By Canadian Press

Taylor’s big day, blocked punt lead Colts past Jaguars 23-17

Nov 14, 2021 | 2:52 PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jonathan Taylor rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, Indianapolis returned a blocked punt for a score and the Colts’ defense held on for a 23-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Indy (5-5) has won four of five to reach .500 for the first time this season.

The Jaguars (2-7) have lost 12 consecutive road games and nine straight against AFC South foes.

Taylor has scored in seven straight games and posted at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each of those, both league-highs. He’s the fourth player during the Super Bowl era to achieve both feats and he’s tied with two-time defending NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry for the league lead with 937 yards.

After taking an early 17-0 lead, the Colts struggled to seal it — again.

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All they could muster was Michael Badgley’s short field goal near the end of the first half and his 37-yarder with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter.

It turned out to be just enough against a Jacksonville offense that finished with 331 total yards.

James Robinson scored on a 1-yard TD run and Trevor Lawrence hooked up with Dan Arnold on a 2-point conversion, getting the Jags within 20-17 early in the fourth.

Lawrence got the ball back with a chance to win it in the waning minutes — until he fumbled near midfield with 50 seconds to go and Colts defensive lineman Kemoko Turay recovered it.

Jacksonville couldn’t overcome a slow start.

Zaire Franklin’s blocked punt and E.J. Speed’s recovery in the end zone gave Indy a 10-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game. Taylor scored on a 4-yard run on Indy’s next possession.

Jacksonville finally answered with Jamal Agnew’s 66-yard scoring run. Matthew Wright missed the extra point, and each team finished the first half with field goals. Wright nailed a 56-yarder on the final play of the half.

Indy’s Carson Wentz was 22 of 34 with 180 yards but was held without a TD pass.

Lawrence finished 16 of 35 with 162 yards. He has 13 turnovers this season. Agnew had three carries for 79 yards and Robinson ran 12 times for 57 yards after missing last week’s game with a bruised heel.

INJURY REPORT

Jaguars: Linebacker Dakota Allen walked off early in the fourth quarter with an injured shoulder following a kickoff.

Colts: Cornerback Xavier Rhodes was inactive with a calf injury. Rookie defensive end Kwity Paye and three-time All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson both left briefly but returned. Two-time All-Pro linebacker left early in the fourth quarter with an apparent injured left ankle. He returned on the next series.

UP NEXT

Jaguars: Host San Francisco next Sunday.

Colts: At Buffalo next Sunday. The Bills beat Indy in the playoffs last season.

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Michael Marot, The Associated Press