Quarterback clinic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – 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 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).

Coach Tony Dungy said earlier in the week that a victory would allow him to rest many starters next week against Tennessee. So Indy could get as many as 17 days of rest before opening the postseason.

The Jaguars (5-10) lost for the seventh time in nine games and fell to 2-6 at home this season. This one may have been more emotionally draining than any of the others.

Collier, a 6-foot-7 offensive linemen paralyzed from the waist down following a shooting in early September, returned to the field for the first time and was recognized during pregame ceremonies.

He drove onto the field, sat next to his teammates during the national anthem and then headed to midfield as an honorary team captain for the coin toss.

He answered a few questions afterward, then went to a luxury suite with family members to watch the game. He must have liked Jacksonville’s fast start. The Jaguars scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and led 14-0 early in the second quarter – possibly feeding off Collier’s emotional return.

“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Collier said. “I’m here now, but I’m not a player anymore. But it’s also great with all the love that’s been shown from everybody. … It was like I’m back at home. Everybody showed me love. It was good.”