Colts-Jaguars Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Mark Schlereth On The Colts' Win Over The Jaguars

SCOUTING REPORT

Colts will win eighth in a row thanks to their defenseLooking at the schedule before the season, it looked as if this Thursday night game could be a battle for AFC South supremacy. It didn't work out that way, and Jacksonville has had a simply miserable season. Obviously, both teams are working on a short week and are coming off a victory. Indianapolis has won seven in a row, but the Week 15 struggles versus Detroit should act as an eye-opener for the Colts. Expect them to come back with a vengeance in Jacksonville.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
IND	12-4	377	298	6-2	6-2	4-2	10-2
JAC	5-11	302	367	2-6	3-5	2-4	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Indianapolis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 69.8 3171 21 9 Addai 100.0 22 1 0

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 61.8 2303 8 6 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Indianapolis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Addai 145 514 3.5 7 Brown 54 236 4.4 2

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 194 926 4.8 13 Garrar... 50 218 4.4 2

Indianapolis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Wayne 76 968 12.7 8 Clark 65 771 11.9 4

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 47 694 14.8 6 Holt 38 516 13.6 0

Full Player Stats: Indianapolis | Jacksonville

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	IND	336.0
	JAC	319.0
Yards Passing	IND	255.9
	JAC	208.3
Yards Rushing	IND	79.6
	JAC	110.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	IND	310.9
	JAC	330.9
Pass Yds Allowed	IND	188.1
	JAC	224.1
Rush Yds Allowed	IND	122.9
	JAC	106.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Indianapolis leads 10-4
Sep 21, 2008	IND 21, @JAC 23
Dec 2, 2007	IND 28, @JAC 25
Oct 22, 2007	IND 29, JAC 7
Dec 10, 2006	IND 17, JAC 44
Sep 24, 2006	IND 21, @JAC 14
Dec 11, 2005	IND 26, JAC 18
Sep 18, 2005	IND 10, @JAC 3
Oct 24, 2004	IND 24, @JAC 27
Oct 3, 2004	IND 24, JAC 17
Nov 9, 2003	IND 23, JAC 28
Sep 21, 2003	IND 23, @JAC 13
Dec 29, 2002	IND 20, @JAC 13
Sep 8, 2002	IND 28, JAC 25

The Indianapolis Colts knew two weekends ago that their five-year reign as AFC South champions was over. All they're concerned with, however, is extending their six-year streak of making it to the playoffs.

That's exactly what they can do with a win Thursday night in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars will try to partially salvage their season of failed expectations by at least delaying Indianapolis' seventh straight entrance into the postseason.

The Colts' chances of claiming a sixth consecutive division title -- or even making the playoffs -- appeared to be over early, as they stumbled to a 3-4 start while Tennessee was in the process of winning its first 10 games.

Indianapolis (10-4), though, hasn't lost since late October, winning seven in a row to put itself at the top of the AFC wild-card standings. With a win in Jacksonville, the Colts will be back in the playoffs, continuing the NFL's longest active streak and locking themselves into the No. 5 seed.

"At 3-4, we knew what the problems were," coach Tony Dungy told the team's official Web site. "A lot of it was ourselves and our execution. That's what we focused on, more so than pointing the finger at someone or figuring out who was to blame. A lot of that gets back to the players really listening to the coaches."

One of those first four losses came at home to the Jaguars (5-9), who never broke out of their early season funk even after it looked like they might. Josh Scobee hit a 51-yard field goal in the waning seconds on Sept. 21, lifting Jacksonville to a 23-21 victory over the Colts, their first win of the season.

Yet despite getting to 2-2 the next week, the Jaguars never found the groove they did last season when they went 11-5. Jacksonville has gone 4-7 since its visit to Indianapolis, leaving it with nothing to play for down the stretch.

To Dungy though, Jacksonville's motivation is simple -- ruin the season of one of its biggest rivals.

"I'm sure they would like to knock us out," Dungy said. "We haven't really been in that situation, but when you are and you can't get in, that's the motivation, especially if it's a division rival. I'm sure they'd like to keep us out of the playoffs, so I'm sure we'll get their best."

The Colts were hardly at their best last week despite piling up 421 yards against Detroit. They let the winless Lions tie it at 21 early in the fourth quarter before securing a 31-21 victory.

Tight end Dallas Clark was Indianapolis' offensive star, grabbing 12 of Peyton Manning's passes for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown.

Manning finished 28-of-37 for 318 yards, his third 300-yard game of the season and his fourth straight game completing at least 70 percent of his passes.

"You could tell the focus was on (Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne)," Clark said. "I know they're not too happy, because they want to get their receptions and their catches and their looks, but I'm just glad to be able to step up like that and make some catches."

Manning and his receivers may need to have another big day against Jacksonville. The Colts have the worst rushing offense in the AFC, averaging 80.1 yards and 3.4 per carry.

Despite facing three of the 10 worst rush defenses in the league the past three weeks, Indianapolis hasn't gotten its ground game going. It gained 3.2 yards per carry in wins over Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit, and against the Lions didn't have starter Joseph Addai, who was out with a right shoulder injury.

Addai is expected to play Thursday, but running against the Jaguars won't be easy. Jacksonville has given up 3.6 yards per carry in its past six games, the seventh-stingiest average in the NFL in that stretch.

The Jaguars, though, placed second-leading tackler Daryl Smith on injured reserve Tuesday. Without the linebacker for the final two games, team captain Mike Peterson will return to the starting lineup.

Stopping Green Bay in short-yardage situations on Sunday made the difference for the Jaguars, who beat Green Bay 20-16 to avoid their first five-game single-season losing streak since 2001.

The Packers ran for 84 yards on 28 carries (3.0 ypc), and nursing a 13-7 lead early in the fourth quarter, were stuffed on a fourth-and-1 at the Jacksonville 44-yard-line. The Jaguars took over, and nine plays later David Garrard found Maurice Jones-Drew from 14 yards out to take a 14-13 lead.

"That was the turning point in the game," defensive end Paul Spicer said. "The momentum could have gone either way."

With Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor finding running room difficult to come by, the Jaguars' lack of a solid rushing attack has been their downfall. Jacksonville was second in the league last season in rushing, gaining 149.4 yards per game, but that average has slipped to 110.8 this season.

The one game when the Jaguars had rushing success, though, came in Indianapolis, as Taylor and Jones-Drew each went over 100 yards and Jacksonville ran for 236.

Taylor, however, is out for the season, leaving the onus on Jones-Drew, who's averaged 6.8 yards per carry in five career games against the Colts.

Indianapolis beat the Jaguars 29-7 on the road last season, and has won three of four in Jacksonville.

Manning (glute) among 25 on Colts injury report

Three-time MVP Peyton Manning was a limited participant at Colts practice Wednesday because of a backside injury.

Outsiders: Week 12 previews

Football Outsiders analyzes Week 12 in the NFL. Ideas: Oakland isn't THAT bad; Reggie Bush is poised for a big game vs. New England; Pittsburgh needs to play better in the second half; David Garrard gets knocked around too much and a plan for Houston.

Clayton: Pressure falls on Pats in Monday night showdown

The Saints have the burden of protecting a perfect record, but the Patriots will be feeling the most pressure on Monday night, writes John Clayton.

Joyner: Targeting weak veteran corners

It's not just the hobbled and inexperienced who can be exploited for fantasy gain. KC Joyner offers a few struggling veteran cornerbacks -- and the receivers who will break them -- to add to your list of favorable fantasy matchups in the coming weeks.

Indianapolis Colts defense won't see wholesale changes

The Indianapolis Colts brought in Larry Coyer to replace Ron Meeks as coordinator, not oversee an extensive renovation of the defense.

Brackett: I'll be ready for Colts camp

Gary Brackett anticipates being ready for the start of training camp as the Indianapolis Colts' veteran linebacker continues to recover from a broken right leg that forced him to miss the end of the 2008 season.

Manning challenges youngsters to emerge as third receiver

The Indianapolis Colts' roster lists nine receivers, so depth isn't a concern, though for the first time since 1995, the collection doesn't include Marvin Harrison. Proven depth is another matter entirely.

Colts' Jackson, Hart recovering quickly

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson and running back Mike Hart labor on different sides of the ball, but they are recovering from similar injuries and chasing identical timetables.

Brackett energized about Colts coaches

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett honored Canterbury students Thursday for raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Jaguars coach blasts Henderson for leaving workout because of 'minor' shoulder injury

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionJaguars defensive tackle John Henderson grabs his left shoulder during an organized team activity session Monday at the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars

DON BURK/The Times-UnionMarlon McCree , with San Diego in this 2007 photo, is set to return to the Jaguars.

After lost season, Jags seek how to put 'train' back on track

Among the league's most disappointing teams last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars never came close to meeting expectations as a chic preseason Super Bowl pick.

NewFull-speed ahead for Jaguars safety Nelson

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco during the Jaguars' 21-19 loss in Cincinnati on Nov.

Ex-Jaguar pleads not guilty to drug charges

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday including possession of cocaine and marijuana.