The Colts sewed up their seventh consecutive playoff berth and the AFC’s fifth seed with their come from behind win against the Jaguars, and it was totally fitting given the way their season has gone

SCOTT JACOBS

It was a good game at a rather subdued Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.  One would argue that the Jaguars thought their might be more on the line going into this one, but with just a 4-10 record and having already been eliminated from the playoffs, there was no AFC South title at stake.  There was no playoff spot.  Not for the Jags at least.

But look on the other side and therein lies the red hot Indianapolis Colts.  They’ve won eight in a row after a very surprising 3-4 start.  The Colts have had a topsy turvy season by their standards, and some of their wins have been games they may not have deserved, so it was fitting that to beat the Jaguars they had to overcome an early 14-0 deficit as well as a 17-7 deficit, en route to a 31-24 win.

And it was the Colts defense, not their offense, that helped finish off the Jags.  Tied at 24 in the fourth David Garrard was picked off by Keiwan Ratliff who took it 35 yards to the house.  And just like that, the Colts were in the lead.  But holding on would not be easy, as Jacksonville drove the ball all the way to the Colts eight, after starting at their own 10.  But poor clock management, and a poor overthrow by David Garrard left the Jags with just 12 seconds, down by a score.

The Jags had no timeouts, and wouldn’t you know it, David Garrard (like Jacksonville’s Super Bowl dreams coming into this season) was sacked by Dwight Freeney and the Jaguars were unable to get off another play.  And with the win, the Colts become just the second team in NFL history to win 11+ games six consecutive seasons.  That is impressive!

So now, the Colts are in.  They join the Titans and the Steelers as the three teams who’ve already clinched an AFC playoff spot.

And boy is Peyton Manning something.  Tonight he went 29-34, for 364 yards and three touchdowns, and he just did it methodically.  He is one of those guys that you never expect to watch lose.  Because when he is on, he is in a league of his own.  And the MVP love is starting to come his way, which I think is deserved.  It had been a while since the Colts had such a difficult year (which is comical considering they now have 11 wins again), but if you look at the way they’ve struggled in certain situations and blotches of the season, it is very impressive to see the Colts back in the playoffs.

As for the Jaguars?

Well, I think one comment on an article I did earlier in the year summed it up best:

“San Diego is in a heated battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the NFL’s biggest disappointment of the season.”

The only difference right now?  The Chargers still are in contention for a division title and they have six wins.  The Jags, a year after winning 11, still have just four. It’s cliche I know: but what a difference a year makes.

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