By Hays Carlyon
Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd started the run with an interception.
Running back Travis Etienne kept the momentum.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished it off.
The Jaguars dominated a matchup of first-place teams in the AFC South, beating Indianapolis 36-19 on a rainy Sunday at EverBank Stadium in one of the biggest regular-season games here in the last several years.
The Jaguars improved to 9-4 and moved into sole possession of the division lead. They remain the three seed in the AFC playoff race.
This was complimentary football at its best, as the Jaguars took a 28-10 lead into halftime.
The Jaguars offense converted 7 of its first 13 third-down situations to keep drives going. They hit five plays that gained at least 26 yards.
Defensively, the Jaguars’ top-ranked run defense held Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor to 74 yards and just a 3.5-yards-per-carry average. Taylor entered the game with a 5.7-yard average per carry.
Indianapolis has not won in Jacksonville since 2014. The Colts not only took the loss, but also lost quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury late in the first quarter.
Jones’ first pass of the day was picked off by Lloyd, who now has five on the season.
Etienne cashed in the takeaway with a 3-yard touchdown run. Etienne carried 20 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
That was more than enough support for Lawrence. He threw touchdowns to receiver Jakobi Meyers and Tim Patrick and did not turn the ball over.
The Jaguars continued to display toughness and maturity under first-year coach Liam Coen. The Colts were never really in the game at all.
The Jaguars have an edge as a team. It’s their best quality.
“I think they ultimately always kind of feel disrespected,” Coen said. “That’s something that continues to feed our team.”
They’ve now won four straight games and are 5-1 coming off the bye week.
Coen has already guaranteed the Jaguars a winning record and has won five more games than the team did last season. The Jaguars still have four games to play, including a home game against the New York Jets and a home finale against Tennessee. The Jaguars will likely be a significant favorite in both games.
A road trip to Indianapolis doesn’t look as daunting now either considering Jones is probably lost for the rest of the season. The Colts travel to Seattle next week, before hosting San Francisco and closing the season against the Jags and Texans. They’re finished.
It’s Jags vs. Texans now for AFC South supremacy – and the Texans will be two games back if they lose to the Chiefs Sunday night.
What a season for the Jaguars.
The AFC South title is firmly in their grasp.
(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on X/Twitter @HaysCarlyon).
