson in the locker room after the Jets loss. "Even when we're down, nobody panics. Everybody's calm. Guys are upbeat just saying, 'If we can just put a drive together.'"
Perhaps not panic, but a definite sense of urgency at this point. It's time to win.
"It's back to the drawing board," said Allen. "There's no cliches that coach can dish out or pep talks. It's all about getting back to the meeting room, looking over things that we're doing well, which aren't many, and figuring out what we can do well."
"We were right here last year. Same exact deal. Go on the road and get beat, come home on Monday night and get beat, 0-2, got things figured out then we ripped off five straight," said Pagano. "So our full intention is to go back to work and do the same damn thing."
