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Colts look to clinch playoff spot

Dec 16, 2008 - 3:38 PM JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Indianapolis Colts' long climb back to another playoff spot is almost complete.

The Colts, who were 3-4 at one point this year, can clinch their seventh consecutive postseason berth with a victory at Jacksonville on Thursday.

After losing at Tennessee, 31-21, on October 27, Indianapolis dropped under .500 seven games into a season for the first time in a decade.

However, the Colts have responded with a seven-game winning streak, including a 31-21 victory over the winless Detroit Lions on Sunday.

A victory Thursday also would enable to Indianapolis to lock up the No. 5 seed. In that event, they would play the No. 4 seed in the wild card round of the playoffs - likely the AFC West winner, which will be Denver or San Diego.

"We've got a short turnaround now," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "We need one more game to get ourselves in the playoffs. It's a team that beat us here (in Indianapolis). I know they would like to keep us out, so we have our work cut out for us."

In Week Three, the Colts suffered a 23-21 loss to the Jaguars (5-9) as Jacksonville's Josh Scobee kicked a 51-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.

Indianapolis allowed Maurice Jones-Drew (107) and Fred Taylor (121) to each rush for more than 100 yards.

However, the Colts won't see Taylor this time. He was placed on injured reserve Thursday with torn ligaments in his left thumb that will require surgery and possibly end his 11-year career in Jacksonville.

The Colts have taken advantage of a favorable schedule as this will be their sixth straight contest against an opponent with a losing record.

Still, the game against the 0-14 Lions was not as easy as one might have imagined. The Colts found themselves in a 21-21 tie in the fourth quarter before finally pulling away.

It was the sixth time during the winning streak that Indianapolis was either tied or behind in the final period.

"It has sort of been the theme of our season during this little winning streak," said Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who completed 28-of 37-passes for 318 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

While Tennessee ended Indianapolis' five-year reign atop the AFC South, the Colts have reached double figures in wins for a seventh straight season. In the last five years, they have won at least 12 games.

The Jaguars (5-9) are playing out the string, though they did snap a four-game losing streak Sunday with a 24-21 win over Green Bay.