Until recently, that is.

After struggling in losses at Dallas and Tennessee, the Colts spent this week looking to rekindle their winning formula.

``We've just not played well in those games,'' cornerback Nick Harper said Thursday. ``When you watch the film, it's sad to see. It's not as bad as it looks, it's just one or two guys being one or two steps off. We've got to get better at that.''

Since Dungy arrived in 2002, the Colts have posted a 28-10 record outside the cozy RCA Dome, far better than the .500 road record most teams aspire to.

But the two latest losses exposed problems Indianapolis (10-2) has normally avoided.

In those games, the Colts combined for an uncharacteristically high total of six turnovers and 13 penalties. Even more perplexing was the high number of false starts and offsides penalties, which Dungy attributes to lack of concentration.

``We've certainly had our share of mistakes and that makes it harder than it actually is,'' two-time MVP Peyton Manning said. ``It comes down to execution.''

Dungy believes the solution is simple.

He challenged his team this week to pay more attention to details, emphasized fundamentals and focused on eliminating the mistakes.

The Colts will get a chance to put those elements in play Sunday at Jacksonville, where a win would clinch second straight AFC South title.

``We had a good stretch where we didn't self-destruct and now we've done that two times in the last three weeks,'' Dungy said Monday. ``We've got to get it fixed.''

Another factor may be injuries.

Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders (knee) and middle linebacker Gary Brackett (hamstring) both missed the Dallas game, leaving two big holes in the middle of a defence that has struggled much of the season. Both returned last week, but the Colts gave up more than 200 rushing yards against Tennessee.

Sanders did not practice on Thursday and it is uncertain if he will play on Sunday.

Tight end Dallas Clark (knee) and right tackle Ryan Diem (oblique muscle) missed the Tennessee game, taking away one of Manning's top targets and one of his best protectors.

The return of Sanders and Brackett should solidify a defence that has been besieged with injuries all season, although both played last week when the Colts gave up more than 200 yards rushing to Tennessee.

Brackett believes getting healthy isn't enough.

``We just have to go out there and shore everything up,'' he said. ``We need guys playing to their potential. It's not like the defence isn't working, we just have to make those tackles.''

Again, the Colts offence is not expected to be at full strength this week, with Clark likely to miss his second straight game and Diem listed as questionable.

In past seasons, injuries haven't mattered much to Indy. The Colts have never lost more than three road games in a season under Dungy and they've twice gone 7-1 outside Indianapolis.

It appeared this season would follow a similar pattern after the Colts opened with two victories in the windy Meadowlands, then won at Denver and New England _ two of the NFL's toughest venues.

Instead, two losses in three weeks have caused consternation and put the Colts back in the precarious position of protecting their hold on the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.

San Diego shares the AFC's best record with Indy, although the Colts currently hold a tiebreaker edge because of a better conference mark. New England and Baltimore are just one game back.

What will it take to get the Colts righted? Harper believes it's all about attitude.

``I think when you're going into someone's backyard, it's almost like you have to be a bully and beat up on them,'' Harper said. ``I think our guys feed off that adrenaline and it does make a difference. That's what we have to do.''