Colts drop second straight against Jaguars, 51-16

Injuries took their toll on the Indianapolis Colts as they lost their second straight road game this time against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

For weeks the Colts have been coasting through games on fumes, hoping they can hold out just long enough until a few key players return to the lineup. After an ugly first half by both teams, the Jaguars exploded in the second half on their way to a 51-16 victory.

Matt Hasselbeck took an absolute beating Sunday afternoon. He left for a few plays after being slammed to the turf and then was knocked out early in the fourth after being shoved out of bounds and coming down hard on his left wrist. He was officially ruled out with a rib injury.

Hasselbeck completed 18-of-35 attempts for 252 yards and no touchdowns.

A wild end to the first half originally had the Colts sitting pretty. With the Colts up 6-3, the Jaguars had a bad snap go over the head of Blake Bortles to be recovered in the end zone by Robert Mathis. A sack-strip on the very next series set the Colts offense up in good position, but the Jags would return the favor and take Hasselbeck’s fumble in for a touchdown.

It wouldn’t get much better after the break. The Colts went three out-and-out and the Jaguars would need just one play to take the lead. Another Colts three-and-out, and the Jags managed to return the punt for a touchdown. Just like that the Jags had 21 unanswered points and the Colts began to come apart at an alarming rate.

The Jaguars ended the game on a 42-3 run in the second half alone. With no help from the offense, the Colts defense was slowly picked apart as the team was quickly blowout for a second straight week. It was the Colts first loss in the AFC South since December of 2012.

The Colts fall to 6-7, and just behind the Texans at 6-6. Colts fans have a bit of a catch-22 tonight as the Texans host the Patriots. A win gives the Texans a solid lead in the division, while a loss just strengthens the Pats.

Next week, the Colts will host the Texans in a game that will likely wrap up the AFC South.