The Indianapolis Colts is one of the strongest franchises in the NFL and an undisputed leader of the NFC South in recent seasons. Last weekend, the Colts moved the Jacksonville Jaguars from first placed with a 34-24 win.

The Colts are the leaders in their respective division. They have recently won six division champions from 2003 to 2007 and then in 2009. In 2008, the Colts finished second but managed to clinch the wild card in the American League.

Indianapolis started the season with great expectations and wanted to repeat the feat of reaching the Super Bowl game. However, the Colts failed in their first game of the season and where defeated by Houston 24-34.

After two consecutive wins against the NY Giants and the Denver Broncos, respectively, the squad began to show its first positive signs. During the fourth week the Broncos visited Jacksonville. The Colts attacked and defended well, as so did the Jaguars but in the end the victory went to Indianapolis. Both teams were at that time with the same record (2-2).

From the fifth week on Indianapolis scores three straight wins that increased their advantage over Jacksonville. The ninth week the Colts had a tough game against Philadelphia Eagles, who won by the minimum margin (26-24). The Colts then added his sixth victory by defeating Cincinnati 23-17, to then fall in a run of three defeats, against New England, San Diego and Dallas. This hurt the Colts intentions to be first in the division, considering that Jacksonville at that time marked a record of seven wins and 5 losses, while the Colts were 6-6.

Indianapolis added another victory in week fourteen. With a score of 30-14 the Colts beat Tennessee. That same week Jacksonville also won 38-31 against Oakland and took the top spot in the division with a record of 8-5.

The time came for the Colts in the fifteenth week, when they faced Jacksonville for the second time this season. Indianapolis opened with a touchdown in the first quarter. At the beginning of the second period, the Jaguars scored a field goal, but the Colts extended their score 14-3 with another touchdown.

The Colts controlled the third quarter and after completing a touchdown and a field goal they went up 24-10. The Jaguars tried to complete a comeback but only managed one touchdown (24-17). Indianapolis held sway at the end of the game and got the win with a field goal and a fourth touchdown.

Payton Manning, the Colts’ quarterback threw 39 passes and completed 29, including two touchdowns for 229 yards and suffered no interceptions. David Garrad, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ QB completed 24 of 38 passes, for 294 yards and two touchdown passes, and one interception. After this match both teams have the same record (8-6).

Indianapolis will defend his pass to the playoffs against Oakland, while Jacksonville will do against Washington on Sunday 26 December.