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Jaguars in dire need of victory against Colts

Sep 16, 2008 - 5:22 PM JACKSONVILLE (0-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS (1-1), 4:15 pm EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the season with designs of ending the Indianapolis Colts' reign in the AFC South.

While that still is the ultimate goal, the Jaguars' more pressing concern is getting into the victory column when they visit the Colts on Sunday.

Jacksonville (0-2) has stumbled out of the gate, managing just 26 points in losses to the Tennessee Titans (17-10) and Buffalo Bills (20-16).

With their vaunted rushed game slowed to a crawl, the Jaguars are in danger of falling to 0-3, which would be an enormous hole to climb out of in the rugged AFC South.

Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said his team's focus remains the same as they prepare to tackle the Colts, who have won five consecutive division titles.

"I think all the factors that were in play just remain there. It's the Colts, it's a division game and we want to win the division," Del Rio said. "I think they're still there. It's still the Colts week. The only difference is there's an added, OK, you stumbled out of the gate."

Jacksonville has managed just two offensive touchdowns in its first two games and has been unable to get its running game, which led the league last season, in gear.

Behind an offensive line ravaged by injuries, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for just 59 yards rushing against the Bills and were even worse vs. Tennessee, picking up just 31 yards between them.

In addition, quarterback David Garrard already has thrown three interceptions - matching his season total from 2007.

"We just have to do what we do a little bit better," Del Rio said.

The Colts (1-1) were in danger of being in the same predicament as Jacksonville, falling into a 15-0 hole against the Minnesota Vikings before rallying for an 18-15 victory.

Adam Vinatieri nailed a 47-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to help the Colts avert an 0-2 start for the first time since Peyton Manning's rookie season in 1998.

"I don't believe in ugly wins," said Manning, who missed the entire preseason while recuperating from surgery for an infected bursa sac in his knee. "All wins are sweet, they're hard to come by."

The Colts, who swept the season series in 2007, also have had troubles getting their rushing game untracked. Joseph Addai managed just 20 yards on 15 carries against the Vikings and is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry.