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JACKSONVILLE https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Braden-Smith-Jersey , Fla. — The Indianapolis Colts put the ball in Andrew Luck’s hands. They probably should have trusted Adam Vinatieri’s leg.The Colts failed to convert three fourth-down plays — all in field-goal range — and lost 6-0 to offensively challenged Jacksonville on Sunday.The first two were aggressive calls, calculated risks early in a scoreless game. The last one was a desperation move late. Regardless, they proved to be the difference in a low-scoring affair.“In a game like that, if you have a crystal ball, I suppose you maybe play it a little different,” Vinatieri said.The second-guessing for the Colts (6-6) started early in the second quarter — with some help from the Jaguars (4-8).Vinatieri made a 29-yard field goal, but rookie defensive tackle Taven Bryan was flagged for roughing the snapper. That gave Indy first-and-goal at the 5. Luck misfired twice and then connected with Nyheim Hines on third down for a 4-yard gain.Instead of sending Vinatieri back on the field for a chip shot, the Colts called for a shovel pass to Jordan Wilkins. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue read it and stopped Wilkins just short of the goal line.“We were down in there enough, and that’s why you have to make every play count,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “They deserve a lot of credit for stopping us. Not every game is going to be running up and down the field, especially when you play a defense like that in their home stadium.” On Indy’s ensuing possession, facing fourth-and-1 at the Jacksonville 31, Luck handed the ball to tight end Eric Ebron on an end-around play. Ebron fumbled, and the Jaguars recovered near midfield.“I need to get that first down Jabaal Sheard Jersey ,” Ebron said. “I need to lower my shoulder and run him over. I did it the last time. I’ve done it before to get the first down. … I like losses like this because it makes you look back and it makes you think and you never let it happen again. Yeah, we got shut out. We can’t get shut out again.”The Colts had another decent scoring chance late.Trailing 6-0 and facing fourth-and-1 at the Jacksonville 19 with 2:38 remaining, Luck got sacked for a 10-yard loss .“All the numbers say strong go there, and we liked the play we called,” Reich said.The Colts entered with a five-game winning streak and the fourth-most points in the league. They averaged 34.6 points during their win streak, and Luck had thrown three or more touchdown passes in eight consecutive games.So putting the ball in his hands seemed like the right call.Even the Jaguars agreed.“It made sense. They gambled on themselves,” Jacksonville linebacker Myles Jack said. “They’re high in the red zone, high on third down, so fourth down, play the lottery. That’s what they did, and they lost.”Luck completed 33 of 52 passes for 248 yards and an interception. He was sacked three times after getting hit just five times in the entire month of November. He was sacked once in the previous five games.“I didn’t feel very sharp,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I was putting the ball in the places to really give guys a chance to catch them. And credit to their coverage, you know, it’s a great team game. … I know I can be sharper. I know I need to be sharper. I’m discouraged today Pierre Desir Color Rush Jersey , but I’m also in a sense encouraged to get back to work and work on these things and improve.” INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts‘ defense was reeling early this season.After six games, it had allowed an average of 30 points, had given up 37 or more points in three consecutive losses, was languishing near the bottom of the league’s overall rankings and showed no sign of a turnaround.Today, those performances are almost unrecognizable. Though the names remain essentially unchanged, the Colts overcame that dismal start and have emerged as one of the NFL’s stingiest units and a key cog in Indy’s playoff run.“We feel good, we’ve been rolling,” rookie linebacker Darius Leonard said. “We just want to keep it going. We want to keep everything rolling.” Leonard and his teammates face their biggest challenge yet in Saturday’s divisional-round game at Kansas City. But the timing couldn’t be better for a young, suddenly sturdy defense that still has plenty to prove.Over the past six weeks, the Colts have given up 12.0 points per game, posted their first shutout in four years and ascended to No. 11 in the rankings. But many wonder whether the defense can hold up against the league’s highest-scoring team.So far, Indy (11-6) has passed every test. The defense has played a vital role in two five-game winning streaks. Indy is one of two teams that have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season and have had at least one turnover in 16 of 17 games.Outsiders have noticed the turnaround by a unit once regarded as a weak link.“I think the players have bought in and they play hard,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They’re accurate with their assignments.”Reid isn’t alone.Leonard, the league’s leading tackler https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Kemoko-Turay-Jersey , was named first-team All-Pro last week, and first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus interviewed Sunday for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching job. Though he wasn’t hired, the dramatic ascension could help Eberflus stay on the coaching radar.What’s changed? Not much personnel-wise from opening day.Defensive tackle Al Woods and linebacker Skai Moore both wound up on injured reserve. Margus Hunt moved from defensive end to defensive tackle and Pierre Desir claimed one of the starting cornerback spots. Otherwise, the lineup remained as consistent as Eberflus’ message.“When you keep doing the same things over and over again and you get good at the fundamentals of the game, then you can start adding a little bit to your package because the guys understand the basics,” Eberflus said.“You can never move on or never forget the basics of what your system is about. That to me is the hustle, the intensity, taking the ball away and being smart players.”Eberflus, initially hired by Josh McDaniels and retained by Frank Reich after McDaniels backed out of the job, scrapped the 3-4 defensive front from previous coaching staff and installed the Tampa-2 preferred by general manager Chris Ballard.Reich was on board, too, remembering how the system helped the Colts win a Super Bowl during his first stint with the team.The scheme relies largely on speed and trust and was a perfect fit for a team trying to rebuild. Only three full-time starters returned in the same spot this season while a fourth, Jabaal Sheard, moved from outside linebacker to defensive end Anthony Castonzo Jersey , but the simplicity shortened the learning curve for everyone, including the youngsters.And after six games, things started to mesh. Leonard became the breakout star, the pass rush became more consistent and the run defense tightened up.“We go into this game knowing that we can beat the best,” Leonard said. “Once you go in as an underdog, there’s a lot more chips on your shoulder. It makes you want to play harder. It makes you want to win more.”NOTES: Four-time Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton (ankle) is one of five players who did not practice Wednesday. The others are defensive tackle Denico Autry (shoulder), receiver Ryan Grant (toe), safety Malik Hooker (hip/foot) and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (knee). Hilton expects to play. … Tight end Eric Ebron (hip), receiver Dontrelle Inman (shoulder/finger) and Sheard (knee) were limited in practice.