Jags up 3-0 after 1 quarter in a mistake-free first quarter

Jags take 3-0 lead after 1 quarter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Josh Scobee kicked a 50-yard field goal Thursday night and the Jacksonville Jaguars led the undefeated Indianapolis Colts 3-0 after a first quarter that featured 25 plays, no penalties and no incomplete passes by either quarterback.

Peyton Manning completed all six of his passes, his longest a 20-yard completion to tight end Dallas Clark on third-and-4 from midfield that got the Colts into scoring position. The quarter ended with Indianapolis on the Jaguars 10.

Indianapolis, which has won 22 consecutive regular-season games, is trying to reach 14-0 for the first time in franchise history. The Jaguars (7-6) still control the final wild-card spot in the AFC, although a loss would severely damage their postseason hopes.

Jacksonville converted three third downs, all of them on short passes from David Garrard to Mike Sims-Walker. But on third-and-1 from the Colts 22, Eric Foster stripped Garrard from his blind side. Left guard Vince Manuwai recovered the fumble and Scobee converted the kick to end a 13-play drive that took half the opening period. Garrard was 5 of 5.

The Colts already have clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, and coach Jim Caldwell had said he would play healthy starters against the Jaguars. Neither of their defensive ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, played in the opening drive except on the occasional third down.

Foster was lined up at right end when he caused Garrard’s fumble.

All but one of the Colts’ first downs on their long drive came on third down, with Manning hitting Pierre Garcon across the middle on the only close call. He was hit immediately by safety Sean Considine at the first-down marker, but the officials ruled forward progress just beyond the 30-yard line, and Manning quickly ran a play before it could be challenged.

There was a moment of silence before the game to honor Chris Henry, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver who died Thursday from injuries after he fell out of the back of a moving pickup truck driven by his fiancee.