Indianapolis Colts Choke In Win-And-In Season-Finale, Out Of Playoffs

All the Indianapolis Colts had to do to get in the playoffs was beat the otherwise hapless Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

All they had to do was beat a 2-14 team that spent the week doing virtual head coach interviews, debating whether to fire general manager Trent Baalke and packing for the offseason.

Easy assignment, right?

Except the Colts didn't show up for Sunday's game and got punched so hard by the Jaguars, they might have been knocked right out of the playoffs with a 26-11 loss.

The Colts trailed 26-3 into the fourth quarter and didn't score a touchdown until 4:26 remained in the game.

Quarterback Carson Wentz, faced with his biggest game of the season, responded with one of his worst efforts. He completed 17 of 129 for 185 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception. Wentz was wildly inaccurate until the fourth quarter.

The Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014, making Indy 0-6 in Jacksonville since that time.

Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a rough rookie season but he saved his best game for last as he threw 2 TD passes and had a season high 111.8 quarterback rating against the Colts.

The only way the Colts can now make it to the postseason is through the back door.

They need the Los Angeles Chargers to lose later this evening and Baltimore and Pittsburgh to tie -- a possibility since they're in overtime.

They also get in if the Chargers lose, Pittsburgh loses and Miami beats New England.

Amazingly, the Jaguars had something at stake in this game in that a loss would have guaranteed them the NO. 1 pick in the April NFL draft. But Jacksonville wasn't punished by the victory because Detroit, which entered the day with the No. 2 overall selection, beat the Green Bay Packers.

So perfect day for the Jaguars.

And a brutal one for the Colts.

Follow on Twitter: @ArmandoSalguero