Keep Letting It Rip | 10 Things Jaguars Must Do to Beat Colts in Week 17

Dec 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The next game is the biggest game. Again.

This has been the Jaguars' weekly mantra while navigating their way through multiple big late-season games, and it remains a theme as they prepare to play the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Sunday.

The Jaguars have big goals within reach. They must keep winning to reach them.

The Jaguars (11-4), winners of six consecutive games and seven of the last eight, can clinch their third AFC South title in nine seasons with a victory Sunday if the Houston Texans (10-5) lose to the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) Saturday. They also enter the weekend seeded No. 3 in the AFC, a game and a half behind the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (13-3) and a game behind the AFC East-leading New England Patriots (12-3).

They can still earn the No. 1 seed if they tie the Broncos and/or Patriots for best record in the AFC.

Those are lofty goals. And the Jaguars enter Sunday looking like a team capable of reaching them, with the offense and quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing as well as any team in the NFL and a turnover-centric, tough defense complementing the offense in a big way.

This is a good team, a balanced team. Their lofty goals are in reach. But they must keep winning to reach them. Here are 10 things they must to do that against the 8-7 Colts Sunday:

Run. The Jaguars remain a run-centric team. That's true even though they haven't had the rushing statistics they want in recent weeks. But Head Coach Liam Coen has stayed true to the identity – even when the goings on the ground have been tough. Opportunities in the passing game have been the result. Lawrence has continued to take advantage. The Jaguars must keep running. It's their identity.
Keep letting it rip … Lawrence's recent ascension has him deservedly in the MVP conversation. He's playing with well-earned confidence, with 12 touchdowns passing and two rushing in the last four games with no interceptions. He's playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL as January approaches. Now it's about sustaining that.
… and keep spreading it around. Lawrence's three touchdown passesin a victory over the Broncos last Sunday were to three different receivers. His five touchdown passes the previous week in a victory over the New York Jets were to three different receivers. Wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Tim Patrick and Brian Thomas Jr. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. Tight end Brenton Strange. This team has weapons. Lawrence must keep using them liberally and organically.
Be physical. When the Jaguars are the more physical team, they usually win. They have been the more physical team a lot this season.
Stop the run. The Jaguars remain good here, and defensive end Travon Walker has played monstrously good in this area – and everywhere else – in recent weeks. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor remains one of the NFL's best. Containing him remain key.
Turn the ball over. It has been key for the defense all season and the Jaguars are second in the NFL with 28 takeaways. They got two late in a victory over the Broncos. Getting them early would be a huge boost in a road environment.
Pressure Rivers. Yes, Colts quarterback Philip Rivers is 44. And he never has been all that mobile. But he's really smart and really savvy. The Jaguars can't allow him time to let his savvy and smarts matter.
Stay focused and motivated. The Jaguars have been remarkably consistent, focused and prepared this season. That has been true for big games and it has been true in weeks before and after "big games." The Jaguars have clinched a playoff berth. They haven't clinched anything else. Sunday is no time for an out-of-character, post-Christmas slip up.
Protect Lawrence. The Jaguars have been mostly consistent in this area this season, and the protection held up in most key moments against the Broncos. He's emerging as an MVP candidate and a huge reason the Jaguars are capable of a deep postseason run. He's the guy. Protect the guy.
a. Douse the explosives. If there was an area of concern against the Broncos, it was that the defense allowed more big plays than was ideal. The defense fought through the rough moments and made plays that mattered. But this will be an area of focus.

b. Just win. The Jaguars have won four consecutive games by 14 or more points for the first time in franchise history. Maybe that streak continues. Maybe not. Whatever. Just win.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back DeeJay Dallas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on December 25, 2025.