Jaguars at Colts
After failing to punch their ticket to the postseason for the second straight year, the host Indianapolis Colts look to avoid the indignity of being knocked out by the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday when the AFC South rivals meet at Lucas Oil Stadium. Blake Bortles amassed three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in a 30-27 victory over the Colts in London on Oct. 2 and threw for 325 yards with both a touchdown pass and reception in a 38-17 romp over Tennessee last weekend.
"I think last week (against the Titans), we showed that we can play consistently, kind of mistake-free football," Bortles said. "We still had some mistakes here and there that we need to clean up, but I think that was more of who we envisioned ourselves being all season, not Week 16." While Jacksonville is trying to finish strong to make it more attractive for a new coach in the offseason, Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano told reporters he plans to play his starters despite the game holding little meaning in the standings. ""Our message this week is to finish," Pagano said. "We need to find a way to go into the offseason on a high note. It's much better than the alternative. We have a game to win."
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Colts -4.5. O/U: 47
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-12): Jacksonville's running back carousel could turn to Denard Robinson with Chris Ivory (hamstring) in line to sit out for the third time in five games while T.J. Yeldon was placed on injured reserve Monday. "Looks like I’ll be able to go," Robinson said earlier this week. "It's been tough (not playing). I hate just watching." Wideout Allen Robinson was more than a bystander last week, reeling in nine receptions to eclipse his total from the previous four games (eight) while his 147 yards receiving trumped the sum of his last five tilts (105). Robinson leads the team with 68 catches for 801 yards and six touchdowns, a far cry from his Pro Bowl numbers of 80 grabs for 1,400 yards and 14 scores last season.
ABOUT THE COLTS (7-8): Andrew Luck recorded his fifth straight multi-touchdown performance in Saturday's 33-25 loss to Oakland and also had two scoring strikes in the earlier meeting with Jacksonville. The former top overall pick is on pace for career highs in completion percentage (63.8) and quarterback rating (96.8) while Frank Gore is zeroing in on an impressive accomplishment as well. The veteran needs 36 rushing yards to record his ninth 1,000-yard season and first by a running back at the age of 33 or older since John Riggins accomplished the feat in 1984.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Indianapolis WR T.Y. Hilton leads the NFL with a career-high 1,353 receiving yards, although only 42 came in the first meeting with Jacksonville.
2. Jaguars rookie CB Jalen Ramsey, who likely will shadow Hilton, was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after making four tackles and returning an interception for a touchdown versus the Titans.
3. Jacksonville's minus-16 turnover differential is only better than the New York Jets (minus-23).