Audibles: Colts at Jaguars

<em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky </em> <p><strong><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ind" shape="rect" target="_new">Indianapolis Colts</a> (10-4) at <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=jac" shape="rect" target="_new">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> (5-9), 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday</strong></p> <table align="right" border="0"><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><img alt="" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/ind.gif" /></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><img alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/jac.gif" width="80" /></td></tr></table> <p>In the first meeting between these teams at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Jaguars had a tremendous day rushing the football. They ran 48 times for 236 yards, crushing the Colts in time of possession, 41:35 to 18:25. But even the successful game of keep-away (find my account of that game <a href="/blogs/afcsouth/0-4-148/Keep-away-the-key-to-Jags--win-in-Indy.html" shape="rect" target="_blank">here</a>) was barely enough.</p> <p>The Colts had a late touchdown drive that proved too efficient, and after Jacksonville got the ball back with 1:07 remaining, it moved 47 yards -- with the benefit of a penalty against <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9680" shape="rect" target="_new">Freddy Keiaho</a> that provided a critical first down -- to set up <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5662" shape="rect" target="_new">Josh Scobee</a>'s last-second, 51-yard game-winning field goal. Final score: Jags 23, Indy 21.</p> <p>Here's a handy <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29572&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter" shape="rect" target="_blank">game recap</a> from nfl.com.</p> <p>The Colts have fortified their run defense since then, and there is no way the Jaguars can come close to matching their effort in that game. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9646" shape="rect" target="_new">Maurice Jones-Drew</a> will get the bulk of the carries with <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1430" shape="rect" target="_new">Fred Taylor</a> on IR.</p> <p>Slowing the run, the Colts will put the game on <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3636" shape="rect" target="_new">David Garrard</a>'s shoulders. With limited weapons, he'll need time to find options and I suspect two guys just named to the Pro Bowl, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3539" shape="rect" target="_new">Dwight Freeney</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4596" shape="rect" target="_new">Robert Mathis</a>, are not going to give it to him.</p> <p>A win for the Colts would clinch a playoff spot. In short-rest games between tired teams, the home team usually has an edge. But the Jaguars rallied to win Sunday against Green Bay, ending a four-game losing streak. That may prove to have been their last stand.</p> <p>One matchup note: Jags cornerback <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4504" shape="rect" target="_new">Drayton Florence</a> buried Indy tight end <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4482" shape="rect" target="_new">Dallas Clark</a> with a shoulder-to-helmet hit that knocked him out of the game for a time. Perhaps the Colts will welcome any opportunity to be physical with Florence.</p>

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