Rapid Reaction: Colts 31, Jaguars 24

<p><em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky </em></p> <p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Their pulse rate never up, the Colts calmly fought back from another significant deficit Thursday night, topping the Jaguars and securing an AFC wild card berth.</p> <img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/ind.gif" width="80" /><img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/jac.gif" width="80" /> <p>Thanks to its <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=281218030" shape="rect" target="_blank">31-24 win</a> over Jacksonville, Indianapolis will be <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3711069" shape="rect" target="_blank">the No. 5 seed</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1428" shape="rect" target="_new">Peyton Manning</a> was surgically precise, connecting on his first 17 passes -- dropping them over defenders, slinging them through tight windows and lofting them to open receivers after double moves. He also caught Jacksonville with too many men on the field, drawing a penalty with a quick snap to convert a third down.</p> <p>Jacksonville started big, building a 14-0 lead and for a time it looked like the Jaguars would be able to play keep-away like they had in a Week 3 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. But while the Jaguars had a lot of success moving the ball early on, broke a ton of tackles and kept the Colts' run game quiet, ultimately Manning was more than they could deal with.</p> <p>Manning got the Colts back to even, then <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3636" shape="rect" target="_new">David Garrard</a> handed the game away -- throwing a horrible interception that <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5574" shape="rect" target="_new">Keiwan Ratliff</a> returned 35 yards for a touchdown with 4:48 remaining in the game. The Jaguars had a chance at a tying touchdown at the end, but <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3539" shape="rect" target="_new">Dwight Freeney</a> sacked Garrard on the final play.</p> <p>The Colts are now set to rest up in their season finale on Dec. 28 against the Titans -- a game that can't impact Indianapolis' positioning for the following week.</p> <p>If Tennessee beats Pittsburgh on Sunday, that game won't have meaning for either team. If the Steelers win, the Titans will need to win and hope for a Steelers loss to the Browns in order to get the No. 1 seed.</p> <p>Either way, with the Titans lining up for a bye, Jeff Fisher will play more top people longer than Tony Dungy will.</p>

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