JAGUARS (3-12) VS. COLTS (7-8)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, LUCAS OIL STADIUM, INDIANAPOLIS uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 706
Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
About the Jaguars: Six days after firing coach Gus Bradley, the Jaguars played their best game of the season in a 38-17 rout of the Tennessee Titans, ending a nine-game losing streak. In their home finale, the Jaguars won at EverBank Field for the first time all season. They did it thanks to an outpouring of offense led by QB After reports indicated his position as franchise quarterback might be in jeopardy with Bradley gone, Bortles suddenly looked capable for the job. Bortles and many teammates will be under the microscope in the finale. With a new staff on the way, it’s never too late for Jaguars players to make a good impression.
About the Colts: With an outside chance of keeping their playoff hopes alive with a win in Oakland, the Colts turned in another miserable performance in a 33-25 loss. The Colts were down 33-7 midway through the third quarter when they finally decided to play, but by then, it was far too late and not enough, almost symbolic of their 2016 season. “It’s not what being a Colt is all about,” QB
said after throwing two interceptions. “It’s not what playing for the horseshoe is all about.” The Colts will miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since Peyton Manning’s 1998 rookie season. A loss in the finale might seem meaningless, but it could have serious repercussions for staff considerations.
While Parnell has been inconsistent at times since Jacksonville signed him away from the Dallas Cowboys, he has been a substantial upgrade and helped shore up the Jaguars’ long history of horrible offensive line play. He’ll be tasked with keeping Mathis in check. After 14 seasons in Indianapolis, Mathis could be playing his last game as a Colt. The soon-to-be 36-year-old, who was a 2013 all-pro selection, will become a free agent.
After weeks of sputtering regression, Robinson was back in a big way against Tennessee. He hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 147 yards and seemed to have recaptured his 2015 chemistry with Bortles, when the two were one of the most prolific passing tandems in the league. In the season finale, he’ll be going up against a depleted secondary.
Depending on how Week 17 plays out, the Jaguars could pick as high as second in the 2017 NFL draft and as low as sixth. They’re projected by many to pick fourth.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Don’t miss Chris: The Jaguars offense looked so much better with RB heavily involved in the game plan. He rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and caught four passes for 69 yards. He topped 100 all-purpose yards for the third time this season and resembled the workhorse back the Jaguars need.
2. Quarterback turnovers: Luck and Bortles have thrown a combined 28 interceptions this season, with Bortles tied for fourth in the league with 16 picks and Luck not far behind with 12. To win this game and end this sour season on the right note, both quarterbacks would do well to avoid turnovers during this clash.
3. Finishing strong: While both offenses rank among the top 12 teams in the league in fourth-quarter points per game, they also both rank in the bottom 12 in fourth-quarter points allowed.
Jordan Godwin