Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Indianapolis Colts. Postgame recap.
Florida Times-Union Jaguars beat reporter Demetrius Harvey discusses the team’s close win over Colts with a look ahead to the AFC South game next week
The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a narrow 23-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.Head coach Liam Coen noted that many key players were dealing with illness during the week.A win next week against the Tennessee Titans would clinch the AFC South title for the Jaguars.
It isn’t easy.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) found out quickly against the Indianapolis Colts (8-8) that it’s not a cakewalk to the AFC South division title.
The Jaguars squeezed by the Colts, winning 23-17 with plenty of drama in between. Entering the game, the Jaguars had trailed for just 11:04 (out of 120 minutes) in the fourth quarter since the team’s Week 8 bye week.
The Jaguars also had at least a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter of each of their last four games of the season.
Against the Colts, however, the Jaguars found themselves in unfamiliar territory — they were tied with the Colts 17-17 entering the fourth quarter, needing a score to avoid overtime or a loss.
The Jaguars know just how tough it is to win in the NFL — their first eight games this season featured four one-score wins.
“That was the message to the guys in the locker room… Not that it’s an excuse, [but] we had a lot of guys sick all week, guys that came up sick today and a ton of them were key contributors as well,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said after the game Sunday.
The Jaguars entered the game with DL Arik Armstead listed on the team’s injury report due to an illness, and announced just ahead of the game that right tackle Anton Harrison would be questionable due to an illness, too.
Both played, with Coen insinuating more players on the team were sick.
“Very proud of the group, going on the road (and getting a win) in the division again,” Coen said.
The Jaguars entered Sunday’s game against the Colts a week removed from a 34-20 win over the top-seeded Denver Broncos in a hostile road environment.
This week against the Colts, many presumed it would be just like their other wins against teams who have struggled lately.
But, instead, it was a tough win for Coen and company as the head coach became the first first-year head coach in NFL history to win 12-plus games after taking over a team that had four or fewer wins in the previous season.
The Jaguars had multiple opportunities to close out the game against Indianapolis on offense, but instead left it in the defense’s hands. It was a similar situation that Jacksonville had against the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the season.
The Jaguars were leading 24-21 with about a minute left and went for it on fourth-and-1, only for the pass to fall incomplete with a wide-open Tim Patrick unaware the ball was sent his way.
Patrick’s responsibility on the play was to clear out a side of the field, not necessarily get the ball. The Cardinals went down to kick a game-tying field goal, sending the game into overtime. The Jaguars won 27-24.
“That’s the same message from Arizona, that I’d like to be able to close the game out on our terms, offensively. For us to take the necessary steps offensively, we’ve got to be able to gain a fricking yard,” Coen said, referring to the team’s failed fourth-down attempt on the team’s first, fourth-quarter drive.
The Jaguars were unable to convert on fourth and a long one. Had Jacksonville simply kicked a field goal instead, the team would have been up 20-17 earlier, forcing the Colts to answer earlier.
“That’s a little agitating and I’m frustrated with myself because, you’re like, ‘OK, they were struggling,’ defense had momentum a little bit there. [In] hindsight, maybe kick it, force them to be a little bit more aggressive and knowing that they were struggling to push it down the field a little bit there,” Coen admitted.
“I want to teach these guys how to go finish a game on the offense’s terms,” he added.
Trevor Lawrence gives Colts credit, remains confident in team after close win
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence wasn’t perfect on Sunday against Indianapolis. He threw a red zone interception, his first turnover in about a month.
“I think that’s a big reason we kept them in the game is because of our turnovers,” Lawrence said after the game Sunday. The Jaguars had two red-zone turnovers, including a trick play fumble by Travis Etienne.
“It’s not easy [to win]. You have to earn every one of them. We earned it today. It wasn’t the prettiest,” said Lawrence. “It’s hard to win. That’s a good team. I mean, you look at their season, obviously the last few weeks haven’t gone the way they want them to, but it’s still a really good team that’s hard to beat.”
The Colts began the year 8-2 before dropping their next six games, including two games to the Jaguars. Their offense was thought to be one of the best in the league before quarterback Daniel Jones went down with an Achilles injury.
Even with a shaky win against the Colts, Lawrence hasn’t lost confidence in the team or how they have played. To him, next week’s potential AFC South clinching win isn’t a surprise.
Are they the AFC’s best team?
“I’ll just say we have all the confidence in ourselves that when we play well and we execute, we can beat anybody. And that’s all you can ask for. Who cares who thinks who’s the best team, this, that? We’ll get to prove it,” Lawrence said to that question.
“Come next week, first of all, and then in the playoffs. We’ll all get our shot at one another and if you keep winning, you keep playing.”
Lawrence completed 23 of 37 passes for 263 yards and an interception against Indy. He ran eight times for 26 yards and two scores.
His nine rushing touchdowns this season are tied for the ninth most in the NFL and fourth most in the AFC, regardless of position. He trails just Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who has 12 rushing scores this year.
As for Jacksonville, the Jaguars extended their win streak to seven games, reaching 12 wins for the third time in franchise history. The Jaguars improved to 6-2 on the road, their best road winning percentage since 2005.
Liam Coen mum on Jaguars’ playoff aspirations behind the scenes and in public
The Jaguars have a lot riding on next week’s game against the Tennessee Titans. If the Jaguars beat Tennessee, they’ll win the AFC South for just the third time in franchise history.
They also have the opportunity to win the South if the Houston Texans lose to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts will travel to Houston next week. There’s also a slim chance the Jaguars take over as the AFC’s top seed if the Denver Broncos fall to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Miami Dolphins somehow upset the red-hot New England Patriots.
Coen reiterated Sunday that the team hasn’t even discussed the playoffs, though, just because they’re trying to focus on the week ahead.
“We haven’t really talked a ton about goals, about the division, playoffs, conference, Super Bowl. We have not had any of those conversations as a team,” Coen said.
“Not really on purpose, moreso just because you’re really trying to focus on getting better because there’s so much to coach off of every week for us.”
Lawrence reiterated Coen’s thought with a call to action for the fans to show up next week at EverBank Stadium against the Titans.
“We have all the confidence in the world in our locker room that it should be us [to win the AFC South]. So, we got to go and finish the job next week. We need our fans to come out and support and make it a tough atmosphere to play in for Tennessee,” he said.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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