Sizzling but sloppy Jags earn character win at Colts

By Hays Carlyon

There was a sequence midway through the third quarter that showed why this Jaguars team is different.

Why this one is a winner.

The Jaguars were facing a third-down-and-10 situation at the Indianapolis 43-yard line, trailing 10-7. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence delivered a 37-yard pass to receiver Parker Washington. Lawrence faced intense pressure up the middle, but displayed his toughness by whipping a beautiful pass. On the next play, he ran for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars their first lead of the day.

You could tell even watching on TV that a weight had been lifted off the team. The Jaguars were sloppy on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Our old friends, Drops and Penalties, came back around and lingered. The first drive was killed by a fluky fumble deep in Colts territory when a nifty hook-and-ladder between receiver Jakobi Meyers and running back Travis Etienne went awry.

The Jaguars kickoff coverage was awful, allowing 129 yards on three returns.

The offense was down two starting offensive linemen: center Robert Hainsey (groin) and right guard Patrick Mekari (back) were inactive.

This felt like the typical divisional road-game nightmare. Hey, ask the Steelers about those.

However, unlike Pittsburgh (who gave away ground losing at the Browns Sunday), the Jaguars rose up.

This was a character win.

Jaguars 23, Colts 17. Far from perfect, but a brilliant victory. The foundation of a great franchise is winning games like this.

Coach Liam Coen is building that foundation.

This was a more meaningful win in the long-term than another beatdown where backup Nick Mullens takes snaps.

It’s good to have this kind of memory with the playoffs approaching in two weeks.

The Jaguars are now 12-4 with a seven-game winning streak.

They swept the Colts (nice collapse, Indy). That collapse was so grand you should hang a banner.

The Jaguars maintained a one-game lead in the AFC South over the surging Houston Texans.

Doesn’t it feel like we’re headed to Part Three? I just can’t see lowly Tennessee coming to Jacksonville and beating the Jags in Week 18. There’s no chance the Colts will beat the Texans in their finale.

That would likely set up Houston at Jacksonville to start the playoffs.

If that is where the Football Gods take this ride on wildcard weekend, winning a game like the Jaguars did Sunday will serve them well in what will be the most intense game in Jacksonville in decades.

The Colts were a good sparring partner for the war that likely awaits.

Hey, I made it through the column without mentioning Philip Rivers!

Dadgumit.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on X/Twitter @HaysCarlyon).