Team Inconsistency— the Indianapolis Colts — finally building momentum

INDIANAPOLIS — Amid the relief of yet another (but hardly automatic) victory against the Tennessee Titans, D’Qwell Jackson was adamant that this is a good time for a short week.

Jackson, the hard-hitting Indianapolis Colts linebacker, realizes that such a sentiment is counterintuitive to the NFL body. Players hate the reduced recovery time dictated by Thursday football. Yet in this case, there are reasons to embrace a visit from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thanksgiving night.

See, it’s mental. And the manner in which the Colts achieved a 24-17 victory Sunday, snuffing out a Titans rally, may have done wonders for the confidence of a team seeking an identity.

Jackson, who had one of the season-high five sacks Indianapolis collected against Marcus Mariota, does not want that vibe to wear off.

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"This game is predominantly played in your head,” Jackson told USA TODAY Sports as he stood in front of his stall in the corner of the locker room. “The way we won this game — and had to fight to win it — makes you feel it’s good to play again as soon as you can.”

The Colts (5-5) continued their dominance of the Titans by beating the AFC South rivals for the 11th consecutive time. More significantly, they’ve won back-to-back games for the first time all season, following up on a surprising statement win at Green Bay in Week 9.

But ... they nearly messed up and lost it. That’s been the prevailing story of Indy’s season.

Remember the loss to the Houston Texans? The Colts led by 14 points in the middle of the fourth quarter and blew it, losing in overtime. Indianapolis' wins tend to be just as dramatic, as was the case Sunday.

Consistency, or lack thereof, has been the Achilles' heel threatening coach Chuck Pagano’s operation. Call the Colts Team Inconsistent.

This time, while fielding all of their offensive starters for the first time since Week 2, Indianapolis sprinted to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. Then ... sweating bullets.

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“The start was great, obviously,” quarterback Andrew Luck said. “We need to learn how to sustain that start. (When) we have a chance to put a team away, per se, we have to. Teams are too good in this league to not be ruthless.”

The game came down to two huge plays in the final three minutes.

On a fourth-and-1 from the Colts’ 19-yard line, safety Clayton Geathers stuffed DeMarco Murray in the open field to extinguish a sweep around left end. Although it was a sure tackle, former Colts GM Bill Polian — in the house with the likes of Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl XLI crown — wondered whether Murray (3.3 yards per carry) was unable to power through the safety because he is still hampered by the toe injury he suffered in Week 8.

In any event, the Titans would have had another chance if they could have stopped the Colts on third-and-5. But fittingly, Indianapolis' best two players — Luck and wideout T.Y. Hilton — collaborated for a game-sealing first down.

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As Luck extended the play while rolling right, Hilton smoothly created separation by changing directions three times on his route, he explained afterward. Luck read him all the way, Hilton assured, because, “we made eye contact.”

They’ve been there and done that before.

But can the Colts, still within striking distance of the Texans in the race the division crown, continue to close? This would be a good time to extend the winning streak that they finally have.

“Every game from this point on,” said Jackson, “we have to treat it like a playoff game.”

Somewhere, former Colts coach Jim Mora, may be shrieking, “Playoffs? Playoffs?”

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At the moment, Indianapolis is two games out of a wild-card spot. There’s much ground to make up and more consistency to demonstrate in order to establish the identity of their desires. Yet with momentum in tow, Jackson’s point is evident. It’s time now for urgency, especially with the Steelers (5-5) similarly desperate.

The past two times the Colts have faced Pittsburgh, the Steelers won by a combined margin of 52 points.

Be careful what you wish for, D'Qwell, especially with added perspective nearing.

Said Pagano: “There is no 24-hour rule when you have another game in four short days.”

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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell

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