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Colts out to avenge beating by Jaguars

Oct 22, 2007 - 10:18 AM Indianapolis (5-0) at Jacksonville (4-1) Monday 8:30 pm EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Indianapolis Colts need little added motivation as they seek their third straight 6-0 start. They have it anyway.

The Colts return to the site of one of their most humbling defeats when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night in an AFC South showdown.

Indianapolis has the chance to become just the third team in NFL history to start 6-0 for three straight seasons, matching the St. Louis Rams (1999-2001) and Green Bay Packers (1929-1931).

To do so, the Colts will have to derail the red-hot Jaguars, who have rattled off four consecutive wins after a season-opening 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Jacksonville not only has momentum and the home-field advantage but also the memory of the last meeting between the teams, when the Jaguars stampeded the Colts, 44-17, on December 10, 2006.

Behind the punishing running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jags amassed 375 rushing yards - the second-highest total in league history - in routing Indianapolis.

After a slow start this season, Jacksonville's running game is hitting its stride. Jones-Drew rambled for 125 yards on 12 carries and Taylor added 90 on just six carries in a 37-17 victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday.

"The Colts are playing great," said Jones-Drew, who scored two touchdowns against Houston. "They still didn't pick me in the draft, so I'm still upset about that. It's going to be a fun game. We'll give everybody a great show."

Taylor has feasted on the Colts in the past, posting four 100-yard games against them.

Quarterback David Garrard, in his first season as a starter, has six touchdown passes and has yet to throw an interception. He finished 22-of-34 for 221 yards and two TD passes against the Texans.

The Colts had turned in impressive back-to-back performances prior to last week's bye.

They used a balanced attack to destroy the Denver Broncos, 38-20, on September 30. Peyton Manning threw for 193 yards and three touchdowns while running back Joseph Addai rushed for 136 yards and a TD.

Indianapolis was equally impressive one week later, coasting past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 33-14, despite playing without perennial Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison and Addai.

Backup Kenton Keith picked up the slack for Addai, running for 121 yards and two touchdowns while Manning was his typical efficient self with 253 yards and two TD passes.

The teams split last season, with the Colts winning, 21-14, at home.