JACKSONVILLE – Whatever the records, this is big. Legitimately so.

The Jaguars (9-4) will host the New York Jets (3-11) at EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon – and if that matchup doesn't sound or look as dazzling as some Jaguars matchups this season, make no mistake:

Dazzling doesn't matter here. Winning does.

"Where we're at in our season, every week is really critical," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said.

The Jaguars, winners of four consecutive games, lead the AFC South by a game over both the surging Houston Texans (8-5) and struggling Indianapolis Colts (8-5) – with the Texans having won 5 consecutive games and the Colts having lost 3 consecutive games.

The reality of those shifting division sands is this: The Jaguars, while appearing to be peaking at the right time – and while deserving of their status as division leaders and AFC contenders – have clinched nothing to date.

"Our division's a tight race," Lawrence said. "It's not like we've got this huge lead and can afford to mess around and lose any game. We're taking it 1 game at a time and nothing's bigger than this game against New York Sunday."

Make no mistake here, either: The Jets are a dangerous late-season opponent. They have a first-year Head Coach, Aaron Glenn, and teams with first-year head coaches typically play hard through season's end. They have won 3 of the last 6 games and have scored at least 27 points in each of those 3 victories.

This is not a must-win game for the Jaguars. Technically. But it's very close to it, particularly with the Texans playing as well as any team in the NFL, and the Jaguars need to win to maintain their momentum.

Here are 10 things they must do to do that:

1. Run. We've circled this all season and we'll keep it here at No. 1. The Jaguars are at their best offensively when they run effectively – and even when they don't run effectively as is ideal, they must commit to it as their core approach offensively. This team is a running team.
2. Be physical. When the Jaguars are the most physical team, they usually win. This has become the team's identity and is perhaps the major reason they are leading the division.
3. Force turnovers. The Jaguars haven't maintained the blinding takeaway pace of the season's first five games, but they remain really good in the area. Early takeaways in a 36-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts last week shaped that game and gave the Jaguars momentum they never fully lost.
4. Stop.The.Run. As much as running is the Jaguars' offensive identity, stopping the run is the defensive identity. The Jaguars lead the NFL in run defense. They held Colts running back Jonathan Taylor – the NFL's leading rusher – to 74 yards and a touchdown last week. Jets running back Breece Hall isn't as good as Taylor. No NFL back as good as Taylor is this season. But Hall is dangerous. This must continue to be a strength. It's the spine.
5. Keep letting it rip. Lawrence has played at highest level of the season the past 3-to-4 weeks, coinciding with Head Coach Liam Coen counseling him to "Let it Rip." He's playing with confidence, throwing accurately. He appears to be progressing into a big-time player at the position, progress the Jaguars need to continue.
6. Hit 'em deep. Lawrence hit 4 passes of 26 yards or more against the Colts – 2 to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and 2 to wide receiver Tim Patrick. Explosive plays had been missing from the offense much of the season. If this stays part of the offense, an increasingly good offense can become one of the league's best.
7. Stay Strange. Among the biggest, overlooked reasons the Jaguars are peaking: The return in recent weeks of tight end Brenton Strange, who is rapidly becoming one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He's a reliable receiver, a front-line blocker and does little unnoticed things effectively and consistently. The more he's involved, the better. Any play with Strange as lead blocker feels like a good play these days.
8. Protect the ball. The Jets have forced two takeaways this season. If the Jaguars don't give the Jets easy opportunities, their physical play should allow them to control the game.
9. Maintain the advantage. The Jaguars are 5-2 at home this season, 5-1 at EverBank Stadium. This quietly has become one of the best home seasons in franchise history. This is a new regime and a new era. Maintaining home-field advantage and turning that into a "thing" is an important thing.
10. Just win. No, these next 4 games aren't technically must-win. They're very close, though – and they probably are must-win reality. Don't worry about margin of victory. Worry about winning. Just do it.