In-game blog: Jags vs. Colts

Dec 18, 2008 at 06:44 PM

jaguars.com Senior Editor followed the action live as the Jaguars played the Colts on Thursday Night Football. Here's what he wrote.

Pregame - 6:20PM

Hi and welcome to the press box at "The Jack." The weather is perfect for this NFL Network Thursday night special between the Jaguars and the visiting Indianapolis Colts. A playoff berth is on the line for the Colts, but this will be an even more special night for the Jaguars. I'll explain a little later. Welcome aboard.

Pregame - 6:29PM

Richard Collier addressed his teammates on Wednesday night for the first time since the tragic events that ended his playing career during the first week of the season. Collier will present himself to Jaguars fans during the coin toss for tonight's game, in what will undoubtedly be the most emotion-charged moment of this season.

Pregame - 6:51PM

Jaguars inactives are: Alvin Pearman, Thomas Williams, Drew Miller, Mkristo Bruce, Attiyah Ellison, Calvin Lowry and Cameron Stephenson.

Pregame - 6:53PM

Gary Brackett and Marvin Harrison are prominent inactives for the Colts. Joseph Addai (shoulder) will be replaced in the starting lineup by Dominic Rhodes. Anthony Gonzalez replaces Harrison at WR and Buster Davis replaces Brackett at LB. Bob Sanders will start at SS.

Pregame - 7:39PM

This is the final home game of the season, of course, and the Jaguars are attempting to avoid tying the 1995 team for the worst-ever home record, 2-6. The Jaguars are currently 2-5 at home this season.

Pregame - 8:12PM

Richard Collier is on the Jaguars sideline and is heading out for the coin toss.

Pregame - 8:14PM

This is a touching moment, to say the least. Rich won the toss and the Jags have elected to receive. He smiled right through the whole thing. We're with you, Rich.

15:00 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

Brian Witherspoon nearly broke it. He takes it back 33 yards to the Jags 38-yard line.

14:16 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

A pass and a run move the chains to midfield.

13:36 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

Garrard throws to Marcedes Lewis for a first down. The Jags are opening the game with the same kind of misdirection passes they used against Green Bay.

12:59 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

Maurice Jones-Drew pounds out 10 more and another first down. That's the Colts I know.

12:17 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

Garrard hit Lewis right in the facemask. It would've carried to the 10-yard line. Come on, catch the ball.

12:12 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

Jones-Drew breaks it to the 14 but Dennis Norman is called for holding. What a shame; two big plays.

11:46 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 0

It's third and 10 at the Colts 28.

10:59 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 6

Touchdown! What a beautiful throw to Dennis Northcutt. He beat 'em bad; wide open at the five and Garrard dropped it softly into his hands. Don't tell me this guy can't throw deep.

10:59 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Was Northcutt the missing link? As ridiculous as that question sounds, I think it's legitimate. We hadn't seen anything all season like we've seen twice in the last five days.

10:59 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

This is mind-boggling. Can we please start the season over? The Colts start at their 28.

10:53 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

That run went nowhere. It's third and five.

09:00 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

The Colts convert on a short pass but a long run by Dominic Rhodes is nullified by holding. Reggie Nelson missed a tackle big time.

07:03 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

On third and eight Manning throws short of the sticks. The Colts are going to punt on fourth and three. That's a strange pass.

06:12 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Holding during the kick moves the ball to the seven-yard line.

04:53 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Garrard to Lewis for a first down. Right now, Garrard is playing lights out. He's getting good protection.

04:15 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Jones-Drew is running hard. The Colts can't tackle him.

02:53 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Fourth and a foot at the Jags 32. They're going for it.

02:31 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Garrard sneaks for it. The Colts may have run into an ambush tonight.

01:52 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

The Jags got away with a false start by Norman on that QB sneak.

01:04 left in 1st Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Garrard is looking for Northcutt on every play. He's finally found the go-to guy he's wanted and needed all year.

15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

That's the end of the first quarter. The Jags are facing third and five at the Colts 45.

15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Garrard to Northcutt for a first down. Having a receiver is fun.

14:04 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

The Jags are dominating. They moved the Colts line back seven yards. First down at the Colts 26. This is the best the Jaguars have played all season.

13:28 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Garrard to Richard Angulo on one of those misdirection passes. The Jags are unstoppable. They're at the nine.

12:56 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Jones-Drew to the three; right up the middle. Dwight Freeney whiffed.

12:18 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 7

Jones-Drew missed the hole. It was a touchdown. Time out, Colts. You betcha.

11:37 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 13

Touchdown! Garrard on the draw. He's on fire. Who doesn't like him now? That was a 17-play drive.

11:37 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 14

Garrard is 10 of 11 for 103 yards and one touchdown. He should be 11 for 11, but for the Lewis drop. The Jags have already rushed for 57 yards and Northcutt and Lewis each have three catches.

11:29 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 14

Manning to Anthony Gonzalez. Manning was chased from the pocket. The Colts line is suspect.

10:08 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 14

Manning is still very efficient, but he doesn't have the big play. Where did it go?

09:22 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 0, JAX: 14

He has no running game, no big play and a suspect line. How do you beat the Colts? I would think the answer is rush the quarterback.

08:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 6, JAX: 14

There's the big play. Reggie Wayne got behind Reggie Nelson for a touchdown. He beat Nelson like a drum.

08:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

This may be Manning's best-ever job this season. To do what he's doing without a running game and having to throw on the move as much as he has is extraordinary.

08:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

It looks to me like this is going to be a shootout. Neither defense has stopped the opposing offense.

08:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Garrard's got bad field position again; at the 13.

07:56 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

That'll fix it. Garrard to Northcutt for 24 yards to the 37. This is extraordinary. The Colts want to get Sanders up in the box but they don't dare do it because of the threat the Jags are posing through the air.

07:17 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

That time, the misdirection pass didn't work and Garrard had to throw it away. I think they can kill that play now.

07:17 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Garrard to Mike Walker for a first down but Khalif Barnes is called for holding. What a shame.

07:11 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

That was a lousy call. Freeney took a dive.

06:46 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Steve Weatherford punts to the Colts 21.

06:17 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

The Jaguars secondary is defenseless. Manning is looking for Nelson.

05:04 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

He went right at him. Nelson is having a really bad night. The pass is to the Jags 36.

03:42 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Manning is killing the Jaguars safeties; a 23-yard gain on first and 25.

03:05 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Manning is 12 of 12. What's that tell you?

02:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Now it's 13 of 13. We're at the two-minute warning.

01:03 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Third and one and they lost two yards. It's fourth and goal from the 12. Adam Vinatieri is on for a chip shot. Oh, baby, did he hook it left. I mean that's a big-time crank job.

01:03 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

The Colts can't run at all; six carries for seven yards. Garrard has to watch himself. He's throwing for Northcutt too much.

00:50 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Jones-Drew gashes them for a first down. Other than for Manning, the Colts look awful.

00:25 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

There are 21 seconds left. The Colts are playing a deep cover two. Something over the middle and underneath that would be good.

00:21 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Garrard to Northcutt with 11 seconds left and no times out remaining.

00:11 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 14

Great throw in the honey hole to Walker at the 26. It's kick time. What a throw. I mean it was a dart. Josh Scobee will be kicking from 44. It's good.

00:01 left in 2nd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 17

Garrard has hit seven different receivers. I see open guys. Wow! Garrard is 15 of 20 for 175, one touchdown and a 117.7 passer rating. Who is this guy? I'll tell you who it is. It's a quarterback with receivers running open.

14:56 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 17

The Jags have a nice rushing on Manning but their defenders can't hold their coverage long enough to allow the rush to get home. Manning is 14 of 14; that's terrible.

13:51 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 17

The running game doesn't exist. If only Nelson hadn't blown that deep coverage against Wayne.

11:59 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 17

Manning to Clark. He's throwing against air.

11:14 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 7, JAX: 17

The first incompletion. He threw it away in the face of some pressure.

10:26 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 13, JAX: 17

Touchdown! Little flip pass to Rhodes. There's no stopping Manning. Garrard has to score with him.

10:26 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Most of the offseason attention needs to be dedicated to the defensive side of the ball. It's a big job.

09:47 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Jones-Drew is mowin' them down. It's third and one.

08:58 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Personal foul against the Colts. Garrard was down when they hit him, I guess. It's kind of weak but players must understand that you can't touch the quarterback's head.

08:27 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

What a great throw and what a great run after the catch by Jones-Drew for a first down.

07:17 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

I'm going to watch for a double-move route by Northcutt. He may have it set it up with a lot of down and out stuff.

05:59 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Great throw to Lewis for a first down and Lewis broke a tackle to get four more yards.

05:13 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Garrard is playing as well as I've ever seen him play, but he has receivers open all over the field.

05:13 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Jones-Drew pounds out a first down. They're grinding them.

03:56 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Where's Robert Mathis? I've heard so much about him but he hasn't done a thing. It's at the five. The Colts can't stop the run.

03:56 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 17

Jones-Drew fumbled and the Jags got it back; Tony Pashos. First and goal.

02:33 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 23

Touchdown! Montell Owens right up the gut. The Colts never put him down. The Colts defensive line is being dominated, again.

02:28 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 24

The Colts came into this game tied for 11th place in overall defense. What does this say about the Jags offense? I think I know what it says. I think it says that open receivers change everything.

How would you choose to die? I think I'd prefer the quick way. I think I'd take my chances with blitzing. I know covering isn't working.

Manning to Clark deep down the sideline. Nelson just can';t get there.

00:45 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 24

Manning to Wayne. Witherspoon was in coverage. The rush nearly got there.

00:04 left in 3rd Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 24

Nelson knocked a pass away that was intended for Wayne. That's the end of the third quarter.

15:00 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 24

If Nelson doesn't get to the ball, it's a touchdown. Here's the tough part for the Jaguars. They traded away half their draft to pick two guys who would put pressure on Manning and it's not happening.

14:56 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 14, JAX: 24

Third and 10 and he throws complete; Wayne was wide open.

12:31 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 20, JAX: 24

Touchdown! Trap pass to Clark. They've been doing it for years. They run trap, they run trap pass.

11:41 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Three and out. That hurts.

11:41 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Weatherford has a good leg. He boomed that one long and high. The Colts start at their 21.

10:42 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Nice play by Drayton Florence. It's a good thing he knocked it away because it was a touchdown if he didn't.

10:38 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Why was Derrick Harvey covering Clark for a 21-yard completion?

10:11 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

I think I smell an interception.

09:25 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

The Colts run for a first down. The Jags defense looks like it's suckin' wind.

07:55 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Third and one; big play.

07:55 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 21, JAX: 24

Didn't get it. What do they do? They're kicking.

06:28 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 24, JAX: 24

It's good. The game is in Garrard's hands. This is crunch time. This is when you measure a quarterback.

06:28 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 24, JAX: 24

This is what it's all about. The game is tied with 6:28 to play. Good quarterbacks get it done now.

04:48 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Touchdown! Keiwan Ratliff intercepts and returns 35 yards for a touchdown. It was third and four. That's bad. That's a meltdown; can't do that. Garrard was throwing for Reggie Williams. He wasn't open and Garrard should've thrown the ball away.

04:48 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

That bothers me greatly. Crunch time is crunch time. There's no way to minimize it's importance. It means everything.

04:42 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Garrard to George Wrighster for a big gain. Why isn't Northcutt in the game? What's going on?

04:34 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Third and five.

03:48 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Sacked! By Raheem Brock. The Jags have to punt.

03:16 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

To play as well as they did for three quarter, and then to go dead in the money quarter is troubling, to say the least. All of a sudden, they stopped doing all of the things that had been working all night.

03:16 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Roughing the passer on Clint Ingram. He hit Manning on the head.

Time out, Jaguars, with 3:03 to play. It's second and nine at the Colts 39. What happened in the fourth quarter? That's the question that has to be answered.

02:54 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

It's third and one. This is the game.

02:54 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

He didn't get it. They have to punt. The Jags use their final time out. Garrard will have one more chance to get it done.

02:34 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Northcutt caught the punt and got hit so hard I can't describe it. He truly wanted to make a play.

02:34 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Garrard to Northcutt for a first down. All right.

02:14 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

He's drawing triple coverage now. They have to get away from Northcutt and throw to somebody else.

02:09 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

To Jones-Drew; nice play for a first down at the Jaguars 39. We're at the two-minute warning.

02:00 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Wallker would be a good option. Williamson might be a good option deep. They have to get off Northcutt for a while.

02:00 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Garrard to Northcutt in a crowd; three guys. He's got to get off him.

01:35 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Garrard to Northcutt again, out of bounds with 1:12 to play.

01:16 left in 4th Qtr -- IND: 31, JAX: 24

Garrard to Williams at the 17 for 22.