INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts pulled off a thrilling finish to Sunday's nailbiter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In the fourth quarter, the Colts were trailing 26-27. But, with just 17 seconds left, quarterback Matt Ryan passed deep to Alec Pierce for a 32-yard touchdown. That and a successful two-point conversion took the team over the edge.
The Colts came out on top despite their top two running backs being out Sunday.
The Colts announced Saturday that leading rusher Jonathan Taylor and primary backup Nyheim Hines have both been ruled out with injuries. Three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard is also out after having surgery on his broken nose.
Prior to Sunday, the Colts had lost four of its last six games to the Jaguars (2-3), including a 24-0 defeat in Week 2.
Matt Ryan threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce with 17 seconds to play Sunday, leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 34-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The victory ends Indy's two-game skid against their AFC South rival and marks the third time this season Ryan has led the Colts (3-2-1) to a come-from-behind victory.
It's the fifth straight loss in Indy for the Jaguars (2-4). The home team has won 11 straight in this series.
Ryan followed a completely different script in this game than he had the previous five games. Instead of relying on the ground game, the Colts asked the 15-year veteran to lean heavily on short, quick throws and it worked. He finished with a franchise record 42 completions on 58 attempts with three touchdowns and 389 yards — passing Dan Marino for seventh on the NFL's career list for yards passing.
Marino retired with a then league record 61,361 yards. Ryan has 61,499 after completing his 45th career game-winning drive.
It sure wasn't easy — even after the Colts snapped a touchdown drought that stretched from the third quarter of Week 4 until just before halftime Sunday when Ryan found Parris Campbell on a 4-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 14-10.
Nor after Trevor Lawrence took advantage of two defensive penalties and burned more than 10 minutes on a methodical, 18-play drive capped by a 4-yard TD pass to Christian Kirk to give the Jags a 27-26 lead. The 2-point conversion pass failed.
But Ryan got one more chance — and delivered yet again by marching the Colts into field-goal position before throwing deep to Pierce on third-and-3. Pierce wrestled the ball away from a defender near the goal line and got into the end zone to win it.
Lawrence was 20 of 22 with 163 yards and one score while running for two TDs.
GALLERY: Colts beat Jaguars 34-27
Stat Pack
Jaguars: The Jags rushed for 150 yards in the first half against a defense allowing just 96.6 yards per game. They finished with 243. ... Lawrence was sacked four times after being sacked only six times in the first five games. ... Travis Etienne Jr. had 10 carries for 86 yards including a career best 48-yard run early. ... JaMycal Hasty scored on a 61-yard run on his second carry of the season.
Colts: Deon Jackson had 12 carries for 42 yards and 10 catches for 79 yards. ... Campbell caught seven passes for 57 yards and his 4-yard TD catch with 2:06 left in the first half ended the drought at 110 minutes, 20 seconds. ... Michael Pittman Jr. had 134 yards on a career-high 13 receptions. ... Pierce had three receptions for 49 yards.
Up Next
Jaguars: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.
Colts: Head to Tennessee next Sunday for the fifth of six division games.
Live Game Blog
4:06 p.m. - Ryan passes deep to Pierce for a 32-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left. The Colts' two point conversion attempt is good. Colts lead 34-27.
4:04 p.m. - Timeout by Indianapolis at :29
4:00 p.m. - Ryan up the middle to Jacksonville 33 for -4 yards.
3:58 p.m. - Timeout by Jacksonville with 42 seconds left.
3:56 p.m. - Ryan passes to Pittman to Jacksonville 29 for 15 yards.
3:55 p.m. - Ryan passes to Lindsay for 5 yards.
3:51 p.m. - Ryan passes to Pittman for 4 yards. 2 minutes left in the game.
3:50 p.m. - Ryan passes to Pierce for 6 yards.
3:49 p.m. - Patterson kicks 65 yards to Indianapolis 0. Rodgers to Indianapolis 34 for 34 yards. 2:44 left in the 4th quarter.
3:47 p.m. - Lawrence passes short right to Kirk for 4-yard touchdown. Two-point conversion attempt fails. Jaguars take the lead 27-26. 2:44 left in the 4th quarter.
3:40 p.m. - Indianapolis' Cowart injured during play. 5:09 left in the 4th quarter.
3:35 p.m. - Lawrance passes deep right to Jones for 18 yards to the Jacksonville 36.
3:34 p.m. - Lawrence passes to Hasty to the Jacksonville 14 yard line for -5 yards.
3:31 p.m. - McLaughlin kicks 63 yards to Jacksonville 2. Claybrooks runs for 14 yards.
3:30 p.m. - Ryan passes short left to Woods for a 10-yard touchdown. McLaughlin's extra point is good. Colts lead 26-21. There's 12:47 left in the fourth quarter.
3rd quarter
3:08 p.m. - During the timeout, the two-point conversion was deemed no good. The score is now 21-19.
3:07 p.m. - Jackson gets 3-yard touchdown. The Colts go for a two-point conversion attempt. Ryan passes to Pittman and the attempt succeeds. It's now a tie game.
2:54 p.m. - Lawrence gets a touchdown. Patterson's extra point is good. The score is now 21-13.
2:53 p.m. - 5 yard penalty on Engram for a false start.
2:50 p.m. - McLaughlin kicks 65 yards from the Indianapolis 35 yard line to the end zone, Touchback.
2nd quarter
2:35 p.m. - McLaughlin kicks 65 yards from the Indianapolis 35 to the end zone. Touchback.
2:34 p.m. - McLaughlin makes a 42-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the half. The Jaguars now lead 14-13.
2:21 p.m. - Lawrence sacked at the Jacksonville 16-yard line. 2 min left in the half.
2:20 p.m. - McLaughlin kids 65 yards from the Indianapolis 35.
2:15 p.m. - McLaughlin's extra point is good.
2:14 p.m. - Ryan passes to Campbell for 4 yards and a touchdown.
1:58 p.m. - Colts taken out of field goal range on 3rd & 6 after quarterback Matt Ryan's incomplete pass did not get back to the line of scrimmage.
1:56 p.m. - Two completions to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. puts the Colts in Jaguars territory.
1:50 p.m. - On 3rd & 1 from their own 39-yard line, running back JaMycal Hasty scores touchdown with 61-yard run. 11:27 remaining in the second quarter. Jaguars -14, Colts - 3.
1:41 p.m. - Three incomplete passes brings out kicker Chase McLaughlin, who makes 28-yard field goal. 13:56 remaining in the second quarter. Jaguars - 7, Colts - 3.
1:39 p.m. - Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce gets first down with 11-yard catch. 1st & Goal for the Colts.
1:36 p.m. - Colts in Jaguars territory at 3rd & 2 as first quarter ends.
1st quarter
1:27 p.m. - Quarterback Trevor Lawrence runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. Extra point is good. 3:48 remaining in the first quarter. Jaguars - 7, Colts - 0.
1:24 p.m. - Back-to-back runs for the Jaguars has them at the Colts' 1-yard line.
1:18 p.m. - Colts go three-and-out on their second possession and are forced to punt. Jaguars will start at their own 44-yard line.
1:14 p.m. - Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner sacks quarterback Trevor Lawrence on 3rd & 9 to push the Jaguars out of field goal range.
1:12 p.m. - Running back Travis Etienne makes 48-yard run and is stopped at the Colts' 25-yard line.
1:07 p.m. - Colts continue scoreless opening drive streak in punt to Jaguars. The team came up with multiple first downs but were stopped at the Jaguars' 48-yard line.
1 p.m. - The Jaguars won the coin toss and chose to defer. The Colts will start with the ball.
Pre-game
9:30 a.m. - We will be in the low 60s at kickoff, with temperatures warming to the mid-60s throughout the game, according to Lindsey Monroe.
9 a.m. - Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said the roof and window will be open Sunday for the game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
