Four Takeaways from Jaguars’ Rout of Colts
The Jaguars opened Sunday’s contest with their backs against the wall, setting up from their own 2-yard line. They then drove down the field 12 plays and 98 yards for an opening-series touchdown, and never looked back.
Jacksonville (5-2) dominated the Colts (2-5) right out of the gate, jumping to a 28-point lead heading into halftime. Sunday’s 42-7 win marked the Jaguars’ seventh consecutive home victory by at least 17 points, which is tied for the third-longest such streak in NFL history.
The Jags’ 98-yard drive was also the longest opening series in franchise history, and the win was their 12th straight against Indianapolis at home.
Here are four takeaways from Jacksonville’s record-setting divisional victory:
Bhayshul Tuten Quietly Putting Together Fantastic Season
The Jaguars have played complementary football en route to standing tall above the rest of the AFC South. Sunday was a prime example of everything clicking, both through the air and on the ground.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten entered the season as a key component to Jacksonville’s committee backfield. Now, he is the undisputed No. 1 rusher and notched his first career 100-yard game Sunday. Tuten had 104 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, plus two receptions for 55 yards and a score.
“I thought Tuten played really well. Thought he was a little bit more patient this game, was running through contact,” Jags coach Liam Coen said. “Tuten had a great week of practice, again, and really carried over.”
Tuten became the first Jag to record 100-plus rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 50-plus receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in one game. His 39-yard scamper following the two-minute warning of the first half was his longest run of his young career. Tuten followed the run with scores of 25-plus yards on back-to-back drives in the third quarter.
He also had a Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 90.5, topping his previous career-high of 87.2 in Week 1. Tuten also had a career-high score of 92.4 when on the receiving end.
Jacksonville Spreads Wealth As Good As Anyone
The Jaguars’ recipe to success this season has been to feed the slew of talent on their roster. They did just that at EverBank Stadium.
Jacksonville lived off explosive plays and got everyone involved as early as the opening possession. Five different Jags logged a touch on the touchdown drive, setting the tone for the rest of the contest.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished with 210 yards on 10-of-14 passing and three touchdowns. His near-perfect passer rating of 153.3 and 21 yards per completion were both career highs. Lawrence also became the only NFL quarterback with two games of a 150-plus passer rating this season (Week 1).
Lawrence connected with eight different weapons, including three tight ends. Brenton Strange had two receptions for 55 yards, Nate Boerkircher had a touchdown on one catch for 31 yards and Tanner Koziol added his first career reception.
“It’s such a brotherhood here. Everybody is excited for everybody,” Boerkircher said. “The thing about the tight end room, if anyone makes a play, anybody makes a catch, we are all going crazy. But I think that starts with the time we spent together and the brotherhood we built.”
Boerkircher’s 31-yard score was the longest by a Jacksonville rookie tight end in franchise history. He had also scored in the Week 6 loss to Houston — a 1-yard one-handed snag in the third quarter.
Outside of the tight end room, three wideouts also played a role. Brian Thomas Jr. caught his second touchdown of the season on his one reception of the day, while Jakobi Meyers had two catches and Parker Washington reeled in one.
Run Defense Stands Tall Yet Again
Sunday brought one of the most substantial tests of the season: stopping Jonathan Taylor. Fortunately for Jacksonville, its defense had no problem stepping up to the task.
The Jaguars held Taylor to a season-low 23 yards on eight carries. While backs DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan each took a chunk of the load, Taylor was a complete non-factor. Taylor also fumbled at the 9:11 mark of the second quarter, leading to Jacksonville’s second touchdown.
Taylor was riding a two-game streak of posting 90 yards or more, and had done so five times this season.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile had made it a point to shut down Taylor due to his play-making ability and “phenomenal talent.” Campanile’s squad did just that Sunday, plus more.
The Jaguars had four sacks with four different players getting in on the action. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokon, edge rusher Travon Walker and safety Jalen Husky all had one, while EDGE Josh Hines-Allen and defensive tackle Arik Armstead both logged 0.5 sacks.
Takeaways are the Story, Per Usual
The Jaguars have a plus-18 turnover margin in their 12-game home win streak against Indy. Their three takeaways Sunday were at the hands of three different defensive players and were pivotal to holding the Colts to one score.
Indianapolis attempted a trick play in the second quarter, when Taylor took a handoff and attempted to give the ball to wideout Josh Downs on the end-around. Instead, Taylor tripped and flipped the ball to Downs, who couldn’t corral it as Jags defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. recovered the fumble. He had two tackles and the recovery in the best performance of his rookie campaign.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones threw his ninth interception of the season, and the Jaguars cashed in on the mistake. Jacksonville safety Rayuan Lane III was in the right place at the right time after Jones’ pass to tight end Tyler Warren was off-target. Lane caught the tipped ball and returned it 92 yards to put Jacksonville up 28-0.
“Rayuan with the huge interception,” Coen said. “That kind of really broke the game open. It was a massive play to stay focused throughout the tip and be able to control that ball and take it to the house.”
The pick-6 was Lane’s first interception and halted Indianapolis’ red-zone try.
Jones also looked in Warren’s direction early in the fourth quarter, but the play ended in a turnover once again. Linebacker Branson Combs read the play and cut in front of the tight end for his first pick.
Jacksonville now has the league-leading plus-seven turnover differential. Its nine interceptions also stack up to No. 3 in the NFL.
The Jaguars will be back on the road Thursday to face the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) at M&T Bank Stadium on Amazon Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. Coverage will also be on WRUF 98.1 FM/850 AM.
Category: Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
