The Colts are staring at a rough spot entering Week 8, but the door isn’t closed yet. Even if the recent run of moves has left their postseason hopes hanging by a thread, Indianapolis still has a chance to make life harder for the Jaguars on Sunday. The problem is simple: this is a bad matchup in a tough place, and Jacksonville has had extra time to reset after its overseas trip.
That doesn’t mean Shane Steichen’s team is helpless. Divisional games have a way of turning strange, and the Colts can still make this one interesting if they handle a few key issues the right way.
The first is Daniel Jones. There’s no way around it - he has been rough this season, and nothing he has done has justified the two-year deal he signed in the offseason.
At this point, Indianapolis has to be thinking about an exit plan and a replacement. If he comes out shaky again, how long does Steichen stick with him?
The coach has his back, but the bigger question is whether the owners feel the same way.
Then there’s the ground game, which has to find some life against the best run defense in football by the numbers. Jacksonville is giving up just 72.2 rushing yards per game, and while the Jaguars haven’t exactly been tested by elite rushing attacks, they’ve still done a strong job shutting teams down.
That gets even trickier for the Colts with Quenton Nelson out. Indianapolis has been ordinary running the ball all year, even with Jonathan Taylor, but getting that part of the offense moving would also help keep Jones from putting the ball in danger so often.
Defensively, Parker Washington has to be the focus. The buzz around him in training camp has carried over into the season, and he’s been one of the most dangerous slot receivers around.
That puts pressure on Justin Walley, whose play has been uneven. Lou Anarumo will need to make sure Washington doesn’t take over the game, even if that means loading up coverage and forcing someone else to step forward.
With Brian Thomas Jr. apparently not much of a factor and the Jaguars lacking many other passing-game threats, that’s the cleanest path for Indianapolis.
Finally, the Colts have to make Trevor Lawrence uncomfortable. When he gets a clean pocket, he can look like an elite passer.
When he’s under pressure, he can get messy in a hurry. Jacksonville’s offensive line sits a little below the middle of the pack, but Indianapolis hasn’t exactly brought consistent heat either.
If the Colts want a shot at leaving Florida with a win, they need their pass rush to matter.
In Other News...
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Colts Head To Jacksonville With Their Rebuild Suddenly Under A Microscope
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Jacksonville has been a difficult stop for the Colts for years, even though Indianapolis still leads the overall series, and this trip arrives with plenty of attention on how the team handles the present while planning for the future. With more roster questions hovering in the background, the Jaguars game is as much about performance and preparation as it is about whether the Colts can steady the narrative long enough to get through the week. [Read more 🡒]