Colts will miss playoffs after embarrassing loss to Jaguars

The Indianapolis Colts are officially out of the playoff picture after the early slate of Week 18 games.

If the Indianapolis Colts won a game over the last two weeks, they would be preparing for a playoff run. Instead, Indy finishes the season with two-straight losses in games many expected the Colts to win.

The Week 16 loss to the Raiders was bad, but the final game against the Jacksonville Jaguars was just horrible.

Many assumed Indy would be able to go to Jacksonville and easily beat the 3-14 Jaguars, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. In reality, it was the Colts who were dominated on Sunday, losing 26-11

Indianapolis played horribly all around. The offense couldn’t score, the defense couldn’t get stops, and every time it seemed as if the Colts were going to turn things around, something went wrong.

This was epitomized when Indy ran the ball on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line and Jonathan Taylor was stuffed, keeping Indianapolis out of the end zone.

Taylor with one yard to gain is usually automatic, but that’s the kind of day Indianapolis had on Sunday. The disappointing performance prevented Indy from clinching a playoff spot, and other results ultimately eliminated Indianapolis.

Colts officially eliminated from playoff picture

There were paths for Indy to make the postseason even with a loss, but everything hinged on the Pittsburgh Steelers not winning in Baltimore. With a field goal in overtime, the Steelers were able to officially eliminate the Colts.

Now Indianapolis faces a long offseason after a disappointing finish. This is a team with the most Pro Bowlers in the NFL, that has demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level. Indy just wasn’t able to get the wins when it needed them most.

There will be plenty of questions to answer this offseason and holes to fill on the roster. The position that’s likely to be the most discussed will be quarterback. Carson Wentz has been a big topic all year and his last two performances of the season won’t help his case with his doubters.

That’s just one of the many conversations that will surround Indianapolis until the start of next season. The Colts will have plenty of time to assess what went wrong and find the solutions.

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