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Historically speaking: Jaguars-Colts, 2021

Historically speaking: Jaguars-Colts, 2021


JACKSONVILLE – The 2021 regular-season season finale seemed inconsequential for the Jaguars.

They were running out the clock on the season, a season that seemed promising when the College Football Hall of Fame coach was paired with the franchise quarterback in the spring, but that unwound with an interim coach to face the Indianapolis Colts last January.

The Colts seemed on their way to the playoffs, and seemed poised for a deeper run than the Wild Card round in which they lost the previous season. All they had to do was beat a 2-14 team.

The only variable seemed to be how long the Jaguars would be interested in playing with the offseason in sight.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence let the Colts know it might be longer than they hoped when he connected with wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. on third-and-13 on the opening drive. There was some life in the Jaguars after a 50-10 loss to the New England Patriots the week before. Lawrence found Jones again on third down for 12 yards, then 16 more on the next play. Lawrence capped the drive with a nifty toss to wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to make it 7-0.

The Colts opened their first series with the same play they ran against Jacksonville in Indianapolis in November, a play on which running back Jonathan Taylor gained 57 yards. This time he gained just one. He gained two on the ensuing play and the Colts settled for a field goal early in the second quarter.

By then, it was clear the Jaguars were up to the challenge of ending Indy’s season early.

The Jaguars moved in the first half but managed just two field goals by the end of the first half and led only 13-3. Colts quarterback Carson Wentz could lean on Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher, and work to get wide receiver Michael Pittman involved and surely they’d find their way, wouldn’t they?

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