The Jaguars didn’t just beat the Colts on Sunday. They flattened them.
Jacksonville rolled to a 42-7 home win, racing out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never letting Indianapolis breathe. By the time the Jaguars started pulling starters in the fourth quarter, they were already looking ahead to Thursday’s game in Baltimore. The victory moved Jacksonville to 5-2.
Indianapolis had already sent a loud message about where its season stands by trading guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner this week, and the performance on the field matched that tone. The Colts were never able to get traction against a Jaguars team that kept piling on.
There was a brief flicker of hope when Jaylahn Tuimoloau forced a Trevor Lawrence fumble on a sack. But that window slammed shut fast.
Daniel Jones then threw an interception to Rayuan Lane on a pass that went off tight end Tyler Warren’s hands, and Lane took it back for a touchdown. From there, the game was essentially over.
The Colts did make one notable quarterback move in the fourth quarter, pulling Jones after his second interception and giving Anthony Richardson his first action of the season. Richardson finished 2-of-2 for eight yards and added two carries for four yards in garbage time. What that means for the Colts going forward is one of the questions hanging over them as they head into Week 9.
Running back Jonathan Taylor is another. He was active, but his eight carries and four catches did little to suggest he can carry this team into competitiveness over the rest of the season. If Taylor stays put, the Colts will have him available next week against the Cowboys.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, looked like a team with far more to play for. Bhayshul Tuten delivered 159 yards of offense and two touchdowns, while Lawrence was sharp and efficient, going 10-of-14 for 210 yards and three scores before giving Quinn Ewers some snaps on offense. One of those touchdowns went to Brian Thomas, who had not caught a pass of any kind since Week 4.
By the end, the Jaguars had the kind of sideline mood that comes with a runaway win: smiles all around, no drama, and a 42-7 result that never felt in doubt after halftime.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Gives Colts Fans One Less Thing To Worry About
Jonathan Taylor looks set to give Colts fans a little stability heading into Week 8, with the running back expected to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Shane Steichen said Taylor will be available, and the plan is for him to go into the game without any additional limitation on his reps, a welcome bit of clarity for an offense that can use as much certainty as it can get.
Josh Downs is also expected to be active, even as his situation continues to hang over the roster. Downs has requested a trade and is headed for free agency next year, but for now he remains part of the mix as Indianapolis prepares for a divisional test that could benefit from having both playmakers on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Ugly Jaguars Loss Just Put Everyone On Notice
The collapse in Jacksonville left the Colts in a familiar but increasingly uncomfortable spot, staring at a 42-7 defeat that extended the losing streak to four and turned a rough stretch into something much harder to ignore. What stood out most was not just the score, but the way the game looked from start to finish, with the Jaguars in control and Indianapolis never finding much of a response.
Shane Steichens postgame tone suggested this is no longer about one bad afternoon or one isolated phase of play. The coaching staff is now looking at every part of the roster, and the latest quarterback wrinkle only added to the unease around the team. With questions already swirling about possible changes, the Colts have reached a point where even routine decisions suddenly feel like part of a much bigger reckoning. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Ugly Loss Just Made One Trade Deadline Question Even Bigger
The Colts 42-7 loss to Jacksonville only sharpened the questions around a team already trying to sort out its future at 2-6. Indianapolis has been leaning on younger players like DJ Giddens as trade chatter continues to follow Jonathan Taylor, but the wider issue after a lopsided defeat was how much more turbulence the roster could absorb.
Josh Downs added another layer to that uncertainty with four catches for 23 yards and the Colts only touchdown, then was not in the locker room afterward amid reports of a public trade request. The team had still not heard from him after the game, and for a Colts offense already searching for answers, that makes the deadline conversation feel even bigger than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]