JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 36-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in a 2025 Week 14 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday.
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
Ready for the moment. Make no mistake: This was a big game, a big moment. Make no mistake about this, either: The Jaguars were more than ready for that moment, responding with one of their most impressive performances of this season – and in recent memory. “Our guys have responded so many ways in these big games,” Head Coach Liam Coen said. He’s right, and on Sunday they not only kept Colts running back Jonathan Taylor – the NFL’s rushing leader – from coming remotely close to dominating the game, they forced three takeaways as the defense continued its mid-to-late-season surge. The Jaguars offensively took advantage of opportunities with key plays in key moments, scoring touchdowns on their first-three red-zone possessions and turning the Colts’ two first-half turnovers into touchdowns. They ran effectively and hit multiple big plays at key moments in the passing game, handling this huge moment like that they undoubtedly are – an improving, growing team that is well-deserving of its status as an AFC contender. This was the fourth time in franchise history the Jaguars have played a division game featuring two teams four games over .500 and the first time the franchise has won such a game. Yes, this was big. Really big. And the Jaguars responded in big, big way. Impressive stuff.
Impressive behind center. Perhaps Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played better games in his five NFL seasons, but Sunday unquestionably ranks among his best – and the thought here is it’s yet another in a series of recent signs that he is developing and maturing rapidly into a front-line quarterback. “Trevor played great today,” wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. said. Lawrence on Sunday completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns with 0 interceptions. If those numbers don’t jump out as Player of the Week-worthy, consider that he did not commit a turnover in wet, sloppy conditions – and consider, too, that Lawrence repeatedly found wide receivers Thomas and Tim Patrick for the explosive plays this offense has lacked throughout much of the season. Those plays came at key times, allowing the Jaguars to gain and maintain momentum as they pulled away steadily in the first half, then maintained a 15-point lead throughout the second. Lawrence afterward called Sunday the Jaguars’ best downfield passing game of the season. He was right. It also may have been his best game in a long time – and it couldn’t have come in a bigger situation.