The Tantalizing Ten: Jaguars Home Edition
Intro: Each week, we will take a look at 10 players that will have a big impact in the game. Who are the "Tantalizing Ten" when the Colts (7-8) welcome the Jaguars (3-12) in Week 17?
Going into Week 17, T.Y. Hilton has a 30-yard lead on the rest of the NFL. If Hilton wins the receiving title, he will join Reggie Wayne (2007) and Marvin Harrison (2002, 1999) as former Indianapolis Colts to finish a season with the most receiving yards in the NFL. Hilton will be trying to improve on his 42-yard afternoon he had earlier this season against the Jaguars and rookie corner Jalen Ramsey.
Is this it for Robert Mathis? The franchise's all-time sack leader could be playing his last game with the Colts after 14 seasons in Indianapolis. In the 2003 Draft, the Colts traded a fourth-round pick the next year for a fifth-round selection from the Houston Texans. Mathis was the choice and the rest is history for one of the greatest pass rushers in NFL history.
Two weeks of starting. Easily two passing grades for Le'Raven Clark. The third-round pick has been part of an offensive line that has yet to allow a sack in back-to-back weeks. It's the first time in Andrew Luck's five NFL seasons that he hasn't been sacked in consecutive games.
The individual getting most of the blame for Jacksonville's 3-12 record this year has been Blake Bortles. Many thought Bortles and the Jaguars would ascend as an offense. That hasn't happened at all. The passer rating for Bortles has dropped more than 10 points in his third NFL season.
As the years keep moving along, there's Frank Gore still challenging for a 1,000-yard season. Gore needs just 37 rushing yards on Sunday to become the team's first 1,000-yard back since Joseph Addai in 2007. Good news for Gore's outlook: he's rushed for at least 37 yards in every game Andrew Luck has started this season.
Injuries have really limited the practice time for Andrew Luck in 2016. Despite that, Luck is still on pace for a career year in completion percentage and quarterback rating. A healthy off-season to rest injuries including his ankle, right shoulder, right elbow and right thumb would serve the franchise quarterback quite well going into his sixth NFL season.
The No. 5 overall pick from 2016 deserves consideration for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Jacksonville's defense hasn't been an issue this season and Ramsey has a lot to do with it. Back in Week Four, Ramsey held T.Y. Hilton to just 42 receiving yards in London.
Is this the final game for Mike Adams in Indianapolis? Is this the final game ever for Adams? The 35-year-old safety still wants to play at least another NFL season. Adams is a free agent in 2017 and the Colts will have to decide if they feel it's time to get younger at safety, and replace the quarterback of their secondary.
At the start of the year, if you were to ask who would be the Colts' second leading receiver? Jack Doyle's name probably wouldn't have rolled off the tongue too quick. But it's Doyle, not Moncrief, Dorsett, Allen or Gore, who ranks second on the team in receiving. What a time for a contract year for Doyle. Earlier this week, GM Ryan Grigson answered "definitely" when asked if Doyle and (restricted free agent) Erik Swoope were priorities to return in 2017.
Allen Robinson led the NFL in receiving touchdowns last season. The 2015 Pro Bowler came into last week with six straight games of no more than 31 yards receiving. That's crazy. Robinson did bounce back with a 9-catch, 147-yard performance in last week's win over the Titans.
