Though it will have been just three weeks since the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the Indianapolis Colts when they rematch on Sunday, a lot has happened for both teams in the intervening period.
In drastically different directions.
The Jaguars (11-4) have won both of their games since their 36-19 home victory over the Colts on Dec. 7, including last Sunday’s 34-20 statement win at Denver that ran their winning streak to five games and snapped the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak.
The host Colts (8-7) have lost both games since that Jaguars setback, extending their losing streak to five games.
With Indianapolis’ 48-27 home loss to San Francisco on Monday, Jacksonville clinched its first playoff berth since 2022 while the Colts fell to the brink of elimination. They need to win out, have the Houston Texans lose out and hope a number of other results go their way in order to win a strength-of-victory tiebreaker to claim the final AFC wild-card spot.
“We’ve got a chance to get in. We take it one day at a time. We’ve got a hell of a challenge this week,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “Obviously, we need some help from some other pieces but, again, we’ve got a great opportunity against a division opponent.”
Even a stout Denver defense couldn’t slow down the Jaguars’ offensive surge. Jacksonville’s 34 points were the most the Broncos have allowed all season, marking the third straight game the Jaguars have scored 34-plus points.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence ran his interception-free streak to four games. With three touchdowns in the win, he set a career high with 26 touchdown passes this season.
While 2025 first-round pick Travis Hunter played just seven games before sustaining a season-ending knee injury and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. has battled injuries and not followed up his breakout rookie season, Jacksonville’s receiver-by-committee approach has worked well.
Parker Washington had 10 catches for a career-high 145 yards and a TD last week to take over the team lead with 645 yards and four touchdown receptions.
Jakobi Meyers, acquired in a trade with Las Vegas on Nov. 4 and signed last week to a three-year extension, has 400 yards and three touchdowns in seven games with Jacksonville.
They’re among the five Jaguars who have taken turns leading the team in receiving yards during this five-game winning streak.
“Fortunately, we have really good players at every position, especially (the ones) that touch the ball,” Lawrence said. “There’s really no telling whose day it’s going to be. … It’s a credit to everybody being ready because you never know who’s going to get more opportunities a certain day.”
Philip Rivers, 44, who came out of retirement to play quarterback for Indianapolis after Daniel Jones sustained a torn Achilles against Jacksonville, was effective enough in Monday’s loss to San Francisco to compile 277 passing yards, two touchdowns and a pick.
The defense did not deliver on its part, forcing no punts and allowing 40-plus points at home for the first time since 2020. The Colts had the NFL’s third-best rushing defense before allowing Christian McCaffrey to rack up 117 yards while Brock Purdy threw for 295 yards and a career-high five TDs.
Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck), a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection, did not practice all week after returning from injured reserve in Monday’s loss to the 49ers and was ruled out Friday. Also ruled out were reserve quarterback Anthony Richardson (eye), center Tanor Bortolini (concussion), receiver Anthony Gould (foot), tight end Andrew Ogletree (neck), defensive end JT Tuimoloau (oblique) and safety Daniel Scott (knee).
The good news is that Indianapolis could be getting a key piece of that defense back this week. Steichen said he’s “hopeful” that star cornerback Sauce Gardner can return after missing the last three games with a calf strain. He has played in just three games since the team sent two first-round picks to the New York Jets to acquire him Nov. 4.
Gardner was listed as an estimated non-participant in Wednesday’s walk-through, was limited Thursday, practiced in full Friday and is listed as questionable, along with running back Tyler Goodson (ankle), right guard Dalton Tucker (shoulder), linebacker Buddy Johnson (illness), left tackle Bernhard Raimann (elbow) and receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring).
For Jacksonville, right guard Patrick Mekari (back), defensive end Danny Striggow (ankle) and linebacker Jalen McLeod (ankle) did not practice all week and were ruled out Friday. Starting center Robert Hainsey (groin) returned on a limited basis Friday and is questionable along with running back Bhayshul Tuten (finger). Starting cornerback Jourdan Lewis (foot) was placed on injured reserve Thursday with plans to undergo foot surgery that ends his season.
–Field Level Media
