The Sports Xchange

INDIANAPOLIS — For a team that was winless going into Week 3 of the NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts seem to be a franchise that changed its persona with Sunday’s dramatic, 35-33, win over the Tennessee Titans.

The come from behind win on the road against their AFC South rival put some swagger back in the team that many picked as a preseason favorite to go to the Super Bowl.

Prior to the Tennessee game, the Colts scored just three offensive touchdowns in the team’s first two games in losses to Buffalo and the New York Jets. Indianapolis had three offensive touchdowns in less than five minutes in the win over Tennessee.

Now Indianapolis has won 14 straight AFC South games. That’s the longest such streak in the NFL. The Colts return home to face division opponent Jacksonville this week.

Since Chuck Pagano became the Colts head coach in 2012, the team is 15-2 in regular-season games immediately following a loss.

Wait, there’s more.

Indianapolis is 20-4 in games decided by one possession or less since the start of the 2012 season.

Finally, Sunday’s game included was the 13th fourth-quarter game-winning drive directed by quarterback Andrew Luck. Indianapolis rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit, which is the biggest comeback directed by Luck since being drafted.

Luck downplayed speculation Monday that he might be dealing with a rib issue. He acknowledged that he was sore and tired after the Titans game.

Still, he stressed that he wasn’t hurt and said that his name would not be appearing on the team’s injury report later in the week. Luck said that after eating some pizza and relaxing after the team arrived back in Indianapolis Sunday night was all the post-game relaxation that he needed.

Running back Frank Gore got one of the game balls after the win. He promptly gave the game ball to the team’s offensive line. Gore had his best game since coming to Indianapolis in the offseason, averaging 6.1 yards a carry and rushing for a pair of touchdowns. Gore continued his streak of consecutive games started among active running backs to 63.

Outside linebacker Robert Mathis registered his first sack of the season and his first since 2013.

Mathis served a four-game league-mandated suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy to begin last season and then missed the rest of the year after tearing his Achilles tendon. He was brought along slowly during his rehab and training camp. He was inactive for the season opener at Buffalo but was active and saw light work in the home opener with the Jets a week ago.

Mathis saw his workload ramped up a bit against the Titans, getting in on about 20 plays. He picked up his sack in the fourth quarter of the Tennessee game after coming close on a couple other plays.

Safety Dwight Lowery had a breakout game, of sorts. An offseason roster addition, Lowery had a pair of interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. His second interception set up a touchdown. He was credited with a pair of tackles and two passes defensed in the game. Lowery’s interception return for a TD was the third of his career and first since 2010.

Outside linebacker Bjoern Warner was credited with blowing up the Titans’ two-point conversion play at the end of the game. Warner, who started last season, has been relegated to second team and special teams play this year. Still, the former Colts’ first-round draft pick appears to be gaining more confidence as the primary backup to starter Erik Walden.

Notes: Cornerback Greg Toler (sprained neck) will practice this week but remains listed as week-to-week on the team’s injury report. … Cornerback Darius Butler (hip) may be cleared to return to practice this week. … Outside linebacker Trent Cole (hamstring) did not make the trip to Nashville for the Titans game. He hopes to be cleared to return for Wednesday’s workout. … Tight end Dwayne Allen (ankle) was held out of the Jets and Tennessee games but could be back in the Colts’ offensive lineup this week against Jacksonville.