Playoff Could Be in the Wild Cards for Colts : AFC: Indianapolis deals Jacksonville its sixth consecutive loss and maintains the inside track for a wild-card berth.

A week ago, the Jacksonville special teams were responsible for a couple of touchdowns. Sunday, it was Indianapolis’ turn.

Aaron Bailey returned the opening kickoff 95 yards and the Colts scored another touchdown after recovering a fumbled punt at the Jacksonville two, sending the expansion Jaguars to their sixth consecutive loss, 41-31.

The Colts also kicked a field goal after an interception, giving them enough points to win on a day when Jim Harbaugh, the top-rated quarterback in the NFL, was out because of an injury and Marshall Faulk couldn’t find any running room.

“It was a big win for our football team, if not a pretty one,” said Indianapolis Coach Ted Marchibroda, whose team improved to 8-6 and kept the inside track to a wild-card spot in the AFC.

“We had a great day from our special teams, which hasn’t happened that often this year. It doesn’t matter how you win in the NFL as long as you do.”

Last week, Jacksonville scored on a kickoff return and a blocked punt in a 31-23 loss to Denver. Against the Colts, the Jaguars piled up 424 yards and scored the most points in franchise history. The defense gave up only 219 yards, but the special teams let them down.

“This will be one that haunts us,” Jacksonville Coach Tom Coughlin said.

The Jaguars (3-11) remained tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the NFL; the “winner” of that dubious honor will claim the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft

Harbaugh was in uniform six days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and could have played if needed.

Faulk gained 54 yards on 22 carries--enough to make him only the 13th back in NFL history to go over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons--but left the game early in the fourth quarter because of a bruised left knee.

His status wasn’t immediately known.