Jaguars vs. Colts: Complete Week 12 Preview for Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jaguars will head to Indianapolis on Sunday to take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Jaguars are coming off their bye week but are sure to face one of their toughest matchups of the season. The Colts will field an offense that ranks third in points per game (31.0) and first in yards per game (438.3).

From a defensive prospective, the Colts aren’t quite the same juggernaut as they are on offense. Currently, they rank 22nd in points allowed (25.3) and 24th in yards allowed per game (375.8). Additionally the Colts have only forced a pedestrian 24 sacks and are currently only plus-one in turnover ratio.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars will have to bring their “A-game” if they hope to upset the hosting Colts. Currently, the Jaguars are averaging a laughable 15.8 points per game while allowing an even worse 28.2 points per game.

It’s no secret that the one-win Jaguars have struggled this season. And if they didn’t use their bye week wisely, they’ll continue to disappoint.

Week 10 Recap

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Usually, this section would highlight the past week’s matchup. However, given the Jaguars had a bye in Week 11, I’ll use this time to recap the Week 10 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in London.

The Jaguars' matchup against the Cowboys was as nauseating a performance as I’ve seen all season. Despite losing 31-17, the difference between the teams was much larger.

Tony Romo and Dez Bryant led the Cowboys on offense. Romo finished the day 20-of-27 for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Bryant did most of his damage in the first half and finished with six receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, the Cowboys torched the Jaguars for 399 total offensive yards.

Despite getting pulverized, the Jaguars did get good efforts from Blake Bortles and Cecil Shorts. Bortles finished the day 22-of-37 for 290 yards and one interception, but he actually looked improved. Additionally, Shorts finally turned in a dominant performance, finishing with 119 yards on five receptions.

Defensively, it was a mediocre effort by the Jaguars after the defensive line only managed one sack and the linebackers missed multiple tackles.

Overall, this matchup is what you would expect from a bottom-feeding team against a playoff contender. As it stands right now, the Jaguars are unable to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the league.

News and Notes

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Jaguars Activate Tight End Marcedes Lewis

Mike Wilkening of NBC Sports is reporting that the Jaguars have activated Marcedes Lewis from the short-term injured reserve list, and he’s expected to be active on Sunday.

The addition of Lewis is great for a team that has badly needed someone to solidify the tight end position. Backup tight end Clay Harbor has been atrocious in blocking assignments and isn’t nearly the complete player that Lewis is. Lewis should immediately become a focal point of the offense.

Dwayne Gratz Arrested

Darin Gantt of NBC Sports is reporting that second-year cornerback Dwayne Gratz was arrested recently on charges of disorderly intoxication and trespassing.

This is bad news for a young, up-and-coming player for the Jaguars. Gratz was beginning to become a force in the Jaguars secondary, and now he’ll have to navigate this off-the-field obstacle. The hope is that this doesn’t become commonplace for Gratz and that he grows from it quickly.

Colts' Ahmad Bradshaw Placed on Injured Reserve

According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, it looks like Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw will be heading to the injured reserve with a leg injury.

This is unfortunate for Bradshaw, who just can’t seem to stay healthy. He’s easily been the Colts’ most productive running back, and he truly has an elite skill set. This is a big loss for Indianapolis.

Injury Report

David Kohl/Associated Press

Player	Position	Injury	Status
Branch, Andre	DE	Groin	DNP
Clemons, Chris	DE	Knee	DNP
George, Jeremiah	LB	Ankle	DNP
Hayes, Geno	LB	NFI	DNP

*All stats courtesy Jaguars.com injury report. 

Players to Watch

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Denard Robinson

While the Colts feature a decent run defense, Denard Robinson promises to have a big game in Week 12. Since taking over, Robinson has been a dynamic playmaker who runs with an excellent combination of power.

What makes Robinson so intriguing this week is his ability to make plays as a receiver in the backfield. I expect Robinson to see a lot of screen passes, which, considering his explosiveness, he could turn into big gains.

Blake Bortles

Bortles is at the point where he needs a signature win. After a few games with multiple interceptions and questionable development, Bortles must seize an opportunity to take advantage of a bad pass defense.

Bortles has displayed that he has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback. That being said, he needs to put it all together and show the Jaguars they made the right choice by selecting him third overall.

Sen’Derrick Marks

Sen'Derrick Marks has been the Jaguars' most disruptive pass-rusher, and I firmly believe he deserves the spotlight every week.

Marks is as explosive a defensive tackle as there is in the entire league. His initial step off the line of scrimmage consistently puts him in position to make plays. Expect him to come up with a big play and consistent pressure in Week 12.

Prediction

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The Jaguars are in for a tough game on Sunday. I expect it to be a fight from the very beginning. And if Gus Bradley doesn’t have this team fired up, they’ll have no chance.

My prediction is that the Jaguars come out ready and put up a good fight through three quarters. Unfortunately, this young team hasn’t displayed any closing ability, and I’m not convinced it can put it together in the clutch.

Prediction: Colts 37, Jaguars 24

*All stats courtesy NFL.com.