JACKSONVILLE – This is how growing and peaking in December looks.

The Jaguars on Sunday won a really big game in really impressive fashion – 36-19 over the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville – and now sit alone in first place atop the AFC South with four 2025 regular-season games remaining.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was very good Sunday. So was the offensive line. And the wide receivers. And the entire defense, which limited the NFL's leading rusher – Colts running back Jonathan Tayor – to a manageable 74 yards and a first-half touchdown while forcing three takeaways.

This is the fun stuff. And this was impressive stuff. Enjoy this, reader. This is competing in the NFL. Onward.

Let's get to it …

Daniel from Geneva

O-man, are we back?

I don't know what "back" means. I know the Jaguars are good. They have been good all season. They have beaten good teams all season – and when you beat good teams, you're good. They have been above .500 all season – and when you're always above .500, you're good. They are in first place with four games remaining – and when you're there, you're good. Are they back? From where? To where? I don't know, but they're unquestionably good.

Kyle from Ingalls IN and the mean streets of Arlington

So thankful for the guys in the prowler unis today. Made my life as a Jaguar fan just a little easier living in Colts country, but I must ask you is Trevor now playing great and not just really good?

Lawrence from this view played his best game of the season and one of the best of his career Sunday. He has played with more confidence in each of the last four games – essentially dating from when Head Coach Liam Coen began counseling him to "let it rip." He completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns and was particularly impressive Sunday in that he committed no turnovers in slick conditions while repeatedly hitting explosive plays. He's getting there. He has been really impressive and really encouraging lately.

Kenneth from Ormond Beach, FL

John, you are exactly right. The Jaguars can win with Trevor and are winning with him. He can throw darts like Brett Favre and throws a good long ball like Favre. Do you think the coaching staff has improved Trevor's play by focusing on his footwork, especially emphasizing having Trevor planting all his cleats into the ground while throwing and letting it rip?

It hasn't hurt.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

How's this for much-ballyhooed … SUCK IT, COLTS!!!!

This indeed was the much-ballyhooed, often-inaccurate, quasi-entertaining First Email of the Game. It was not nice. It's important to be nice.

Bill from Springfield, VA

Imagine, if we played penalty-free! How good we could be!

The Jaguars are 9-4! And in first place in the AFC South! Alone!

Jim from Jagsonville

Please, please ask Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone to re-sign ETN. Please, please ask ETN to give a hometown bargain. This far into the season he has been the quiet team MVP. Go Jaguars!

I don't know how the Jaguars will approach running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s expiring contract following the 2025 season. Etienne, who rushed for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries Sunday, has been remarkably effective and important to the offense this season. I do not expect Etienne to give a bargain because this is professional football.

Paul from Washington, D.C.

We flew down to see the amazing win in the rain. With Colts quarterback Daniel Jones' injury, do you believe the Jaguars can sweep the Colts and earn the first playoff home game since the brief Sacksonville season?

I believe the Jaguars can win the AFC South. I also believe they need to keep winning because the Houston Texans and Colts are still very viable contenders.

Rusty from New Iberia, LA

Looks like the backup quarterback curse may have finally been lifted.

There never was a backup quarterback curse.

Jimsure from DBS

Great game and dominating performance. I'm still concerned about penalties which cost at least one touchdown.

Those little lights still are not twinkling.

Kathy from Jacksonville

Why would the Colts be favored to win if they lost three of their last four games and have regressed. The belief was that Indy bounces back and ends Jacksonville's three game win streak. The Jaguars entered the game as a "slight underdog." It doesn't make sense.

The Colts were favored Sunday because people who determine betting odds believed they should have been favored. The people who determine betting odds are right a lot. They were wrong Sunday. The nice thing about the NFL is that things like odds and respect don't matter. This is not college football. Perception does not rule the day.

Josh from Atlanta

Before the game, If I would've told you Nick Mullens was playing out halfway through the fourth quarter, what would've been the reason you thought?

That the Jaguars were either way ahead or way behind – or that Lawrence couldn't finish the game because of injuries. I would have leaned toward the "way-ahead" choice, though I didn't expect that. I expected the Jaguars to win a game decided in the second half of the fourth quarter. I was wrong. It happens.

Donut from Saint Johns, FL

Double-digit win? Same old Jags...

Good one, Donut.