JAGUARS RECAP: Colts defeat Jaguars in OT behind backup QB

Missed field goals, too many penalties in 16-13 loss

By MIKE BONTS
The Jacksonville Jaguars have to be kicking themselves after dropping a close overtime game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium. They probably have better luck kicking themselves than winning field goals in the 16-13 loss.

The Jaguars (1-3) had a chance to win with one second remaining in the fourth quarter, but rookie Jeff Myers' 53-yard field goal try went wide right, forcing overtime. Then Myers was wide left on a 48-yarder with 8:13 left in OT.

In fairness to Myers he was responsible for almost half of the Jaguars scoring against their AFC South rivals. He connected to give Jacksonville a 13-10 halftime lead on a 32-yard kick with four seconds remaining in the second quarter. And was good from 20 yards out in the opening quarter.

It was not a good day league wide for kickers. NFL kickers missed 11 field-goal attempts just during the afternoon games alone.

"That was unbelievable game ... a good, hard-fought game, but we're just not there yet," said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley. "We just didn't make enough plays, and the penalties just killed us. But we will learn from this and move on."

Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles was 28 of 50 for 298 yards with one touchdown. Allen Hurns continued his banner season catching a career high 11 passes for a season-high 116 yards and one TD. Rookie T.J. Yeldon ran for 105 yards on 22 carries.

The Colts’ oldest player at 42, Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning 27-yard field goal with 4:36 remaining in overtime to give the hosts the victory.  Colts backup QB Matt Hasselbeck started in place of Andrew Luck and completed 30 of 47 passes for 282 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

"It's hard, because if you make one of those field goals, we're in the locker room talking about the tremendous effort, the competitiveness, getting turnovers, scoring off the sudden change," Bradley said. "We're talking about all these things that led to that. They're still there. But we're not quite there yet. We're close."

PENALTY BOX – The Jaguars were penalized 13 times for 92 yards. The Colts’ 13-play, 80-yard TD drive was aided by five Jaguars' penalties -- two pass interference calls, a roughing the passer, a personal foul and an illegal substitution. The Jaguars were penalized six times for 47 during the opening half. “These penalties … good teams, consistently, don’t have even a series like that,” Bradley said. “Far too many penalties in that situation.”

COLTS GAME NOTES - The Jaguars produced 421 yards, but managed only 13 points – none came after halftime…. A right shoulder injury sidelined Luck, snapping his streak of 57 consecutive starts…. Vinatieri broke Mike Vanderjagt's franchise scoring record with his first field goal, a 54-yarder, then became the first player in NFL history to top 1,000 points with two different teams on his second field goal….The Colts now are 11-5 all-time against Jacksonville in Indianapolis and tied the NFL record for consecutive wins against one division (15), which was set by the 1972-73 Miami Dolphins,,,, Hurns had eight receptions in the first half, surpassing his previous career best in just two quarters. 

DEFENSIVE GEMS – Colts’ running back Frank Gore fumbled at the Jaguars' 5-yard line. Defensive tackle Abry Jones recovered in the end zone. The fumble was forced by safety Josh Evans. Safety Johnathan Cyprien recovered a fumble by Indianapolis running back Josh Robinson.  The fumble was caused by linebacker Dan Skuta.

INJURY UPDATE - Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny, who made five first-half tackles, left the game with an ankle sprain in the third quarter. Two other players did not finish the game, cornerback Aaron Colvin (shoulder) and safety James Sample (shoulder). Jacksonville placed right guard Brandon Linder on injured reserve Monday and linebacker James-Michael Johnson was added to the active roster. Rookie A.J. Cann started in place of Linder against the Colts Sunday and is expected to remain the starter.  Linebacker John Lotulelei sustained a concussion against the Colts.

GIVING BACK – The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation pledged $500,000 to name the gymnasium in the new Winston Family YMCA in Riverside and continue its support of the Willie Galimore Community Center pool in St. Augustine. “The team’s investment in the new Winston YMCA and recommitment to the Galimore pool is part of a wider partnership the Jaguars organization has with the First Coast YMCA to support the health and wellbeing of our community, particularly for children and families,” said Peter Racine, President of the Jaguars Foundation. The new Winston Family YMCA is scheduled to be complete in August 2016.

AROUND THE AFC SOUTH – The good news for the Jaguars heading into week five. They play in the weakest division in the NFL. Indianapolis is the only team in the AFC South with more than one win. The Houston Texans are 1-4 and Jaguars are 1-3. The Tennessee Titans—who were on a bye this week—are 1-2. The Colts (3-2) beat the Texans Thursday night. Tennessee hosts the Buffalo Bills (2-2) Sunday.

UP NEXT – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) and Jaguars meet for just the sixth time in the regular season Sunday at 1 p.m. in Raymond James Stadium. Jacksonville leads the series 4-1, with the Bucs winning the inaugural meeting between the clubs with a 17-16 victory in Tampa in 1995. Jacksonville claimed each of the last four contests, winning three in Jacksonville along with a 24-23 win in Tampa in 2007.The Bucs signed kicker Connor Barth. The move comes after the team released rookie Kyle Brindza, who had been the team’ starter through their first four games.