Chuck Pagano has a new favorite phrase.
The Indianapolis Colts head coach said leading up to his team’s Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars that he was “supremely confident” injured quarterback Andrew Luck would play. That didn’t happen — 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck started in Luck’s place — but Pagano still was ready to go back to the “supremely confident” well after Thursday night’s win over the Houston Texans.
Pagano was asked after Indianapolis defeated Houston about his confidence heading into next Sunday’s Week 6 matchup with the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Supremely confident,” Pagano told reporters.
The Patriots figure to be heavy favorites in the rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game regardless of how they fare this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Still, you can’t fault Pagano for pumping his team’s tires, even if the Colts’ three wins thus far have been relatively unimpressive victories over seemingly inferior AFC South opponents.
As for Luck’s status against the Patriots after missing the last two games? Well, his coach apparently has a sense of humor.
Pagano jokingly says he's "supremely confident" Luck will play vs Patriots. "He's getting better every single day — he's really close."
What do you think? Leave a comment.— Mike Berman (@MikeBermanNBC) October 9, 2015
Thumbnail photo via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports Images