One of the NFL’s strangest losing streaks continues as the Indianapolis Colts lost 37-34 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The loss for Indianapolis marks ten straight losses to the Jaguars on the road. With the season now sitting at 2-3, Indianapolis is looking ahead to another road game against an AFC South opponent in the Tennessee Titans in Week 6.

COLTS ALMOST MAKE A BIG COMEBACK BEHIND VETERAN BACKUP JOE FLACCO

No Anthony Richardson? No Jonathan Taylor? No problem. At least not for 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who did everything he could to help break the Colts’ now decade-long losing streak against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco finished 33 of 44 for a career-high 359 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Alec Pierce was outstanding in the fourth quarter, hauling in three catches for 134 yards, including Flacco’s game-tying 65-yard touchdown pass.

Indianapolis’ rushing game was essentially nonexistent without Taylor in the starting lineup. Aside from two 17-yard gains from both Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson, it was almost entirely up to Flacco and the Colts’ passing attack to keep them afloat. In total, the Colts managed just 99 yards, with their longest gain on the ground coming from Flacco himself (no, that’s not a typo), of 21 yards. That statistic alone shows how bad Indianapolis’ rushing attack was on Sunday. Right guard Will Fries, who left Sunday’s game with a leg injury, is expected to undergo surgery for a shin injury, according to multiple reports. Furthermore, the sooner star running back Jonathan Taylor returns to the starting lineup, the better, especially with the Colts’ offensive line leaving one of their best players in the future.

For the most part, the Colts’ offense wasn’t the problem Sunday. Facing the struggling Jaguars defense, Indianapolis was able to score 34 points and rack up 383 total yards of offense on Sunday. Flacco and co. did what was asked of them, and they, along with head coach Shane Steichen, deserve a lot of credit despite the team failing in what would have been an incredible comeback.

DEFENSIVE INJURIES, INEXPERIENCE CATCH COLTS IN BIG OFFENSIVE SHOWS FOR JAGUARS

Now onto the other side of the football, which has been nothing short of terrible for a Colts defense that has held its own for most of the first month of the season. Still, the Jaguars entered Sunday’s game desperate to find any resemblance to consistent offensive play. They accomplished that and then some against a very damaged Colts defense. Jaguars’ quarterback Trever Lawrence had plenty of time to read an entire chapter book behind his offensive line Sunday afternoon as the Colts’ depleted defensive line failed to muster any pressure or sacks. Lawrence dealt with a plethora of injuries to their front seven and secondary, including Kenny Moore II, DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and others, and cut into pieces a Colts secondary that looked outmatched and inexperienced.

Aside from a not-so-great call by the Jaguars’ quarterback, Lawrence completed 28 of 34 passes for a career-high 371 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard touchdown strike to rookie wide receiver Brain Thomas Jr. who finished with 122 receiving yards on five receptions. That play sparked something in the Jacksonville offense that they hadn’t seen in the first four games of the season, and their offense took advantage of it despite nearly giving the game away late in the fourth quarter.

The Colts’ rush defense was average at best on Sunday. For the Jaguars, it was the Tank Bigsby show, as he rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries to go along with two touchdowns. Bigsby, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry, capped an impressive afternoon with a 65-yard touchdown. Jacksonville rushed for 126 yards on 23 attempts, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Maybe Bigby’s long touchdown makes the Colts’ defensive performance look worse than it was. But it seemed like only a matter of time before the Colts’ defensive injuries and lack of depth caught up with them.

In total, the Colts’ defense surrendered 37 points, 497 total yards, 8.7 yards per play and allowed Lawrence to post a career-high in passing yards with 371. Jacksonville’s 497 yards of offense and 8, 7 yards per play is the most they’ve ever had. since 2022 and 1998 respectively.

Not that it needs to be said, but Sunday’s defensive performance for the Colts is one to forget. On the other hand, it goes without saying that Indianapolis will need some of their defensive playmakers soon.