The Indianapolis Colts secured a 7th consecutive NFL playoff appearance with a 31-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, riding a dominant performance by quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning completed his first 17 passes, picked apart Jacksonville's defense and led the Colts to their eighth consecutive win. He completed 29 of 34 passes and threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, and the Colts secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Indianapolis never led until Keiwan Ratliff intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown and a 31-24 lead with 4:48 remaining. The Jaguars had two subsequent chances to tie it. Jaguars quarterback David Garrard drove Jacksonville to the 7-yard line with 29 seconds remaining, but Maurice Jones-Drew sprained his knee on a reception, and since the Jaguars had no timeouts left, there was a 10-second runoff. Garrard then misfired on first down, and on second he was sacked to end the game. The Colts overcame a 14-0 deficit in the second quarter and were down 24-14 hole early in the last. They won without receiver Marvin Harrison (hamstring), running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) and linebacker Gary Brackett (leg). Richard Collier, an offensive linemen paralyzed from the waist down and needing a leg amputated after being shot 14 times in early September, returned to the field for the first time. He sat next to his teammates during the national anthem and was an honorary team captain for the coin toss.
