AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

It would have been hard to outdo the embarrassment of the Coltsโ€™ season-ending loss to the Jaguars in 2021, but somehow they managed. In their return to Jacksonville in Week 2 with a team that was supposed to be better than last yearโ€™s bunch that choked, the Colts were choked out themselves 24-0. Afterward, Colts HC Frank Reich struggled to do much else other than acknowledging the situation and preaching patience. 

โ€œWeโ€™re two games into it and weโ€™re 0-1-1. Weโ€™re two games into it and weโ€™re 0-1-1,โ€ Reich said via the Athleticโ€™s James Boyd. โ€œItโ€™s a long season and weโ€™ll take our medicine for the pathetic performance today, coaches and players, and weโ€™ll see how things (start) stacking up.โ€

Jaguars

There were some bumps in Week 1, but the Jaguars and QB Trevor Lawrence rebounded in Week 2 with a 24-0 win over the division-rival Colts in one of the best games of Lawrenceโ€™s young career. He completed 25-30 pass attempts for 235 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Afterward he credited the presence of HC Doug Pederson as a key difference from his rookie season. 

โ€œI just think the way he carries himself, having played quarterback and all that plays into it,โ€ Lawrence said via Sports Illustratedโ€™s Albert Breer. โ€œThe main thing is he just understands what weโ€™re doing, what weโ€™re going through, the way he talks to us constantly. We had a lot of conversations about the plan, about everything, and weโ€™re always on the same page. Not every gameโ€™s going to go exactly how you planned. But to have that alignment is really important and I think weโ€™ve done a good job of that.โ€

Texans

  • Texans HC Lovie Smith said the team needs to do a better job of sustaining drives offensively: โ€œWeโ€™re stalling. Weโ€™re not there yet. This week, it seemed like there was a commitment to the run. Itโ€™s not just about the running game.โ€ (Aaron Wilson)
  • Smith emphasized that itโ€™s not just QB Davis Mills that needs to improve: โ€œItโ€™s so much more than Davis Mills. Davis has to get better.โ€ (Wilson)
  • Mills believes that the team is on the cusp of turning the corner and said that the team needs to take advantage of opportunities: โ€œOur whole team feels like weโ€™re close.โ€ On his play: โ€œSolid. I know there were some missed throws I got to be better with. As a team, weโ€™re putting ourselves in position. We need to take advantage of them.โ€ (Wilson)
  • Smith expects OL Scott Quessenberry to continue starting in Week 3: โ€œI think he did an excellent job.โ€ (Wilson)
  • Smith is unsure if C Justin Britt will play in Week 3 as he remains absent for personal reasons related to football and continues to contemplate his options. (Wilson)
  • Smith on what QB Jeff Driskel has done as the backup quarterback: โ€œHeโ€™s given us a spark. I like what heโ€™s done.โ€ (Wilson)

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