Horseshoe Hero: Colts Steamroll Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown (31) scores a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Photo by Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Horseshoe Hero
Jaguars 10 – Colts 30
The Colts had a playoff berth and a division title clinched before they even took the field for their final game of the regular season, but Indianapolis played like a team with something to prove Sunday when they dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-10, inside the dome at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In fact, the Colts shined, looking like a more polished team that will enter the playoffs with more momentum than many would have predicted a few weeks ago.
Andrew Luck threw for 282 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 8,000 passing yards in his first two seasons.
Robert Mathis had two sacks, reclaiming the top spot in the league in that category above St. Louis’ Robert Quinn.
Adam Vinatieri’s 12 points from three field goals and three extra points enabled him to surpass 2,000 points for his career, joining a very elite group.
T.Y. Hilton caught 11 passes for 155 yards, recording the first 1000-yard season of his young career. He is the first Colts receiver other than Reggie Wayne to do so since 2006.
Trent Richardson and Donald Brown each scored a touchdown, and the group of offensive lineman that allowed five sacks against Tennesee two weeks ago allowed just one Sunday. The defense continued to generate takeaways, logging a forced fumble and an interception, and the only real points allowed were scored in garbage time. To top it off, Pat McAfee kicked a 65-yard boomstick of a punt.
The opponent was the 4-12 Jags, a team Indianapolis has historically had much success against, but the Colts cruised so easily that even backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck got some playing time while Luck and other starters rested on the bench. With the win, the Colts completed a flawless sweep of the AFC for the first time since 2009 and for the third time in franchise history.
The Colts are locked into the 4th seed, meaning they will host the Kansas City Chiefs in the opening round of the playoffs, an encouraging matchup considering the Colts handily defeated the Chiefs just last week. But prior scores and records mean nothing when the postseason begins. Everyone is given a blank slate, and it’s win or go home. The Colts have as good a chance as anyone, though, in the wide-open AFC.