Jacksonville Jaguars lose to Colts 26-23 in overtime as potential changes loom
INDIANAPOLIS — Another game, another one-score loss for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars (4-13) and the Indianapolis Colts (8-9) entered Sunday's game with a lot of uncertainty surrounding both coaching staffs and personnel departments after disappointing years.
Still, a game had to be played to close out the 2024 season and the Jaguars returned to the loss column, falling 26-23 to the Colts in overtime, a fitting end to a dreadful season.
It was the Jaguars' 13th game this year with a result decided by eight points or fewer. The Jags went 3-10 in those games. Those 10 one-score losses are the most by any team in a single season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).
The loss gives Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson his first .500 or worse record against the AFC South during his three years in Jacksonville.
Before going 3-3 this season against the South, Pederson had earned winning records (4-2) in 2022-23.
The game went into overtime after Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker sacked Colts quarterback Joe Flacco on third down to push them out of field goal range and into punt formation. The game was tied at 23-23.
The sack gave Walker 10.5 on the season, giving him back-to-back double-digit sack seasons. Walker was drafted first overall by the team in 2022.
The Colts entered Sunday's game without their starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, out due to a lingering back injury that's forced him to miss multiple games this season.
Jacksonville star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen did not travel with the team due to what the team said was a "personal" matter. Because of a lingering ankle injury, Jacksonville was also without starting left tackle Walker Little.
The Jaguars announced as the game began that safety Andre Cisco would miss the contest due to a groin injury sustained during pre-game warmups. Cisco is slated to be a free agent after this season. He was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jaguars, Mac Jones can't connect with Brian Thomas Jr. enough in season finale
After the Colts struck quickly on their first possession of the game, the Jaguars took a more methodological approach to get the ball in the endzone. The Jaguars took 10 plays on their first drive to go 70 yards, ending with a one-yard score from running back Tank Bigsby.
Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. looked like he scored from 19 yards out, but the refs called him just short, running out of bounds at the two-yard line. Pederson opted not to challenge and the team scored on their first possession anyway.
After a drop on the previous drive, Thomas had a 41-yard catch-and-run, giving him over 1,200 yards this season. Thomas is just the seventh rookie in NFL history to reach 1,200 yards. After the catch, Thomas had 1,237 yards on the season as the team's top wideout.
Thomas' 41-yard snag was his seventh of the season over 40 yards, which is tied for the third-most in NFL history by a rookie and tied for the second-most in the NFL this season.
Thomas broke open for a touchdown halfway through the third quarter, but the ball was underthrown by quarterback Mac Jones, and intercepted by Colts defender Julian Blackmon.
Though Thomas led the team in targets with 10 targets on the day, Jones was largely unable to connect with the star wideout when needed, missing him on multiple occasions, including the aforementioned interception deep down the field.
Thomas finished the game with seven catches for 103 yards.
Jones finished the game completing 19 of 31 passes for 205 yards, one TD and one INT.
Jaguars defense struggles early, recovers in second half vs. Colts
The Jaguars will need major renovations on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. The team's secondary has struggled since allowing an 80-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 and hasn't looked back.
Jacksonville entered Sunday's matchup against the Colts with the 31st-ranked defense in the league, allowing 387.5 yards per game this year. They rank 32nd in pass defense, giving up 257.7 passing yards per game. The bleeding continued early against Indy.
Colts quarterback Joe Flacco began the game by completing seven of his first nine passes for 60 yards and a 40-yard touchdown to receiver Alec Pierce over cornerback Montaric 'Buster' Brown.
Jacksonville's defense held The Colts in check for a couple of drives before allowing 13 points to end the first half, giving Indianapolis a 20-13 halftime lead.
Flacco ended the first half 11 of 20 for 157 yards and a touchdown, while Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished the first half with 14 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown.
The Colts did not score until just under four minutes remaining in the game, kicking a go-ahead 45-yard field goal to put Indy up 23-20 with 3:52 remaining in the game.
Flacco finished the game completing 23 of 40 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. The Colts' leading receiver was Josh Downs who had 10 catches for 94 yards. Taylor carried the ball 34 times for 177 and a TD.
Rookie kicker Cam Little continues impressive rookie season
Jaguars kicker Cam Little nailed a 53-yard field goal during the second quarter of the contest against the Colts, giving Jacksonville a 10-7 lead early.
The 53-yard strike was Little's fourth field goal of the season of 50-plus yards and it's the most field goals made of 50-plus yards by a rookie in franchise history. The mark is tied for the fourth-most in single-season franchise history.
Little moved into first place ahead of Jason Myers for the most field goals made by a rookie in franchise history with 27 late in the game after nailing a game-tying 53-yard kick. He tied it with a 53-yard kick earlier in the contest.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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