Dolphins at Jets, Colts at Jags, Saints at Bucs | NFL preview video
Divisional battles highlight the NFL weekend as the Dolphins play at the Jets, the Jaguars host the Colts and the Saints host the Buccaneers.
The stakes couldn’t be any higher.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) and Indianapolis Colts (8-4) clash on Sunday at 1 p.m. at EverBank Stadium with first place in the AFC South on the line.
The Jaguars have been hot of late, winning three straight games. The Colts, meanwhile, have been ice cold, losing three of four.
Indianapolis hasn’t won in Jacksonville since 2014, losing 10 straight in Duuuval.
Pay close attention to the Colts’ offense in this one.
QB Daniel Jones played last week despite a broken fibula in his left leg. This puts him at a severe disadvantage this week as Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has been surging, with 5.5 sacks in his last five games.
The biggest question for the Jaguars is, can they stop Jonathan Taylor? Taylor has had 126 carries for 718 yards and has scored 4 touchdowns in 7 games against the Jaguars in his career.
Taylor currently is the league leader with 1,282 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He’s added 304 yards receiving with two touchdowns.
If the Jags can keep him in check and force Jones to throw the ball a lot — because we know he won’t be running around — then the Jaguars can seize control of the AFC South.
Do our Times-Union experts think the Jaguars can do it? Let’s find out.
DEMETRIUS HARVEY
Jaguars beat writer
Jaguars 23, Colts 17
The Jaguars have been in this position multiple times this season and have risen to the occasion. Besides a Week 10 lapse in Houston, Jacksonville has been on a tear since the bye week and hasn’t faltered, whether it was against a lesser opponent or one that was hot at the time. It’ll be a wet one, so this game likely is lower scoring, but the Jags pull it out.
Season: 9-3 (Won last week)
MIKE DiROCCO
ESPN
Jaguars 24, Colts 20
The difference between Jonathan Taylor against the Jaguars in Indianapolis (546 yards, 4 TDs in three games) vs. what he’s done in Jacksonville (172 yards, 0 TDs in four games) is stark. The Jaguars have the league’s No. 1 run defense, so expect it to be anothe rough day for Taylor.
Season: 6-6 (Won last week)
RYAN O’HALLORAN
Times-Union Sports columnist
Jaguars 24, Colts 20
Anybody with a pulse loves meaningful December football and 8-4 Indianapolis against the 8-4 Jaguars checks that box. Among the many variables in this game, I dug into the Colts’ pass rush against the Jaguars’ pass protection.
The Colts’ 35 sacks are fifth-most in the NFL and they have nine players with at least two sacks, which suggests they don’t have a superstar, but many effective players.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who interviewed for the Jaguars’ coordinator spot in January 2016, presents myriad pressure looks, particularly on third down.
In last week’s loss to Houston, I charted the Colts rushing three (two C.J. Stroud drop-backs), four (26 times), five (six times), six (four times) and seven (two times).
“And you don’t quite always know when it’s going to happen,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “(It’s us saying), ‘Look, we may not always be perfect, but let’s just make sure we’re communicating from a protection standpoint and understand where your quick-element throws are in case we do miss something and we have to get the ball out (quickly).”
Coen hit on a key point for quarterback Trevor Lawrence: Take the short profit. That worked for Stroud last week when he throw to the “hot” receiver who was often in the spot vacated by a blitzing Colts defender. Also, the Jaguars’ line has to be on-point with their communication on stunts and twists.
The Colts will get three sacks, but the Jaguars’ receivers will have a big day against a Colts secondary without cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) to take over the solo lead in the AFC South.
Season: 8-4 (Won last week)
GARRY SMITS
Times-Union Sports reporter
Colts 34, Jaguars 31
I think this will be a shootout, given the fact that neither defense will be mistaken for the 1985 Chicago Bears, and both have key injuries on that side of the ball. Tennessee ran the ball on the Jaguars very well early in last week’s game (and abandoned the run too quickly) so what will the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leader in rushing and touchdowns, do against the Jags?
That nine-game Jaguars winning streak over the Colts in Jacksonville? Streaks like that are highly unusual in the NFL and can’t last forever. Perhaps a loud home crowd will make a difference for the Jags. Let’s see if they show up. But fear not, Jags fans, if I’m right. This isn’t a winner-take-all game. The Jaguars get the Colts one more time and have an easier schedule.
Season: 7-5 (Won last week)
JUSTON LEWIS
Times-Union Sports reporter
Jaguars 24, Colts 17
The Colts haven’t won in Duval in over a decade. That ain’t changing this week.
Season: 6-6 (Won last week)
CLAYTON FREEMAN
Times-Union Sports reporter
Jaguars 26, Colts 24
The Jaguars are playing some of their best football of the year, at least on defense. The injury-riddled Colts (1-3 in November) are not. A resurgent pass rush gives the Jaguars a more favorable chance than it appeared a month ago. Here’s a prediction that Cam Little adds his name to the list of memorable Jags special-teams moments in the series against Indy.
Season: 6-6 (Won last week)
TIM WALTERS
Times-Union Sports Editor
Jaguars 23, Colts 20
If Daniel Jones didn’t have a broken leg, I might choose differently. But a hobbled quarterback playing against an inspired Jaguars defense doesn’t look good for the Colts. The Jaguars just need to slow Jonathan Taylor as they certainly can’t stop him. A win would be to keep him to around 100 rushing yards. If he sets the tone early and shows the Jaguars can’t stop him, it could be a long day for Duuuval.
Season: 7-5 (Won last week)