Unfortunately, coming into their Week 17 game, the Indianapolis Colts had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Still, while they ultimately came up short of their first win since the bye week, Shane Steichen had his squad surprisingly competitive against one of the hottest teams in the league in the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Philip Rivers-led Colts put up a valiant effort against the Jaguars, with the contest ultimately ending at a score of 23-17 in favor of Jacksonville. It is a loss for the team, but no one would have been shocked to see the squad roll over and not even put up a fight with no real stakes to compete for.
It speaks to the culture that Shane Steichen has built that the team was so competitive, even if they did come up short. The 2025 Colts have faced just about as much adversity as possible, but still, they put their best effort forward. It just so happened that the Jaguars were the better team in Week 17.
Winners and Losers from the Indianapolis Colts Week 17 loss to the Jaguars
Winner No. 1: Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers, having been named a starter just three weeks ago after not playing in the league for five years, performed just about as well as he could through his 2025 stint with Indy without actually keeping the team alive in the playoffs.
He finished the day with 147 yards, a touchdown, and an unfortunately back-breaking interception. By no means a shockingly good stat line, but when put into context of the whole situation, Rivers has been just about as good as can be reasonably hoped for from a 44-year-old former retiree.
The 2025 Colts were ultimately a failure overall, but they were faced with about as many obstacles as can be thrown at a team. Many proclaimed the season over when Daniel Jones got hurt. They were proven right after this game, but Rivers kept the hope alive for at least a few games.
Winner No. 2: Germaine Pratt
This was an admirable defensive effort from the Colts, especially when taking into account that the team they were playing against was just one week removed from putting up 34 points on one of the best defenses in the league, the Denver Broncos.
A few notable playmakers were flying across the field against Jacksonville. Cameron Mitchell made some splash plays, and Laiatu Latu and Adetomiwa Adebawore both had a sack each. But the standout performer from the defensive unit was no doubt Germaine Pratt.
Pratt finished the game with seven tackles and two passes defended, but his biggest play of the day came on a redzone interception where he picked off Trevor Lawrence. Usually, when a linebacker is caught in single coverage against a receiver in the endzone, the receiver comes away victorious. Pratt not only broke up a touchdown, but stopped the Jaguars from putting any points up on that drive entirely.
Loser No. 1: Sauce Gardner
While it obviously isn't all his fault, the trade for Sauce Gardner certainly seemed to be the turning point for the Indianapolis Colts' 2025 season. The team hasn't won a game since acquiring him for the very hefty price of two first-round picks, and even worse, he's been unable to stay healthy.
Gardner returned from a calf injury he suffered earlier in the season against the Texans, but couldn't even make it through one full game before reaggravating it. Again, injuries happen, and it's not his fault personally. No one would have blamed him if he didn't push himself to fight through injury and suit up in a game with no playoff implications.
Still, it's maddening when a player whom a team has invested so heavily in is unable to stay on the field. The Gardner trade seemed questionable when it happened, and Indy was 7-2, but with the team now sitting at a record of 8-8 with no first-round pick this year or next, it could turn out to be downright catastrophic for the future.
Loser No. 2: Kwity Paye
Kwity Paye was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, going 21st overall to the Colts. He was meant to bolster a defensive line that was struggling, but fast forward to the end of the 2025 season, and he's produced nothing better than middling results throughout his entire stint in Indy.
Once again, Paye was non-existent on the field. He finished the day with one tackle and no other counting stats. At this point, it's obvious who he is as a player, and unfortunately, it may end up that this was one of his last games ever played as a Colt.
When the team was 7-1, Chris Ballard seemed like a genius. Now, with the team at 8-8 and having no first-round picks for two years, he seems decidedly not genius-like. Kwity Paye is a remnant of an older version of the Colts, and he is a quintessential Chris Ballard pick. It may be time to say goodbye to the young defensive end.
Winner No. 3: Ashton Dulin
Philip Rivers played fairly well against a tough Jaguars defense, but he still only finished the day with 147 yards. The Colts were able to put up 17 points on the scoreboard despite the low yardage total, and a huge part of that was due to Ashton Dulin's prowess as a kick returner.
Dulin ended the game having returned three kicks for 129 yards, the longest of which was a 55-yard explosion down the field. He was putting the team at or near midfield to start drives consistently, and thus Rivers only had to cover half the distance to score.
He didn't end up finishing off any scoring drives, but Ashton Dulin was a huge reason why many drives started off so strongly. He continues to prove his value to the team game after game, whether it be in the receiving game or the return game. He may not be the best player on the team, but he always does his part and finds a way to be a key contributor for the Colts.