Jags try to close gap on dominant Colts

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When Jack Del Rio came to Jacksonville following the 2002 season, the Tennessee Titans were atop the AFC South Division and the Indianapolis Colts were trying to catch up.\nNow, the Colts have a stronghold on the top spot -- they've won three consecutive division titles -- and the Jaguars are trying to close the gap.\nIs there about to be another lead change?\nThe Jaguars (2-0) hope so. They have a chance to take the first -- and maybe most significant -- step toward a division title when they play at Indianapolis (2-0) Sunday.\n"When you look at it on paper and look at what we've done the last two games, we're right there," Jags linebacker Mike Peterson said Wednesday. "But that doesn't mean anything. We've got to go up there and do it Sunday."\nThe Colts have won 10 consecutive division games, including two straight against Jacksonville. Indianapolis is 6-2 against the Jaguars since the two became division foes in 2002, but most of the games have been close, with the average score 22-18.\nNonetheless, the Jaguars have remained behind the Colts in the standings.\n"They've dominated our division," Del Rio said. "Clearly, they've been in control of this division, and we're in pursuit of it. We have a goal of being division champions, and in order to do that, we've got to win in our division. Our first opportunity is this week against the Colts."\nJacksonville might have a better chance against Indianapolis, too.\nWhile the Colts lost running back Edgerrin James to free agency, the Jaguars signed physical cornerback Brian Williams and got hard-hitting safety Donovin Darius back from a knee injury.\n"We've added some bullets to the gun," Peterson said. "That's how I look at it. We boosted the defense."\nJacksonville's defense was impressive in wins against Dallas and defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. The unit shut down running games, put constant pressure on quarterbacks and caused turnovers. The offense started slow in both games but sustained second-half drives and did enough to eek out wins at home.\nHaving the same success at Indianapolis could be another story.\n"We feel we've closed the gap from the standpoint of understanding what we need to do to beat them," Darius said. "But you always have go out there and execute that on game days. I believe the system that we have -- the accountability, the execution, the preparation that we apply every game -- is enough to give us a great chance to win the game.\n"I'll rest my hat on that every day with the guys we have here."\nThe task won't be easy, especially following a Monday night game that left the Jags with less time to physically recover and little time to prepare for the Colts.\n"Guys won't be slacking off or walking around patting themselves on the back or still watching the highlight tapes from the Pittsburgh game," Peterson said. "We're way ahead of the game. We won't let that happen."\nDel Rio agreed, saying his players and coaches are more mature than they have been in the past. That growth and development could be key to passing Indianapolis in the division.\nThe Jaguars are the last division team to beat the Colts, winning 27-24 at Indianapolis in October 2004. They feel like they're prepared to do it again.\n"We can take this to a whole other level," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "If everybody does their assignment, it's going to look good for us"