JACKSONVILLE – The details aren't as important as the result.
"We've got to find a way to win," Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Thursday.
Plain and simple.
Wash said the Jaguars' No. 1-ranked defense didn't do enough toward that end in a 27-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday, which makes that the only meaningful objective when the Jaguars (7-4) play the Indianapolis Colts (3-8) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
"Like I told [Jaguars defensive players] on Monday: we didn't do enough to win the game," Wash said. "I don't really care what the offense does; that's what I tell our guys. We have to do whatever we have to do to win. That's the expectation in our room, and we didn't do that.
"They better have a chip on their shoulders when they come out to play this week when we play on defense – and execute."
Wash said it was the latter area that was missing Sunday in a game in which the Jaguars forced two fourth-quarter turnovers but allowed a fourth-quarter touchdown and a short drive for the game-winning field goal.
The 344 yards allowed in Arizona were the most allowed since a Week 5 victory over Pittsburgh.
"We didn't execute last week," Wash said. "I don't think we had the energy and the effort we've normally played with. We've talked to them about this. We've had a good week of practice and understand we have to execute. If we do that, some good things can happen to our team."
The Jaguars are first in the NFL in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed, and they're second in the NFL in takeaways with 25. They lead the NFL in points allowed and sacks.
All three Jaguars coordinators – Nathaniel Hackett on offense, Wash on defense and Joe DeCamillis on special teams – spoke to the media Thursday.
Notes and observations from Coordinator Thursday:
*Wide receiver Allen Hurns (ankle) and linebacker Telvin Smith (concussion) missed practice for a second consecutive day, with right tackle Jermey Parnell (knee) and left guard Patrick Omameh (quadriceps) practicing on a limited basis for a second consecutive day. Parnell has missed the last three games, and Omameh and Hurns have missed the last two; Smith left this past Sunday's game at Arizona. The following players worked limited for a second consecutive day: wide receiver Marqise Lee (knee), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (ankle), safety Tashaun Gipson (knee), linebacker Donald Payne (hamstring) and linebacker Lerentee McCray (hamstring). Quarterback Blake Bortles (right wrist) and running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) practiced full for a second consecutive day. …
*Hackett called the potential return of Parnell Sunday: "Huge. [Backup Josh] Wells has done a great job, He has really fought hard. We've won a couple of games with him in there, but Parnell is our veteran lineman. He's been there. He's done that. He's a strong guy who has a great attitude and really brings a lot of aggressiveness. I love that guy. We've really missed him a lot." …
*Hackett as he has done often this season praised Bortles' in-play awareness and overall command of the offense: "I give Blake so much credit. He has gotten out of us out of so many things. The plays that he has made, being able to escape the pocket, not get sacked or run – it's a credit to him. He has been awesome and it hasn't phased him. Even when he takes the hits he gets up and plays as hard as he possibly can." …
*DeCamillis discussed a 68-yard fourth-quarter kickoff return Sunday by running Corey Grant, a play that set up the Jaguars' final touchdown – a 17-yard run by Bortles. Grant hesitated a split second upon receiving the kick, then broke free down the right sideline. "We said to be aggressive at that point in the game," DeCamillis said. "We needed a play right there. He definitely did a double take, but I'm glad he took the double take. Sometimes, you have to overcome coaching. I'm glad he did right there." …
*Wash said Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett has improved since a mid-October game in which the Jaguars sacked him 10 times in a 27-0 Jaguars victory in Indianapolis. "Early on, which allowed us to get some good pressure on him, he was holding the ball," Wash said. "It took him a little more time to get through his progressions and the route concepts he was seeing. With more and more reps, he's getting rid of the ball faster. He makes a lot of good decisions and he doesn't turn the ball over. That's the biggest improvement we've seen from him." Brissett has been sacked 28 times in the last five games, but he has thrown just five interceptions this season. …
