Jaguars 37-34 Colts (Oct. 6, 2024) Game Recap

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trevor Lawrence threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns on his 25th birthday and put Jacksonville in position for a 49-yard field goal with 17 seconds left that gave the Jaguars their first win of the season, 37-34 over the undermanned Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Tank Bigsby ran for 101 yards and two scores for Jacksonville (1-4), which won for the first time since December and extended its home series against division rival Indianapolis (2-3) to double digits. The Jaguars did so while wearing throwback jerseys on the day the franchise inducted retired coach Tom Coughlin into its Ring of Honor.

It was a much-needed win for a team seemingly on the verge of falling apart. Lawrence and receiver Gabe Davis got into a sideline argument in the first quarter and had to be separated. That disappointment followed a report midweek that coach Doug Pederson had lost the locker room.

Pederson and his players denied any disagreement and will certainly point to a win against Indy as a potential turning point.

But the Colts played without several starters, including quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique), running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle), center Ryan Kelly (neck), cornerback Kenny Moore (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadriceps).

Joe Flacco, a 39-year-old veteran who beat Jacksonville in Cleveland last season, made it interesting. Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. He led 42- and 45-second scoring drives to rally the Colts from a 14-point deficit.

But in the end, Lawrence prevailed, ending a nine-game losing streak as a starter. He completed 28 of 34 passes despite throwing his first interception of the season.

Lawrence connected with rookie Brian Thomas for an 85-yard touchdown in the second quarter and with Christian Kirk for 61 yards, setting up another TD pass. Thomas finished the game with five receptions for 122 yards.

Rookie Cam Little scored the field goal that sealed the win.

Coughlin gets a teal jacket

Coughlin was the first coach in Jaguars history to be fired twice by the franchise. At halftime he was named to the Pride of the Jaguars. He donned a teal jacket as his name was revealed at the stadium.

Coughlin helped build the Jaguars from the ground up between 1995 and 2002. He led the expansion team to the AFC title game in 1996 and 1999.

He was fired at the end of his eighth season and went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He returned to Jacksonville as football czar in 2017 but was fired in his third season.

Coughlin was joined on stage by three other Pride members: Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli, running back Fred Taylor and receiver Jimmy Smith. Quarterback Mark Brunell and original team owners Wayne and Delores Weaver were not present.

“I am humbled. “I’m very proud,” Coughlin said. “For me it’s never about the individual. It's always about the team. And I really regret the fact that, due to lack of time, I was never able to just stand there and read the first employees and the… supporters and so on and so forth. I think you would enjoy it.

Major injuries

Colts: Right guard Will Fries injured his right leg in the third quarter and was carried off the field on an air toss.

Jaguars: Returning man Devin Duvernay left with a hamstring injury. Safety Antonio Johnson dealt with cramps.

Next

The Colts play at Tennessee next Sunday.

The Jaguars travel to London for their first back-to-back international game against Chicago and New England.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl