JACKSONVILLE – Now's no time for self-assessment.
As Head Coach Gus Bradley sees it, this isn't the time for talking postseason scenarios, either – even if such things are suddenly back in the Jaguars conversation.
A statement game? A commentary on the Jaguars' building process?
A chance to play meaningful games in December?
All may be topics when discussing the Jaguars in the wake of a 51-16 victory over their AFC South rival, the Indianapolis Colts, at EverBank Field Sunday. But the Jaguars' third-year head coach said coaches and players won't be thinking such thoughts.
"We'll take a look at it when the season's over, to see just how far we've come along – and the direction," Bradley said after the Jaguars outscored the Colts 42-3 in the second half Sunday to improve their home record to 4-3 this season.
"That game, that performance yesterday, is something we can build on for this week."
The victory moved the Jaguars to 5-8 this season, and kept alive their postseason hopes – hopes that most likely hinge on winning the AFC South.
The chances remain relatively slim, and depend largely upon the Jaguars winning their final three games – home against Atlanta Sunday, at New Orleans December 27 and at Houston January 3. If the Jaguars do that, the primary scenarios that affect them depend largely upon the outcome of the Colts-Texans game in Indianapolis Sunday.
*If the Jaguars win their final three games and the Colts (6-7) beat the Texans (6-7) Sunday, the Jaguars can win the AFC South if the Colts lose to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 and the Tennessee Titans in Week 17.
*If the Jaguars win their final three games and the Texans win Sunday, the Jaguars can win the AFC South if the Texans lose to Tennessee in Week 16 and the Colts lose to either Miami or Tennessee.
Bradley said the approach this week won't change.
"This week it's the same message – to keep stacking them up," Bradley said. "We didn't talk much about Indianapolis last week at all. You show their personnel and their schemes and things like that, but we didn't get into where they were in the division, or the win streak they had. We really didn't talk about that.
"This week, it will be along the same lines. It's about us and not where Atlanta is at or what just took place. There is some general information you give, but my hope is our focus quickly shifts back to us and the lessons that took place yesterday and how we could grow from them."
The Jaguars on Sunday not only beat the Colts in surprisingly one-sided fashion, they put together a second consecutive impressive offensive performance. After scoring touchdowns on six of six red-zone opportunities in a 42-39 loss to Tennessee the week before, the Jaguars scored touchdowns on four of four red-zone opportunities Sunday.
Sunday's game had a different feel offensively, though, with the Jaguars struggling in the first half before scoring touchdowns on all five second-half offensive possessions. They also scored a touchdown on a 73-yard punt return by rookie wide receiver Rashad Greene early in the third quarter, meaning they scored touchdowns all six times they had the ball in the second half.
Quarterback Blake Bortles, after completing 7 of 17 passes for 104 yards while being sacked three times and fumbling twice in the first half, finished completing 16 of 30 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He threw touchdown passes to wide receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson and tight end Julius Thomas, and now has 30 touchdowns with 13 interceptions this season.
Bortles also rushed for a touchdown, as did running back Denard Robinson.
Robinson, subbing for T.J. Yeldon after the rookie starter left with a left knee sprain, rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries. Yeldon rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries, and the Jaguars rushed for a season-high 154 yards and two touchdowns.
"It was a different game yesterday, because our balance was there with the run game and the pass game," Bradley said.
Yeldon did not return after sustaining his knee injury, and Bradley said his status likely will be updated in more detail Wednesday. He also said he is hopeful middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, who missed Sunday's game with a fractured right hand, may be cleared to practice Wednesday.
"I know the arrow is up for him," Bradley said of Posluszny.
Robinson likely will start in place of Yeldon if the rookie is unavailable.
But more than injuries on Monday, Bradley's focus was on a victory as complete as any in his three seasons as head coach. The Jaguars entering the game had been within a score or leading in the fourth quarter of 11 of 12 games this season, with the exception a 51-17 loss at New England.
On Sunday, the Jaguars not only got a second consecutive five-touchdown-plus game offensively, they held their opponent without an offensive touchdown for the first time this season and scored their first special teams touchdown of the season.
"To put it together, to show what we're capable of, is a tremendous message to our team," Bradley said. "I think it provides an even clearer vision to when we do things right in all three phases what we have a chance to be. It's a great message. You can talk it, but now we've had this experience that took place that creates a vivid picture for the players."
