Colts outlast Jags with 26-23 OT win in season finale

Another disappointing season concludes with the Colts out of the playoffs and an aging signal caller on his farewell tour. 

As the Indianapolis Colts wrapped up the 2024 season finale with a 26-23 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, just about every player, coach and front office executive left Lucas Oil Stadium with more questions than answers.

The Colts needed just three plays to strike first as veteran quarterback Joe Flacco ripped through the Jaguars’ secondary. Just 70 seconds into Sunday’s meaningless affair, Flacco launched a 40-yard touchdown to receiver Alec Pierce to give the Colts a 7-0 lead. Pierce led the NFL this season averaging 22.3 yards per reception and continued to showcase his explosive playmaking skills.

The 24-year-old receiver has become notorious for hauling in deep shots. On passes more than 20 yards downfield, Pierce fetched 31 targets and tallied 557 receiving yards, which led all receivers. Pierce finished with 13 receptions of over 20 yards, which ranks inside the top five receivers along with Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Falcons’ Darnell Mooney, Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf, and Steelers’ George Pickens.

Indianapolis (8-9) allowed an opponent to reach the end zone on its opening drive for the first time this season as Jaguars QB Mac Jones engineered a 10-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Inside the red zone, Jones found rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on an out route for 17 yards to set up Jacksonville with first-and-goal. Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby took consecutive carries to cross the goal line and tie it up at 7-7. Jacksonville took its only lead early in the first minute of the second frame once kicker Cam Little buried a 53-yard field goal.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen retaliated by feeding his workhorse tailback with seven carries to plow through the gridiron on an eight-play scoring drive. After four consecutive designed runs for Jonathan Taylor broke inside Jaguars territory, Flacco hit receiver Michael Pittman Jr. near the sideline to breach the red zone. Three plays later, Flacco motioned Josh Downs out of the backfield to clear the box and handed it off to Taylor to score a six-yard touchdown and give the Colts a 14-10 lead. Taylor finished with 177 rushing yards on a season-high 34 carries and one touchdown to cap off his 2024 campaign with 1,431 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns,

Colts safety Julian Blackmon tracked down his third interception in front of the goal line as Jones underthrew a deep shot into double coverage. Jacksonville (4-13) tied it up at 20-20 midway through the final frame as receiver Parker Washington made Blackmon whiff in the open field, then Washington recovered his own fumble at the goal line and stumbled into the end zone.

The Colts leaned on kicker Matt Gay to deliver four field goals on five attempts. Gay connected on a 45-yarder to give the Colts a 23-20 lead with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter, then drilled the eventual go-ahead FG from 38-yards out with 5:23 left in OT. After Gay made the go-ahead FG in OT, the Colts needed one final defensive stop. Linebacker Zaire Franklin stamped his first pro bowl campaign with a massive sack on third down for a loss of 16 yards, then cornerback Samuel Womack III secured the game-sealing tackle on fourth down to end the game.

The plan to run it back failed miserably and there is uncertainty of who is expected to return. Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall draft pick in 2023, was shut down for the final two weeks after suffering yet another setback with a back injury. Another disappointing season concludes with the Colts out of the playoffs and an aging signal caller on his farewell tour.