Knee-jerk reactions: The Colts almost make their big comeback, but fall short in a 37-34 loss to the Jaguars

One of the NFL’s strangest defeats continues as the Indianapolis Colts lost 37-34 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The loss for Indianapolis means ten straight road losses to the Jaguars. Indianapolis is now 2-3 on the season and awaits another road game in Week 6 against an AFC South opponent, the Tennessee Titans.

COLTS ALMOST A MAJOR COMEBACK BEHIND VETERAN BACKUP JOE FLACCO

No Anthony Richardson? No Jonathan Taylor? No problem. At least not for 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who did everything he could to end the Colts’ now decade-long losing streak on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco finished his career with 33 of 44 yards for a career-best 359 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Alec Pierce had an outstanding performance in the fourth quarter, hauling in three catches for 134 yards, including Flacco’s game-winning 65-yard touchdown pass.

Indianapolis’ fast-paced game was truly non-existent without Taylor in the starting lineup. Aside from two 17-yard gains from Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson, it was essentially Flacco and the Colts’ passing attack alone to keep them afloat. In total, the Colts only managed to rush for 99 yards, with Flacco himself (no, that’s not a typo) having the longest ground gain of 21 yards. This statistic alone shows how poor Indianapolis’ rushing attack was on Sunday. According to multiple reports, right back Will Fries, who left Sunday’s game with a leg injury, is expected to undergo surgery for a shin injury. Additionally, the sooner star running back Jonathan Taylor returns to the starting lineup, the better, especially now that the Colts offensive line has lost one of its best players on offense.

For the most part, the Colts’ offense wasn’t the problem on Sunday. Against the Jaguars’ shaky defense, Indianapolis managed to score 34 points and total 383 yards of offense on Sunday. Flacco and Co. did what was asked of them and they, along with head coach Shane Steichen, deserve a lot of credit, even if the team didn’t pull off what would have been an incredible comeback.

INJURIES IN DEFENSE, INEXPERIENCE COLLECT COLTS IN A MAJOR OFFENSIVE TO THE JAGUARS

Now to the other side of the football, which has been nothing short of terrible for the Colts’ defense, which held its own for much of the first month of the season. Still, the Jaguars entered Sunday’s game desperately needing to find some consistency on offense. They did that and more against a very banged up Colts defense. Jaguars quarterback Trever Lawrence had enough time to read an entire chapter behind his offensive line on Sunday afternoon as the Colts’ weakened defensive line couldn’t muster any pressure or sacks. Lawrence dealt with a variety of injuries to the front seven and secondary players, including Kenny Moore II, DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and others, cutting and dicing a Colts secondary that looked outgunned and inexperienced.

Barring a not-so-great decision by the Jaguars’ quarterback, Lawrence completed 28 of 34 passes for a career-high 371 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard touchdown strike to rookie wide receiver Brain Thomas Jr., who was at Finished with five receptions and 122 receiving yards. This play sparked something from the Jacksonville offense that it hadn’t seen in the first four games of the season, and their offense took advantage despite nearly losing the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Colts rush defense was average at best on Sunday. For the Jaguars, it was Tank Bigsby’s show as he rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. Bigsby, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry, capped an impressive afternoon with a 65-yard touchdown. Jacksonville managed 126 yards on 23 attempts, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Maybe Bigby’s long touchdown makes the Colts’ rush defensive performance look worse than it was. But it seemed only a matter of time before the defensive injuries and lack of depth caught up with the Colts.

Overall, the Colts’ defense gave up 37 points, 497 total yards and 8.7 yards per play and allowed Lawrence to set a career high with 371 yards. Jacksonville’s 497 yards of offense and 8.7 yards per play are the most they have had since 2022 and 1998, respectively.

It doesn’t need to be said, but the Colts’ defensive performance on Sunday is one worth forgetting. On the other hand, it goes without saying that Indianapolis needs some of its defensive playmakers back soon.