Battle Between Colts & Jags Still Meaningful

Peyton Manning, NFL 2008 Week 16 Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) | NFL 2008 Week 16 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

Despite a disappointing NFL 2008 Season, the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) are looking forward to messing up the Colts playoff plans this Thursday night in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have finished second to the Colts in the AFC South the past 4 seasons in a row.

Although not the case this season, the matchup between these two division rivals is still meaningful. A victory this Thursday night in Jacksonville ensures the Colts an AFC Wildcard berth.

The Jaguars defeated the Green Bay Packers last week (20-16) and defeated the Colts on the road earlier this season (NFL 2008 Week 3), 23-21.

However, this Colts team is much different and better since their last meeting.

This week, the Jaguars face the hottest team in the NFL. After their mediocre 3-4 start to the NFL 2008 season, the Colts have won seven in a row to improve their record to 10-4.

Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Indianapolis is seeking its seventh consecutive playoff appearance under Head Coach Tony Dungy. The Colts are peaking at the right time and appear set for a deep run into this season's playoffs, and perhaps, all the way to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay (February 1,2009).

Colts Lead the Series 11-4

The Colts lead the all-time series against the Jaguars, 11-4. Since 2002, when the Colts and Jaguars were grouped into the AFC South, the Colts lead the division rivalry 9-4.

Last Time: Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Indianapolis Colts 21 (September 21, 2008)

The Jacksonville Jaguars won the first meeting this season, 23-21 in Indianapolis (September 21, 2008).

In that game, Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee converted 3 field goals (26, 21 yards), including the game-winning 51-yarder with 4 seconds remaining in the game as Jacksonville prevailed. Scobee's game-winning kick capped a 47-yard drive by the Jaguars.

The Jaguars controlled the ball for 41:35 of the contest, including for an unimaginable 26 minutes in the second half. Jacksonville rushed 48-236 and totaled 403 yards. Running backs Fred Taylor (26-121) and Maurice Jones-Drew (19-107) paced the ground attack.

The Colts gave up leads of 7-0, 14-10 and 21-20, with the final lead coming with 1:07 remaining on running back Joseph Addai's second TD of the day (16-78, 2 TDs rushing). Peyton Manning was 15-29-216 with 1 TD and 2 interceptions.

NFL 2008 Week 15: Indianapolis Colts 31, Detroit Lions 21

On the game's opening drive, the Colts scored as Dominic Rhodes carried the ball seven times for 41 yards, including a 1-yard run into the end zone for the 7-0 score with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive the Colts held the Lions to a three-and-out. However, Keiwan Ratliff muffed the Lions punt and Anthony Cannon recovered the ball at the Indianapolis 35-yard line. The Lions capitalized on the turnover with a Jason Hanson 51-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.

In the second quarter Peyton Manning led the Colts offense down the field as he connected on 5-of-7 passes for 39 yards. Colts RB Chad Simpson scored on a two-yard run to put the Colts up 14-3. The Lions quickly responded on the next drive as QB Dan Orlovsky connected with WR Calvin Johnson (8 yards), TE Michael Gaines (33 yards) and Johnson again (33 yards) for a touchdown to cap the 3-play, 69-yard drive and edge the Lions closer, 14-10.

With a little less than 2 minutes remaining in the half, the Colts scored again as Manning connected with TE Dallas Clark four times for 57 yards on the drive, including a 3- yard touchdown to end the first half with a 21-10 lead.

In the third quarter, the Lions edged closer (21-13) on Hanson's 30-yard field goal to make the score 13-21. The Lions scored again as Orlovsky connected on 6-of-7 passes for 62 yards and Smith carried the ball six times for 26 yards, including the 1-yard touchdown run that capped the 13-play, 91-yard drive. Orlovsky connected with Fitzsimmons for the two-point conversion to tie the game, 21-21 with 12:58 left in the game.

On the following drive the Colts took the lead again as Rhodes scored on another 1-yard run. The Colts scored again two drives later on Adam Vinatieri's 31-yard field goal with 0:44 remaining in the game for the Colts 31-21 win.

NFL 2008 Week 15: Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Green Bay Packers 16

The Jaguars snapped a 4-game losing streak and won at home for the first since September outscoring the Packers 13-3 in the final quarter. The Jaguars win eliminated the Packers from NFC playoff contention.

Jaguars QB David Garrard threw two touchdowns passes while running back Maurice Jones-Drew scored twice. Jones-Drew, starting in place of Fred Taylor, ran for 48 yards and added 22 receiving yards. Garrard finished the game with 238 passing yards and rushed for 31 yards. Dennis Northcutt, Gerrard's primary receiver for the day, caught 5 passes for 127 yards and one TD.

The Jaguars entered the final quarter trailing the Packers, 13-7. The games momentum shifted to the Jaguars when their defense stopped Packers running back John Kuhn on a 4th-and-1 to start the 4th quarter. On the subsequent drive, Garrard connected with Drew-Jones on 14-yard TD pass to regain the lead, 14-13. The Packers responded with Mason Crosby's 3rd field goal of the game to re-take the lead, 16-14.

However, the Jaguars came back and scored a touchdown in what proved to be the decisive drive of the game. Garrard first connected with Northcutt on a 41-yard pass play and then ran for a 16-yard gain. Jones-Drew scored on the ensuing play for the 20-16 lead.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (10-4)

The Colts have extended their streak of double-digit victory seasons to seven, a streak spanning Dungy's career as head coach in Indianapolis. The Colts streak of seven consecutive double-digit victory seasons ties the second longest streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81).

With their victory last week Indianapolis produced its seventh consecutive win, making the Colts the only team in NFL history to win seven or more consecutive regular-season games in five consecutive seasons (2004: 8 in a row, 2005: 13, 2006: 9, 2007: 7 & 6, 2008: 7). Prior to last week's win, the Colts and 49ers (1989-95) were the only NFL teams to win at least six consecutive games in five consecutive seasons.

In addition, the Indianapolis Colts are now the only NFL team with five consecutive 12-plus victory seasons (2003-07).

  • - The Colts aim for 8th consecutive win. Colts (2004-08) & 49ers (1989-95) are the only teams in NFL history to win at least 6 consecutive games in 5 consecutive seasons
  • - In past 3 Thursday night games, Peyton Manning has 12 TDs vs. 1 interception & 132.2 passer rating.
  • - Since 2004, Colts are 43-7 (.860) when Peyton Manning has 2 or more touchdowns in a game.
  • - RB JOSEPH ADDAI had 2 rush TDs in last meeting against the Jaguars
  • - WR REGGIE WAYNE (1,022) has reached 1,000 receiving yards in 5 consecutive seasons. In past 3 games played in Jacksonville, WR MARVIN HARRISON is averaging 84.6 receiving yards per game (254 total)
  • - Since 2007, TE DALLAS CLARK is 1st in NFL among TEs with 16 TDs. Clark had career-high in receiving (12) & yards (142) last week
  • - DE ROBERT MATHIS has 6.5 sacks in past 4
  • - S MELVIN BULLITT recorded 3 of career-high 4 interceptions during last 2 minutes of 4th quarter in 2008

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-9)

  • - Since 2006, the Jaguars are 16-4 (.800) when gaining 150 or more rushing yards in a game
  • - QB DAVID GARRARD has career-best 3,164 passing yards in 2008. In past 3 against Colts, Garrard has 95.7 passer rating
  • - For his career, RB MAURICE JONES-DREW is averaging 96.0 rushing yards per game versus Colts. Jones-Drew aims for his 5th consecutive game with rush TD against the Colts. Jones-Drew is having a career year as he has career-highs in receptions (54) & yards (484) this NFL 2008 season. Jones-Drew (12) needs 3 rush TDs to surpass FRED TAYLOR (14 in 1998) for most rushing TDs in a season in Jaguars history. Jones-Drew (14) needs 3 TDs to tie Taylor (17 in 1998) for most TDs in Jaguars franchise history
  • - Since 2007, WR REGGIE WILLIAMS leads the Jaguars with 13 TD receptions (10 in 2007, 3 in 2008). WR DENNIS NORTHCUTT posted season-best 127 receiving yards (25.4 average) last week against Green Bay on 5 catches
  • - DE REGGIE HAYWARD had season-high 2 sacks last week in the Jaguars win against the Packers

PREDICTION: Indianapolis Colts 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 10

Someone was bound to win last week's game between the reeling Packers and Jaguars. If not for the lucky bounce at the end of Garrard's 16-yard run on the decisive drive of the game, it may have well been the Packers.

The Jaguars have been a major disappointment this season having lost 5 of their last 7 and defeating only the winless Lions (38-14) and the Packers in the process. However, a victory over the Colts at home would take some of the sting out of the Jaguars miserable 2008 NFL campaign.

Don't Count On It.

To say the Colts are on a roll is an understatement. In addition to the 7-game winning streak, the Colts carry a 30-10 record against their AFC South division rivals since NFL re-alignment.

Furthermore, Peyton Manning has been unstoppable during the winning streak. Over the last 7 games, Manning has completed 173 of 249 passes for 1,789 yards with 13 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions. Manning's preformance over the last 7 games adds up to a 102.3 passer rating.

Keep in mind that last season (10/22/2007) the Colts defeated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 29-7. In that game, Manning passed for 259 yards & 1 TD.

Expect the Colts to get payback for their home loss to the Jaguars earlier this season and punch their ticket for the AFC Playoffs in what should be an easy 30-10 victory.

Battle Between Colts & Jags Still Meaningful - NFL 2008 Week 16