INDIANAPOLIS – Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium continues be a “house of horrors” for the Indianapolis Colts as the Jaguars won their first game of the season, 37-34 on Sunday.
Jaguars’ kicker Cam Little made a 49-yard game-winning field goal for 17 seconds left.
The Colts have not won on the road in Jacksonville since Andrew Luck threw four touchdowns in a 44-17 rout in 2014.
Back-up quarterback Joe Flacco filled in admirably for starter Anthony Richardson, rallying the team from a 14-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Richardson sat out with an oblique injury he suffered last week against Pittsburgh.
Flacco finished 33 of 44 for 359 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Colts took an early lead, driving 71 yards in 12 play for the first points of the game. Flacco connected with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line for a touchdown.
The Colts’ defense made a stop on Jacksonville’s first possession as Trevor Lawrence threw an incompletion on fourth-and-two from the Indianapolis’ 26 to turn the ball over on downs.
The defense held strong on the Jaguars’ next possession, limiting them to a field goal after they drove to the four-yard line, but broke the third time Jacksonville had the ball as Lawrence hit rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas for an 85-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead.
The Colts tied the game on a Matt Gay 30-yard field. The teams then swamped fumbles. Jaguars’ defensive end Travon Walker stripped Flacco. Josh Hines-Allen recovered and returned the ball to the Indianapolis’ 12 with six seconds left in the half. Little kicked a 30-yard field goal on the next play to send Jacksonville to the locker room with a 13-10 advantage.
The teams exchanged punts to start the second half with a Nick Cross interception of Lawrence mixed in before the offenses exploded.
Jaguars’ running back Tank Bigsby scored from 19-yards out to make it 20-10. The Colts answered with an 18-yard scoring strike from Flacco to tight end Mo Alie-Cox.
Lawrence found tight end Brenton Strange for a four-yard touchdown to make it 27-17. The Colts responded with a Gay 37-yard field goal to keep it a one-possession game.
Bigsby broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run to extend Jacksonville’s lead to 34-20. The Colts refused to quit. Flacco and wide receiver Alec Pierce connected for a 46-yard gain down to the Jaguars’ one-yard line. Trey Sermon scored on the next play to cut the deficit to 34-27.
The defense forced a three-and-out before Flacco found Pierce for another huge play, a 65-yard touchdown to tie the game at 34 with 2:40 to play in the game.
Lawrence drove Jacksonville 39-yards in eight plays to set up Little’s game-winning field goal.
Colts’ starting right guard Will Fries appeared to suffer a serious injury in the third quarter. He had to be taken off the field on a cart. His teammates surrounded him in support as he left for the locker room. Undrafted free agent Dalton Tucker filled his spot on the offensive line.
Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle), center Ryan Kelly (neck), cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadricep) also missed the game with injuries.
The Colts will play their second straight divisional road game when they visit the Tennessee Titans next Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on CBS4.