No. 37: Jacksonville Jaguars win 19-13 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. 37? Maurices Jones-Drew running all over the Indianapolis Colts and Blaine Gabbert getting only 19 pass attempts.

Week 17 — January 1, 2012

The Indianapolis Colts tried to make it three wins in a row, an outcome that once seemed improbably given their 0-13 start to the season. Ultimately, they lost by a score of 19-13 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The loss gives Indy a 2-14 record to end their season as well as the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew ran his to way to the NFL rushing title with 169 rushing yards. It was the best single-game total for Jones-Drew this season. He also broke Fred Taylor’s franchise record for rushing yards in a single season. Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert completed 11 of 19 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky threw for 264 yards, one touchdown and two costly interceptions. Austin Collie caught nine passes for 96 yards and the Colts’ only touchdown of the game. Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis picked up a sack, his third consecutive game with a sack. That gives Mathis a total of 9.5 sacks for the season. Dwight Freeney also registered a sack.

The Colts have big decisions to make during the offseason, namely whether or not to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. If they do, the front office will have to figure out a solution with Peyton Manning, who is due a $28 million option bonus on March 8, 2012. The Colts will also be wrestling with a decision to keep or to fire incumbent head coach Jim Caldwell after a disappointing season.

Rebuilding is the name of the game in Jacksonville too. Purchased earlier in the season by auto parts magnate Shahid Khan, the team fired its head coach, Jack Del Rio, in November.

Why the ranking at No. 37?

We beat a team we were favored to beat and dominated the game, both of which are not very Jaguars. But this game also meant we swept the Colts and allowed them to draft Andrew Luck, which gives it an incredible amount of Jaguars points.

Up tomorrow?

Embarrassing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with... MEL TUCKER!