INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -The Indianapolis Colts blew one opportunity to clinch the AFC South title, so they'd like to wrap it up this week.

``You definitely don't want it lingering for a couple of weeks,'' middle linebacker Gary Brackett said. ``When you get a chance to win the division, that's what you want to do.''

For the second straight year, the Colts (10-2) head to Jacksonville in December with a chance for the division title. Indy rarely needs second chances.

Over the past 2 1/2 seasons, Indianapolis (10-2) has been as reliable delivering critical regular-season wins as Joe Montana was in the Super Bowl. The Colts won 30 consecutive meaningful games from November 2004 until Dallas ended the streak three weeks ago.

Last week's loss at Tennessee exposed something else: Indy's fallibility.

The Titans shredded the defense for 219 yards rushing, forced two turnovers and took advantage of a chance to rally - a combination that has slowed the Colts' drive to reach the Super Bowl.

Now they cannot afford another misstep against one of their toughest division rivals.

``We're into the last quarter of the season, and I think this will be the part of the season that defines us,'' coach Tony Dungy said Monday. ``We've lost our margin for error, and I think we'll respond.''

The next challenge comes Sunday against a Jaguars team that has typically given Indianapolis trouble. Only two of the nine games since becoming division opponents in 2002 have been decided by more than seven points, although the Colts are 7-2.

While the Jags try to stay in playoff contention, the Colts have bigger aspirations.

They're after the AFC's top playoff seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. San Diego and Indianapolis share the best conference record, while Baltimore and New England are both one game back.

The Colts still hold the advantage in tiebreakers with a better record against AFC foes than the Chargers, and essentially have a two-game cushion on the Patriots, whom they beat earlier this season.

Indianapolis does not want it to be that close, though, and winning the division could be just the remedy it needs to make a late-season charge.

What will it take?

``Everybody in this locker room needs to do their job better, all the way down the line,'' two-time MVP Peyton Manning said. ``Everyone needs to improve this week and, hopefully, that will result in better play.''

In the last five games, Indy has committed 11 turnovers compared with only four in the first seven games. The Colts have needed Manning's late-game magic to rally three times this season, and have struggled to defend the run all year.

The predictable results are finally starting to show.

Indianapolis has lost two out of the last three games, let a two-game lead over the closest conference contenders slip away and might have to play its regulars through the final game for the first time since 2003.

While Dungy understands this is not the ideal script, he continues to believe his players can make the needed corrections.

``We certainly aren't as sharp as we need to be going into the stretch where we're playing division opponents on the road. We've got to play better,'' he said. ``You can look at it and say after going 24-2 going 2-2 is a crisis. Or you can look at it and say we're 10-2 and still in contention.''

Dungy wants his team to use the next four weeks to gain momentum heading into the playoffs, something Indy lost last season after benching the starters for the final two games.

Winning the division title would be a start.

``I still don't think there are guys signing up, waiting to play us,'' Brackett said. ``They know we're still a tough team. But you want to get hot, like Pittsburgh did last year.''

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