INDIANAPOLIS – Gus Bradley summed up a lot in six words.
"It wasn't up to our standard," Bradley said.
The Jaguars' first-year head coach said that was true on a lot of levels in a 30-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in front of 66,008 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the 2013 regular-season finale Sunday. And while there was a lot accomplished during the season, Bradley said Sunday stung a bit.
"It wasn't the consistency we were looking for," Bradley said.
The Jaguars fell behind 17-0 after the first quarter, and never got closer than 14 points again. A 14-yard pass from quarterback Chad Henne to wide receiver Kerry Taylor with 16 seconds remaining pulled the Jaguars to within 20.
"There was growth," Bradley said of Sunday's performance. "I felt like we competed the whole way through. Sometimes you have those days where it doesn't go exactly as well as you hoped. I asked our team to reflect on everything they've done this year and I think tremendous growth has taken place."
The Colts dominated from the start Sunday, with quarterback Andrew Luck completing 26 of 37 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He left the game early in the fourth quarter.
Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton was the game's standout player, catching 11 passes for 155 yards. Both were career-highs and Hilton left the game early in the third quarter.
The Colts outgained the Jaguars 235-126 in the first half, and a 91-yard drive leading to Taylor's late-game touchdown cut the Colts' total-yardage advantage to 379-350.
Henne completed 30 of 51 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown with an interception. The Colts had 23 first downs to 19 for the Jaguars.
Bradley said he was "disappointed" the game got away so quickly, but added, "That's a very good team."
"I made the point (to the team) that that's where we're striving to go – in that direction where we execute in all three phases like that," Bradley said. "As far as our performance, I just didn't think we executed very well today."
Bradley also said he didn't believe injuries were a major factor Sunday. The team entered the game having lost cornerback Dwayne Gratz, wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, defensive tackles Roy Miller and Brandon Deaderick and linebackers Russell Allen and Geno Hayes to injuries in the last three weeks.
"When you're playing at this level, you have expectations from all," Bradley said.
DONE TOO SOON
Brad Meester knew the end was coming. That didn't make it easy.
Meester, the Jaguars' 14-year veteran center, announced two weeks ago he would retire from the NFL following the 2013 season. That made Sunday the 209th and final game for Meester in the NFL and with the Jaguars.
Meester had about 40 family members and friends at the game Sunday.
"It is hard to believe," Meester said. "It comes quick. Even though it has been 14 years, it goes by fast. It really does. It's amazing how fast it has gone. I know that it's time, but I'm excited my family got to be out there to watch it. I'm excited to start this next step."
Meester caught a nine-yard pass a week ago in his final home game, the Jaguars' loss to Tennessee at EverBank Field. The play was put in that week by offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch. Meester said there was no such play planned for his finale.
"There was nothing there – no secrets this week," Meester said, laughing. "I'm such a threat now that it would be hard to put me out there. They would have been looking for me."
NOTABLE
1.Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew said the possibility of Sunday's game being his last with the Jaguars wasn't on his mind Sunday. "No emotions," Jones-Drew said after rushing for 39 yards on 13 carries. "You go out there and do the best you can and hope that's good enough." Jones-Drew's contract expires after this season. He and Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell have said they want to get a deal done to keep the three-time Pro Bowl selection in Jacksonville. Jones-Drew said Sunday he won't be involved in the talks and will leave the matter up to his agent.
2.Jaguars third-year left tackle Cameron Bradfield played through a high-ankle sprain, starting despite being listed as questionable on the injury report entering the weekend. "It's the last game of the season." Bradfield said. "You just had to gut it out 60 minutes. It was really a no-brainer situation. You just had to suck it up and play."
3.Rookie linebacker LaRoy Reynolds made one of the memorable plays of the Jaguars' season Sunday, tackling Colts wide receiver Griff Whalen on a first-half punt return – and doing so without a helmet. Reynolds had the helmet torn off early in the play, then continued covering the punt, eventually laying a hard hit without a helmet. The play immediately went viral on social media. "It would have looked bad if I had stopped, so you just keep going," he said. "Afterward, I was like, 'What if somebody had hit me from the side?' That would have been worse, but I just kept running and went full speed."
4.Bradley said he considered playing third-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert late in the game, but opted against it. Gabbert, the No.10 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft and the team's starting quarterback to start this season, didn't play in the final 11 games of the season. Bradley said he just wanted to stay with Henne in the second half Sunday.
QUOTABLE
1.Bradfield: "Definitely not the way we wanted to finish. We had a lot of stuff to play for – a divisional game, Brad Meester's last game. It's definitely going to leave a big sting to the offseason, but there's nothing you can do right now."
2.Jones-Drew on a first-quarter fumble: "He made a good play. He hit the back of my triceps. I was trying to brace myself for the fall and should have kept two hands the ball. It squirted out. They did a good job trying to attack the ball all day. It was a good play on their part."
3.Guard Uche Nwaneri: "This was definitely not the way we wanted to end it. We just never really got anything going from the outset of the game. We're a better offense than that. We just did not show it today."
4.Henne: "That definitely wasn't our best game. That wasn't getting better from previous weeks in our eyes, and that's what's disappointing."
INJURY REPORT
Jaguars tight end Clay Harbor sustained an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. Defensive tackle Jordan Miller also sustained a second-quarter ankle injury and did not return.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Jaguars' game Sunday was the 2013 regular-season finale. They finished Bradley's first season 4-12.
