First place in the AFC South is the imaginary trophy on the line Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts square off for one of their two meetings in the next 21 days.
There is nothing invisible about the mounting pressure on Indianapolis (8-4) to regenerate positive momentum with three losses in four games since climbing to the top of the AFC at 7-1.
“We’ve got the right guys in the locker room,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “Especially when you get to December, there’s obviously a lot on the line. We’ve got to play at our best every opportunity we get.”
Jacksonville (8-4) jumped ahead of the Colts into the division lead with a 25-3 win at Tennessee last week, the third consecutive win for the Jaguars. These teams play again Dec. 28.
With four consecutive games against teams who currently have eight or more wins, it’s the right time for the Colts to find a spark. But playing in Jacksonville has brought a different type of combustion for the Colts for more than a decade.
“We’ve got a tough test ahead of us. We’re going to get their best shot,” Steichen said. “They’re going to get our best shot.”
The Colts lost 37-34 in 2024, the first time since 2020 Indy kept a game at Jacksonville within two scores. They’ve returned to Indiana from this annual pilgrimage with a loss each of the past 10 seasons. Andrew Luck led the last road win over the Jaguars with four touchdown passes in a 44-17 win in 2014.
“It’s huge,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said of being at home for a big game in December. “We’ve got the throwback unis back up. We all kind of know what’s riding on these games. Division games in December. We’re all fighting for it. We’re fighting to stay up there.
“Our players work all year round to get these opportunities on Sunday. We’ve got to go seize the moment.”
Trade deadline acquisition Jakobi Meyers is helping keep the Jaguars’ passing attack afloat with a total of 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns the past two games. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns in his only game against Indianapolis last season, and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. turned in two 100-yard games.
Already without defensive tackle DeForest Buckner — who is eligible to return from IR next week — the Colts won’t get to show off their trade deadline splash on Sunday. Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) is out versus Jacksonville.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said his plan is not to overcompensate when personnel changes due to injury.
“I just think everybody in the league deals with injuries. We’re no different,” Anarumo said. “You just got to be able to adapt and overcome those things and try to do what the guys do best. It may change a little bit, but you try not to change the whole thing from a structural standpoint.”
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards 1,282 and touchdowns (15) entering the week. Taylor has been held out of the end zone in back-to-back games for the first time in 2025 entering Sunday’s game as defenses are stretched less by the threat of the Colts’ RPO package. The Jaguars aren’t paying much attention to chatter that Taylor’s 266 touches — 40 receptions and 226 rushing attempts — through 12 games are slowing him down.
“If you try to arm-tackle him, that’s not exactly a recipe for success. He can take them 80 and 90 and he can get the tough, hard yards,” Coen said. “We have to be at our best in terms of clamp tackling. It’s going to take all 11 to get him down on the ground.”
Steichen claims there are “no limitations” on the offense or quarterback Daniel Jones. He’s playing with a custom pad over his fractured left fibula created by two former teammates at Duke using 3D imaging. Jones echoed the coach in stating the injury isn’t a factor in his recent play because his mindset hasn’t changed from “focus on us” despite the schedule gauntlet ahead.
“I have seen some crazy stuff in terms of what you’re able to play with at the quarterback position,” Coen said of Jones playing with a broken leg. “He’s playing at a high level all season this year. They’ve protected him at a really high level.”
Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (knee), Andrew Wingard (concussion), Walker Little (concussion) and wide receiver Parker Washington (hip) were all non-participants in Wednesday’s practice.
Gardner was not present for the Colts’ walk-through on Wednesday and multiple other starters didn’t practice: wide receiver Josh Downs (hip, knee), cornerback Kenny Moore II (illness, ankle) and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (ankle).
Indianapolis made another change at kicker. Michael Badgley was released after missing his third extra point in last week’s 24-20 loss to the Texans. The missed kick took away the potential for the Colts to need only a field goal to force overtime on their last-minute drive instead of a touchdown. Former New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe signed to the practice squad on Tuesday after the Colts held a three-player open workout that included former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.
“He had a really good workout. We’re excited to have him,” Steichen said.
The Colts go to Seattle (9-3) next week, host the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) on “Monday Night Football” Dec. 22 and get the rematch with Jacksonville in Indianapolis in Week 17.
