Jacksonville Jaguars: Fake punt sparks offense in victory over Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars executed another dazzling fake punt, which sparked the offense in a 30-10 victory over the Colts.

The Jacksonville Jaguars sparked their slumping offense on their first possession of the game. Initially, Jacksonville moved the ball quickly down field with two passes. The Jaguars were looking at a third and eight due to five yard motion penalty. Because of the penalty, Blake Bortles threw an incompletion which meant the once promising drive had stalled.

From near mid-field, punter Brad Nortman took his place to prepare to punt the ball away. The snap back was good and Nortman hit James O’Shaughnessy for a 29-yard pass. This was the first pass attempt and reception on a fake punt this season. Now opposing teams will have to prepare for both fake punt run and pass.

The Jaguars offense took the field after the electrifying play. Five plays later the Jaguars hit pay dirt. Bortles threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Marqise Lee. Jacksonville led the Indianapolis Colts, 7-0, at that point.

Both teams traded field goals as Jacksonville led the game, 10-3. Keelan Cole caught his first touchdown pass of the season from Bortles. The first half ended with Jacksonville ahead, 16-3, because of a missed extra point on a bad snap.

Bortles and the offense took the first possession on the second half. The offensive line opened a huge hole allowing Leonard Fournette to score from five yards out. Bortles threw to Marcedes Lewis for the two-point conversion. Following that, the Jaguars were up 24-3. Indianapolis added a 40-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 24-10. Josh Lambo tacked on two more field goals to seal the victory. The Jaguars win 30-10 in a total team effort.

The Jaguars defense recorded four sacks. Paul Posluzny, Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell combined for 3.5 sacks. Campbell broke the Jaguars single-season sack record with 12.5 through 12 games.

Jalen Ramsey and Taushan Gipson had interceptions to stop Colts drives. Jacksonville held the Colts to 149 net passing yards. The Colts offense converted 5-of-15 third down conversion attempts. The long touchdown pass was all that Jacksonville surrendered through the air.

The good Bortles showed up to play. Bortles completed 26 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed three times for 27 yards. Bortles played well and was very efficient.

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Jacksonville moved to 8-4 and still tied for first place in the AFC South. The game was never in doubt as the Jaguars took control early. Jacksonville has to keep winning, to force the showdown for the AFC South crown in Week 17 on the road against Tennessee.

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