Jaguars hold AFC South lead after rout

The Jacksonville Jaguars now hold a three-game lead in the AFC South following their 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Jacksonville, Florida. The result places the Jaguars in a divisional position they have not occupied since 1999. The team improved to a 5-2 record, while the Colts fell to 2-6.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a 98-yard drive on the opening possession and found receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for the first score. Lawrence also connected with Bhayshul Tuten on a third-quarter screen and rookie Nate Boerkircher on a 31-yard pass. The Jaguars led by 28 points at halftime after Rayuan Lane returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the second half. Lawrence finished the game on the sideline.

Bhayshul Tuten finished the game with career highs of 104 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards. He also broke three tackles for a 39-yard rushing touchdown. Tuten said the team knew it would rain and planned to run the ball to impose their will. The Jaguars gained 183 yards on the ground, a total that came five days after the Colts traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and guard Quenton Nelson in a move to start a rebuilding effort.

The Colts had already fired general manager Chris Ballard last month and are reportedly willing to trade running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor was limited to 23 yards on eight carries and fumbled the ball on a botched trick play. He is the last player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Jaguars, a feat he achieved in the 2024 regular-season finale. Taylor described the loss as an old-fashioned butt whooping that would show up on film.

Coach Liam Coen called the injury to nose tackle DaVon Hamilton extremely difficult. Hamilton sustained a right knee injury in the second quarter that appeared to end his season. Players rushed to his side, and a trainer called for a cart. He was ruled out minutes later. Coen praised Hamilton as a competitor and team guy, saying there are not many better humans in the group.

The Jaguars have won seven consecutive regular-season games at home. They have outscored opponents 271-75 during that stretch. The 12-game winning streak at home against the Colts includes a game played in London in 2016. Indianapolis last won at the Jacksonville stadium in 2014. The Jaguars managed to beat the Colts at home even during their one-win season in 2020 and their three-win seasons in subsequent years.

The Jaguars wore their new Bold City rivalry uniforms for the game. They came off a bye week. The rain was a factor in the conditions, but the Jaguars maintained control of the series at home. The Colts are in the middle of a rebuild after parting with key veterans. The Jaguars' lead in the division is currently three games after eight weeks of the season.

Lawrence noted that good teams do not focus on the division lead in November. The Jaguars' dominance was evident as the game progressed. The Colts struggled to gain momentum. The Jaguars extended their streak of home wins against Indianapolis to 12 consecutive games. The final score of 42-7 reflected the disparity in performance between the two teams.