The Jacksonville Jaguars are still carrying the sting of last month’s historic fourth-quarter collapse in Houston, a meltdown players admit continues to “haunt” them. But if the aftermath of that loss has become fuel, it showed again Sunday.
Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdown passes, Travis Etienne Jr. ran for two more, and the Jaguars powered past the injury-ravaged Indianapolis Colts 36–19 in steady rain at EverBank Stadium. The victory — Jacksonville’s fourth straight — vaulted the Jaguars to 9–4 and back atop the AFC South.
The Colts, meanwhile, lost far more than just another game in Jacksonville.
Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones, already playing through a broken left leg, suffered what is feared to be a torn right Achilles tendon late in the second quarter. Jones dropped to the ground after throwing incomplete, immediately grabbed the back of his leg, and angrily spiked his helmet before trainers rushed to him. He limped to the locker room moments later and was quickly ruled out.
The injury could end his season — and potentially his brief tenure in Indianapolis. Achilles recoveries typically require around nine months, meaning Jones may be one-and-done with the Colts as the team faces an offseason quarterback crisis.
With Jones out and backup Riley Leonard thrust into action, the Colts (8–5) never mounted a serious threat. Indianapolis has now lost three straight and four of its last five, a slump that has opened the door for Jacksonville — and possibly Houston — to surge past them in the division race.
Lawrence delivered a clean, efficient performance, completing 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards without a turnover. He hit Jakobi Meyers and Tim Patrick for touchdowns and produced three completions of 30 yards or more. Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. logged his best outing in nearly two months, finishing with 87 yards on three catches.
Etienne carried 20 times for 74 yards, scoring on runs of 3 and 28 yards as Jacksonville controlled the game on the ground despite the wet conditions.
On defense, Josh Hines-Allen continued his torrid streak with a sack in his fourth straight game — this one for a safety that pushed Jacksonville’s lead and further buried Indianapolis.
Riley Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with one interception and added a late rushing touchdown, but the Colts’ offense sputtered without Jones. Jonathan Taylor battled for 74 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against one of the league’s toughest run defenses.
The Colts’ quarterback depth is suddenly alarming: behind Leonard, only Brett Rypien remains on the practice squad as a possible reinforcement.
Soaked after nearly three hours in the steady rain, the Jaguars celebrated briefly before heading to the locker room — aware that few outside the building will elevate them into the Super Bowl conversation just yet. But internally, confidence is swelling.
Jacksonville has won four in a row, leads the AFC South, and continues to channel the pain of that Houston collapse into fuel. If Sunday is any indication, the Jaguars are playing their best football when it matters most.
For the Colts, the road ahead looks far more daunting — and with Daniel Jones likely out for the season, their playoff hopes may have evaporated in the Jacksonville rain.
