Colts end disappointing season with ugly 26-23 victory over Jaguars
INDIANAPOLIS — A disappointing season in Indianapolis needed overtime to finally end.
The Colts knocked off Jacksonville 26-23 in an ugly, back-and-forth game to finish the season at 8-9, sending Indianapolis into an offseason where difficult decisions need to be made.
Jonathan Taylor vs. Jacksonville front
From a strictly yardage standpoint, Taylor has been on a tear to finish off the 2024 season, and even though the Colts came out of the locker room throwing to take advantage of a Jacksonville secondary that has been one of the NFL’s worst this season, the Indianapolis running back got going midway through the first half.
Taylor never hit the big play that has been a staple of his games down the stretch this season.
But he still churned out 177 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries, darting and slashing through holes, then pushing the pile against a Jaguars defense that has been much better against the run than the pass this season.
Taylor’s 2024 campaign will be remembered for a handful of gaffes, most notably dropping the ball a step before he crossed the goal line with a touchdown that would have given Indianapolis a commanding lead, but the Colts star ended up rushing for 1,431 yards, posting eight 100-yard performances along the way.
Colts tacklers vs. any Jaguars ballcarrier
Indianapolis has struggled to make tackles all season long, posting the most missed tackles in the NFL according to a variety of statistical services.
The Colts didn’t get any better in the final game of the season.
Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones didn’t push the ball downfield much, but he didn’t have to do anything special. Indianapolis tacklers, led by cornerback Jaylon Jones, missed a handful of tackles again, allowing Jacksonville receivers to keep picking up yardage.
Indianapolis did a decent job against the Jacksonville running game, holding the Jaguars to just 3.2 yards per carry.
Colts wide receivers vs. Jacksonville defensive backs
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was given an inviting target for what could have been the final start of his NFL career.
Jacksonville’s defense entered Sunday’s game ranked dead-last in the NFL in yards allowed per dropback and total passing yards.
A trio of Indianapolis wide receivers that have been put through the ringer of injuries, ineffective quarterback play and constant switching at the quarterback position initially took advantage.
Alec Pierce, who has broken out as one of the NFL’s best deep threats this season, opened the game with a 40-yard touchdown on the first series, and he later drew a 37-yard pass interference. Veteran Michael Pittman Jr., who battled a back injury all season, caught six passes for 72 yards and slot receiver Josh Downs, who has been banged up with injuries to his ankle and shoulder that cost him two games, made 10 catches for 94 yards.
Nearly all day, when the Colts gave Flacco time, he had wide-open receivers to target, but the Jaguars sacked Flacco twice and put enough pressure on the veteran to limit some of his impact.
Pierce then made the key play in overtime, getting open for a 17-yard catch on third-and-long in overtime to spark Taylor.
Matt Gay vs. Cam Little
The two offenses struggled to finish drives, putting the game on the feet of the kickers for the most part.
Gay, the veteran who has been automatic from inside 50 yards but has struggled from distance all season long, made four field goals, although he pushed a 51-yarder wide right. Gay did knock through a 38-yard attempt in overtime that would be the game-winner.
Little needed more chances. The Jacksonville kicker knocked through all three kicks, including two kicks of 53 yards, to keep Jacksonville in the game.
Indianapolis pass rush vs. Jaguars offensive line
The Colts pass rush was supposed to the backbone of the Indianapolis defense, but it has often come up small down the stretch, struggling against a string of offensive lines with bad reputations.
Indianapolis faltered again on Sunday, producing just one Kwity Paye sack and four quarterback hits against Jones, who gets the ball out of his hands quickly.
Unlike a few of the Colts’ recent opponents, Jacksonville has actually done a good job preventing sacks this season; the Jaguars gave up just 31 sacks on the season.
But this Indianapolis pass rush, with the addition of first-round pick Laiatu Latu, was supposed to overcome those types of defensive lines, and although the Colts struggled for most of the game, middle linebacker Zaire Franklin sacked Jones for a 16-yard loss that effectively ended Jacksonville’s overtime chances.