No. 21: Jacksonville Jaguars win 22-17 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. 21? Blaine Gabbert’s one and only game winning drive — at the expense of the Indianapolis Colts!

Week 3 — September 23, 2012

Jacksonville made up for a 14-3 halftime deficit with a strong rally in the second half, keeping Indianapolis scoreless for much of the second half. However, they allowed an Adam Vinatieri 37-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the game, to give the Colts a 17-16 lead.

An 80-yard touchdown reception by Cecil Shorts III, though, on the first play of the ensuing drive gave the Jaguars a 22-17 win.

While the Jaguars started the game with a strong opening drive, they were forced to settle for a Josh Scobee 44-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. It was all Andrew Luck and the Colts for the remainder of the first half, though, hitting two touchdown passes to take a 14-3 lead just before halftime.

On the opening possession of the second half the Jaguars forced a punt and Maurice Jones-Drew took advantage with a 59-yard touchdown run. Strong defense continued to help Jacksonville, but the passing offense of the Jaguars struggled all game and they were forced to settle for two more Scobee field goals.

When the offense was unable to move the ball they afforded the Colts the opportunity to take the lead, but then this happened:

While Gabbert struggled again, completing just nine passes for 75 yards on his first 20 attempts, before the 80-yard touchdown bolstered his stats, Jones-Drew picked up the slack in the victory, finishing with 177 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Why the ranking at No. 21?

This was the one and only time that Blaine Gabbert put together a game-winning drive in Jacksonville, which is both sad and amazing — pretty darn Jaguars!

Up tomorrow?

That time Ace Sanders threw a touchdown to Jordan Todman on national television.