Nearly-perfect Peyton lifts Colts past emotional Jaguars, 31-24

December 19, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Peyton Manning was nearly perfect, exactly what the Indianapolis Colts needed to overcome all the emotion the Jacksonville Jaguars got from Richard Collier’s return.

Manning completed his first 17 passes, picked apart Jacksonville’s secondary and led the Colts to their eighth consecutive win and seventh straight playoff berth.

Manning threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, and the Colts secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs with a 31-24 victory over the Jaguars on Thursday night.

Indianapolis (11-4) took its first lead of the game when Youngstown native Keiwan Ratliff intercepted a pass from David Garrard and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown and a 31-24 lead with 4:48 remaining.

The Jaguars had two chances to tie it, but both drives ended with sacks. Garrard drove Jacksonville to the 7-yard line with 29 seconds remaining, but Maurice Jones-Drew sprained his knee on a reception, and since the Jaguars had no timeouts, there was a 10-second runoff.

Garrard misfired on first down, then got sacked by Dwight Freeney to end the game.

The Colts overcame a 14-0 deficit in the second quarter and a 24-14 hole early in the fourth.

They won without receiver Marvin Harrison (hamstring), running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) and linebacker Gary Brackett (leg).

The Jaguars (5-10) lost for the seventh time in the past nine games.