INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars’ 26-23 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in a 2024 Week 18 game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Sunday
1. Just not enough. Sunday's game essentially was decided by two big plays in overtime, with the first coming with the Colts facing third-and-10 at their 30-yard line on the first overtime series. Colts quarterback Joe Flacco threw to wide receiver Alec Pierce, who – with Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell in coverage – made a leaping, physical catch for a 17-yard gain. That allowed the Colts to continue driving, with kicker Matt Gay converting a 38-yard field goal eight plays later for a 26-23 lead with 5:23 remaining in overtime. The Jaguars, needing a touchdown to win and a field goal to extend overtime, faced third-and-six on their 34-yard line on the ensuing series when linebacker Zaire Franklin sacked quarterback Mac Jones for a 16-yard loss. On fourth-and-22 from the Jaguars 18, Jones threw 20 yards to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to end the game.
2. Scrapping and clawing. The Colts led throughout much of the second and third quarters, but a Jaguars team that had scraped and clawed much of the season scraped and clawed its way to a tie in the fourth quarter. Trailing 20-13, the Jaguars used 14 plays to drive 84 yards for the game-tying touchdown midway through the quarter. A nine-yard pass from Jones to wide receiver Parker Washington tied the game, with Washington fumbling after an eight-yard gain. Washington recovered and pushed the final yard into the end zone to tie the game at 20-20 with 7:50 remaining.
3. Big play, BTJ. After the Colts scored 10 consecutive points to take a 17-10 lead late in the second quarter, Jaguars rookie kicker Cam Little's second field goal of the first half – this one a 28-yarder – cut the lead to Colts' 17-13 with 1:25 remaining in the second quarter. This came four plays after a 41-yard pass from Jones to Thomas gave the Jaguars a first down at the Colts 8-yard-line. Gay's 36-yard field goal with :13 remaining in the first half gave the Colts a 20-13 lead they held through much of the next quarter.
4. Big stop – and a big play. Momentum turned briefly towards the Jaguars in the second quarter when Jaguars rookie Jarrian Jones tackled Flacco for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the Colts 48. Flacco rolled left and ran on the play, and initially was ruled to have made a first down. Officials re-spotted the ball, and the Colts were short of the first down upon measurement – with Jones credited with a sack on the play. Little's 53-yard field goal five plays later gave the Jaguars their first lead of the game, 10-7, with 14:17 remaining in the second quarter.
5. Quick response. The Jaguars' defense began Sunday in characteristic fashion, allowing a 40-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Pierce for a 7-0 lead seventy seconds into the game. The Jaguars' offense responded impressively on the ensuing possession, driving 70 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 7-7 when running back Tank Bigsby scored on a one-yard run with 8:12 remaining in the first quarter. Jones completed three passes for 33 yards on the drive, with the key play a 17-yard pass from Jones to Thomas for first-and-goal at the Colts 2-yard line. Bigsby's tying touchdown came two plays later.
