No. 14: Jacksonville Jaguars win 30-27 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. 14? Another insurmountable lead that was almost surmounted by the Indianapolis Colts.

Week 4 — October 2, 2016

YouTube won’t let me embed the highlights so you can watch them here.

Outside of an elimination game, this was about as much of a must win game that the Jacksonville Jaguars could have. Playing the Colts in front of an international crowd in London... the Jaguars hoped to impress and also save their season in the process.

After both teams went three and out on their first drives, the Jaguars’ dynamic young rookie combination at defensive end forced an interception by Andrew Luck. Dante Fowler forced pressure up the middle and tipped Luck’s pass, allowing Yannick Ngakoue to make a nice play on the interception and set the Jaguars up with good field position.

Helped by a 15-yard run by T.J. Yeldon, the Jaguars were able to take advantage of the turnover and score on three-yard touchdown pass form Blake Bortles to Allen Robinson, who beat one on one coverage.

7-0 lead. Let’s go.

The Colts followed up their turnover with a 12-play, 29-yard drive which resulted in a 53-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri. And after a three-and-out, the Colts drove down the field again only to end again in a field goal once again — Vinatieri hit a 49-yard field goal to cut the Jags lead to 7-6.

With the help of a few penalties by the Colts, the Jaguars were able to put together one of their more impressive drives of the year. a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive ending in nifty one-yard designed run by Bortles, extending their lead to 14-6.

With less than two minutes on the clock, the Jaguars got the ball back looking to make a statement with a before the half touchdown. While the Jaguars did drive 75 yards on 10 plays, they fell just short of a touchdown, as they ended the half with a 23 yard field goal by Jason Myers giving them a 17-6 lead.

The Jaguars once again looked to extend their lead as the got the ball to begin the half. Thanks to a nice play call by Greg Olson on a third down, the Jaguars were able to stay on field on a short yardage situation, something that haunted them last season. Unfortunately, the Jaguars couldn’t convert on their next third down, and ended up once again settling for a field goal, extending their lead to 20-6.

After a nice three and out by the defense on the following drive, the Jaguars got the ball back looking to put the nail in the coffin. They continued their aggressive play calling a 4th down this year on this drive, as the converted a fourth down on the Colts 39-yard line with a short pass from Bortles to Yeldon.

That was the highlight of their drive however, as the settled for a field goal once again giving them a 23-6 lead.

With their backs against the wall, the Colts put together an impressive drive in which they caught a huge break on a 35 yard pass interference penalty on safety Johnathan Cyprien, which set the Colts up on the one yard line. The Colts capitalized on the penalty on the following play, as Frank Gore ran in for a 1-yard touchdown.

After a stalled drive by the Jaguars, the Colts got the ball back down 23-13 looking to make it a one score game. The Colts capped a 12-play, 78-yard drive with a huge third down touchdown pass from Luck to T.Y Hilton cutting the Jaguars lead to 23-20.

On a drive where many Jaguars fans felt they would go three-and-out or turn it over, the Jags were able to do something they haven’t all year long. Bortles completed two consecutive passes to T.J. Yeldon for first downs on the drive, getting the Jags passed midfield. Bortles than completed a short pass to Allen Hurns, who made a couple of nifty moves and turned what looked to be a short gain into a 42 yard touchdown, giving the Jags a 30-20 lead.

The Colts responded quickly however, with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett on a blown coverage by the Jaguars.

After a three-and-out by the Jaguars offense on the ensuing drive (I’m sensing a theme here!) the Colts had a chance to drive down the field and tie the game, or even take the lead. The Jaguars defense held up though, forcing the Colts into a fourth down. In the biggest play of the game, an unlikely hero stepped in Josh Johnson, who made diving play to tip the ball away from Dwayne Allen.

The Colts got the ball back with under a minute left, but failed to move down the field, as Sen’Derrick Marks came up with a huge sack on Luck, which put the game under wrap. The Colts attempted to lateral the ball in desperation on the last play, but it was snuffed out by the Jaguars defense, as the Jaguars wrapped up their first win of the season.

Why the ranking at No. 14?

Building a nearly insurmountable lead in London and then giving it up is very Jaguars.

Up tomorrow?

Our revenge game against the New England Patriots back in 2018.