At this point in the season, everyone’s banged up and trying to peak at the right time. The last thing you want to do is come roaring out of the gate in September and experience a severe slump heading into the playoff push, but the Jacksonville Jaguars wouldn’t know anything about that, right?
Unfortunately (depending on what side of the table you’re on), the Indianapolis Colts appear to be experiencing such a trend. Recently, Cassandra Chesser of Horseshoe Heroes opined that the Colts faced two “brutal setbacks” before heading into their bye week. One of these setbacks was Daniel Jones’ recent decline after starting the 2025 season as an early MVP favorite.
Chesser explained that Jones “[regressed] back to throwing multiple interceptions, has had terrible ball control, and appeared oblivious to what was going on around him with the defense.” While that’s a horrendous development for Indianapolis and its fanbase, that may be the best news the Jacksonville Jaguars could get going into their game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Jaguars are still in contention for an AFC South Championship
Despite the various struggles they’ve endured this season, the Jags are right where they want to be. The franchise is only two wins behind the Colts heading into Week 12 and could inch a bit closer if it handles business against Jacoby Brissett and his rebounding offensive unit.
Winning the AFC South in the first year of a new regime would be a huge step forward for an organization trying to figure out how far it can go with a young core led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. If they pull it off, it would be Jacksonville’s second division title in four seasons. Before Lawrence was drafted, 2017 was the team’s only AFC South crown on record.
For years, the former No. 1 overall pick was compared to Jones. Critics pointed out both quarterbacks’ tendency to turn the ball over at a profuse rate. However, Jags fans had a right to counter since Lawrence’s first season under Doug Pederson gave us a glimpse into the future-changing performer he could be.
Now, the former ACC stars are aligned on an inevitable collision course that will show us which one is better once and for all. The Clemson legend can prepare for this showdown by displaying his mastery of Liam Coen’s offense, as the Jags will take the field minus a few good men on Sunday.
The Jaguars’ inconsistency could make the Colts’ regression moot
After a massive win against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Jags will face Arizona without multiple key starters. One of these absences will come from Travon Walker, a critical piece of the Jaguars’ pass rush who’s been dealing with injuries all season.
One of the keys to Jacksonville’s victory last week was the team’s ability to pressure Justin Herbert. Walker’s numbers may not pop off the page this year, but his bull-rushing style collapses pockets and helps him set the edge on running downs. His absence will give Jacoby Brissett a better chance of picking up where he left off last week.
For those who didn’t hear, the former Patriot completed an NFL-record 47 passes against the 49ers in Week 11. Walker’s inability to play this week increases Arizona’s chance of re-establishing the rhythm Brissett fell into while trying to lead a comeback.
Obviously, the Jags’ failure to shut down yet another backup quarterback would be a disaster. Daniel Jones didn’t start his Colts career with any guarantee that he would be the Week 1 starter. Also, Tyrod Taylor is supposed to be the man under center when the Jets fly down to Duval County. This means the team would need to play at least three more games against solid field generals who know how to take what an inconsistent defense gives them.
With the way the AFC playoff picture looks, Jacksonville can’t afford to drop two division games and rack up another three losses overall. Winning out is the easiest way to avoid a disappointing finish, but the Colts’ regression could be coming at the perfect time.
With the trade deadline long gone, the Jaguars are forced to address their weaknesses with the guys they have in the building. If Liam Coen and company can get hot at the right time, they may have the chemistry needed to overtake Indy and host a playoff game in January.
