No. 24: Jacksonville Jaguars win 38-20 over Indianapolis Colts

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We’re counting down to the 2020 NFL preseason opener what would have been the Jacksonville Jaguars preseason opener by ranking all 51 regular season wins over the past decade.

Today at No. 24? The last win of the decade — featuring Gardner Minshew, Calais Campbell, and Ryquell Armstead!

Week 17 — December 29, 2019

The final game of the regular season did not disappoint as they showed the fight, hunger, and spirit that was needed for the past several weeks. For the first time since Week 2 of 2018 against the New England Patriots the Jaguars scored 31 or more points as they won 38-20 over the Indianapolis Colts in their final home game of the season.

The Jaguars have not lost to the Colts at home since 2014, and are now 7-0 in season finale games at home.

The Jaguars today got off to a bizarre start offensively as they were outgained by the Colts 145-49 as the Colts got off to a drawn out 10-3 score.

The Jaguars would take off offensively in the second quarter as rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew went 11-of-17 for a touchdown and an interception. With a score of 20-13 in the Colts favor, the Jaguars would go on to score 25 unanswered to secure the Week 17 victory.

With 13:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars had an incredibly strange exchange occurred as Minshew was pressured on a 3rd-and-8 letting out what appeared to be an incomplete pass as it fluttered to the ground and bounced around.

After recovering the football beyond the first down marker, the refs blew the play dead and appeared to be siding with the latter ruling of an incomplete pass until Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone challenged the play giving Minshew a fumble, but the Jaguars the ball on their own 26 yard line and new life in the form of fresh downs.

The Jaguars’ success mainly came in the second half as they would score 25 unanswered, including a fumble recovery for a touchdown by defensive lineman Calais Campbell. The Jaguars defensive line combined today for three sacks, seven quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.

Minshew ended the day completing 27 of his 39 passes for three touchdowns and an interception. The rookie’s best performance since week eight against the New York Jets.

Taven Bryan played perhaps his most complete game as a member of the Jaguars today netting four tackles, one sack, one tackle-for-loss, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hit on the day.

Another milestone today hit for second-year wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. as he surpassed 1,000 yards on the season with a four-catch 34-yard game against the Colts today. Chark Jr. and running back Leonard Fournette became just the fourth running back-receiver duo to have 1,000-plus yards in their respective categories in franchise history, and the first since Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith in 2004.

Why the ranking at No. 25?

Beating the brakes off the Colts in a meaningless season finale... a Jaguars tradition.

Up tomorrow?

An actually fun and exciting game against the Cleveland Browns back in 2010!