Jaguars play greatest recreation of season to beat Colts, take first place in AFC South

For the Jaguars, Sunday’s recreation featured the sort of efficiency the NFL world has been ready for — a efficiency that may justify the preseason hype.

There had been disappointment within the season opener towards the Colts — regardless of scoring 31 factors on the street in a double-digit victory over a division opponent — because of short-yardage struggles on offense. There was the catastrophe of the subsequent two weeks — an offensive dud in a house loss to the Chiefs, complete collapse in a blowout loss to the Texans. 

And in London, regardless of two straight victories to get the season again on observe, we noticed a Jaguars crew that hadn’t fairly put it collectively, notably on offense. Towards Atlanta, it struggled to show drives that acquired deep inside opponent territory into touchdowns. Towards the Bills, two scoring alternatives have been squandered with sack-fumbles. 

That is why Sunday was so vital for Jacksonville (4-2), which stymied a late comeback en path to a 37–20 victory over Indianapolis (3-3) at EverBank Stadium to comb the season collection with the division rival and take sole possession of first place within the AFC South. It marked probably the most full efficiency we have seen from the Jags this season. 

Assuming the knee damage suffered by quarterback Trevor Lawrence close to the top of the sport is not a major concern — he acquired damage on a third-down sack by the Colts‘ Samson Ebukam on the Jaguars’ second-to-last possession and coach Doug Pederson did not have an replace postgame — Jacksonville seems to be rounding into the official AFC contender it was anticipated to grow to be coming into 2023. 

“I feel it is a glimpse of what we will be,” coach Doug Pederson stated of Sunday’s efficiency. “There are nonetheless some areas that we have now to scrub up, clearly. I feel the crew actually in these final three weeks sort of figured some issues out, found out who we’re as a soccer crew.”

Lawrence (20-for-30, 181 yards, 2 TDs, INT) threw an interception early within the fourth quarter, however Jacksonville nonetheless had a season-high in factors and poured in 4 touchdowns (two passing, two speeding). Gardner Minshew — Indianapolis’ beginning quarterback for the foreseeable future with rookie No. 4 general decide Anthony Richardson on injured reserve — was picked off a career-high 3 times, together with one ultimately zone. 

Particular groups confirmed up too, with placekicker Brandon McManus going 3-for-3 on discipline targets (all have been from at the very least 48 yards) and large receiver Jamal Agnew posting a 53-yard kick return late within the fourth quarter. It was a full-team effort. 

The 17-point margin of victory was the most important of the season for Jacksonville. The Jaguars led by as many as 25 factors after Lawrence discovered second-round rookie tight finish Brenton Strange for a 10-yard landing late within the third quarter, placing the house crew up 31-6. 

The Jaguars have been capable of lean on their protection, as they’ve for a lot of this season. They’d a season-high 4 takeaways on the day: a strip sack from Josh Allen within the first quarter on prime of the three picks. The largest factor they did was make the Colts one-dimensional offensively — taking away the run recreation that has been their energy and making them lean on Minshew’s arm. 

Coming into the sport with the league’s No. 8 speeding assault, Indianapolis had 17 rush makes an attempt for a season-low 44 yards. Jonathan Taylor, in his second recreation again from an ankle damage that saved him on the Bodily Unable to Carry out (PUP) checklist to start out the season, was held to eight carries for 19 yards.

“The takeaways are one thing that we as a crew discuss,” Pederson stated of the protection. “It simply shortens the sector in your offense. Go rush once more at this time, there was strain on Gardner, placing it in locations that he possibly did not need it to go. Once more, only a nice crew effort on protection to play the way in which they did at this time.”

However Sunday was additionally probably the most balanced and constant we have seen the Jaguars offense be this season from begin to end. 

It wasn’t good. Jacksonville slowed down offensively within the second half. There was the 17-yard sack late within the last interval that Lawrence was damage on.  The Jags struggled on third down (4-of-14) and didn’t convert a red-zone journey right into a landing, plus Lawrence’s decide. However they nonetheless had seven scoring drives. They wanted to be extra conservative late within the recreation, when the resilient Colts began making a comeback, and did sufficient to complete the sport. 5 pass-catchers had at the very least 27 yards and a reception of at the very least 10 yards (Unusual, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, Calvin Ridley, Travis Etienne). Etienne (18 carries, 55 yards) had each speeding scores. 

Not solely is Jacksonville at present No. 1 in its division, however now — using a three-game profitable streak, capped by its most full recreation of the season — the crew may be evolving right into a drive within the AFC. And that is greater than the hype speaking.

“I feel that is the place we wish to be,” Lawrence stated. “We’re getting higher each week. I feel that is probably the most thrilling factor, is we’re getting higher each week. We’re getting nearer. I really feel just like the momentum and the vitality is admittedly rolling for us. We acquired to maintain that going each week.”

Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.