Indianapolis Colts Lose To Jacksonville Jaguars, Secure Top 2012 NFL Draft Pick
The Indianapolis Colts on Sunday fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-13, a loss that secures Indy the first round draft pick in April’s NFL draft, a pick that will more than likely be used to secure Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
The loss comes after Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a season-high 169 yards, allowing him to break Fred Taylor’s single-season franchise record.
Many analysts came into this game believing the Indianapolis Colts (2-14) would throw away their chances at a victory in order to secure a star quarterback. However right before game time news surfaced that Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III would likely go pro, providing a decent No. 2 pick should Indianapolis have defeated the Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars for their part ended the season with a dismal 5-11 record, however they are the first AFC South team to sweep the Colts since 2002. The win also secured outgoing Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver a final victory.
With Andrew Luck receiving help form Peyton Manning the Colts could very well be looking at one of the strongest QB corps in the league for more than the next decade of football.
The Andrew Luck draft is also a smart choice since the Indianapolis Colts are still not certain about Manning’s future after undergoing neck surgery that kept him out of the 2011 season. Should Manning return at full strength the team will have to pay him a $28 million bonus, work out a new deal or allow him to become a free agent. Colts management has already promised that Manning is their man if his neck has properly healed.
Furthering the teams need for a decent second string quarterback was yet another dismal outing by Peyton Manning backup Dan Orlovsky who was 27 for 40 passes with 264 yards while throwing two interceptions with a touchdown pass to Austin Collie. Orlovsky was also sacked three times.
Do you think the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on purpose so they could secure the teams future with the help of Stanford’s Andrew Luck?
[Image via Alexey Stiop / Shutterstock.com]
