Indianapolis, IN

Jaguars look for balanced offense vs. Colts. Our bold predictions

Published

2 weeks ago

December 27, 2025

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Jaguars look for balanced offense vs. Colts. Our bold predictions

The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 17 game that could decide the AFC South winner.
Jacksonville can clinch the division with a win if the Houston Texans lose their game on Saturday.
The Jaguars defeated the Colts 36-19 in their last meeting just a few weeks ago in Week 14.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) on the road in Week 17, which could end with clarity on who will win the AFC South.

If the Houston Texans fall to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars could clinch the AFC South by defeating Indianapolis on Sunday. If Houston doesn’t lose, the Jaguars will need to beat the Colts and the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 to ensure they win the division. It’s that simple.

The Jaguars at Colts game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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It will be broadcast on FOX.

Jacksonville is very familiar with the Colts, but even moreso with this year’s Colts in particular. They played them just a few weeks ago in Week 14, the game that kicked off Indianapolis’ bold move in signing formerly retired quarterback Phillip Rivers, who had last played in the 2020 season before being signed by Indy.

Colts starting QB Daniel Jones sustained a ruptured Achilles injury against Jacksonville, leading to the Rivers signing. Rivers has started the Colts’ last two games and is likely to do so again Sunday.

In the team’s last meeting, the Jaguars defeated the Colts at home 36-19, a game that helped the Jaguars get a firm grip on the AFC South lead through the final stretch of the season.

Coen described the upcoming meeting as being like chess, a continuation of their last meeting with added wrinkles.

“How much can we know our opponent and what they did against us in the first game? What worked, what didn’t? And, OK, what’s the next chess move, right?” Coen said about playing a team twice in the matter of a few weeks.

“Starting to anticipate either your next chess move or theirs and that’s how much you have to study, understand your own plan first and foremost, and then, OK, what are the next steps that could occur? As players and coaches.”

In the first meeting between the clubs, Jacksonville ran for just 103 yards, an area the team hasn’t been consistent in for about a month. Instead, the Jaguars have relied heavily on quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s arm — and often now legs — to get the job done.

To Jacksonville’s credit, it’s worked. Lawrence has posted more than 1,000 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns with zero turnovers during the team’s last month of the season.

They’ve defeated clubs by an average of 18.8 points per game. The dominance Jacksonville has shown can be contextualized and emphasized like this: Last season, Jacksonville averaged just 18.8 points per game.

Still, Coen wants to improve the team’s ground game, a strength the Jaguars held for the first part of the season.

He explained early in the week that the team’s struggles are a combination of factors, including how much the team worked to improve a lagging passing attack for several weeks, especially during and since the Week 8 BYE.

Teams have given the Jaguars single-high safety looks in response to their success on the ground early in the season.

“Which now you’re saying as a coach, well they got one more than we really want to have to block. Let’s try to throw it,” Coen explained as Jacksonville has become one of the best passing teams in the league over the last month.

“As we start to maybe do that better and see maybe a little bit more honest coverages and structures, then we’ve got to make sure we pick and choose the right spots to be able to get those off.”

Coen explained that the team does need to do a better job of sustaining blocks at the first and second levels in addition to finishing. It takes all 11 players to make the engine run, especially on the ground.

And even if they are about to face an extra player in the box, sometimes, Coen said, you have to say, “who cares?”

Simply put, the Jaguars want to get back to being a balanced team, because that’s what it’ll take to accomplish their lofty goal for the year.

“For us to really go where we need to go, that needs to balance out,” he said.

Travis Etienne will rush for 100 or more yards vs. Colts

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne has not had a 100-plus-yard rushing performance since Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, when he totaled 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

If the Jaguars want to get back to being more balanced, it’ll start with their primary running back. He has the opportunity to help Jacksonville become more well-rounded.

When asked about the team’s rushing struggles of late, Etienne shouldered the blame.

“I just gotta be more disciplined. Just take what the defense gives me and take advantage of opportunities. Whenever I do have a chance to hit a bit, we just hit it. But, I feel like the O-line is doing great, I just got to be more disciplined,” Etienne said in the locker room.

Jarrian Jones will make an impact play vs. Colts’ Josh Downs

With cornerback Jarrian Jones slated for a bigger role Sunday with Jourdan Lewis on injured reserve, the opportunity for the second-year corner to impact the game will grow exponentially.

Jones is likely to match up against receiver Josh Downs, who plays in the slot for the Colts. He’s recorded two interceptions and six pass breakups. He’s also recovered one fumble this year.

Jones is primed to make a big play against Rivers and Downs on Sunday.

Josh Hines-Allen continues Colts dominance, will sack Phillip Rivers

Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has had a sack in five-straight games against the Colts. In 11 games played against the division rival, he’s tallied 11.5 sacks.

His dominance against Indy is well-documented, and that’s likely to continue this Sunday.

Hines-Allen has faced off against Rivers just twice in his career (2019 vs. the Chargers and 2020 vs. the Colts). He’s recorded two quarterback hits against Rivers, but hasn’t sacked him yet.

With a likely big lead early, look for Hines-Allen to pin his ears back against the 44-year-old grandfather.

Score prediction

Jaguars 30, Colts 14.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.

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Indianapolis, IN

More big temperature swings this week

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Our Monday brings clouds, but we’re also expecting many hours of sunshine to brighten things up. Winds turn more out of the west, which will allow us to warm temperatures back above average. Afternoon highs reach into the lower 40s.

wrtv

The “warm-up” doesn’t last too long. A midweek system brings the chance for rain and snow showers followed by more typical January temperatures.

Indianapolis Weather Forecast:
Monday: Sun and clouds. High: 42°
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Showers possible. High: 50°
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain/snow showers. High: 42°

Indianapolis 7-Day Weather Forecast

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Indianapolis, IN

IU Indianapolis visits Milwaukee on 7-game road skid

Published

22 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

IU Indianapolis visits Milwaukee on 7-game road skid

IU Indianapolis Jaguars (4-14, 0-7 Horizon League) at Milwaukee Panthers (7-10, 3-3 Horizon League)

Milwaukee; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -9.5; over/under is 166.5

BOTTOM LINE: IU Indianapolis will look to end its seven-game road skid when the Jaguars face Milwaukee.

The Panthers have gone 5-2 at home. Milwaukee ranks third in the Horizon League in rebounding with 34.1 rebounds. Faizon Fields leads the Panthers with 6.1 boards.

The Jaguars are 0-7 in Horizon League play. IU Indianapolis allows 90.1 points to opponents while being outscored by 5.1 points per game.

Milwaukee scores 77.4 points per game, 12.7 fewer points than the 90.1 IU Indianapolis gives up. IU Indianapolis averages 5.6 more points per game (85.0) than Milwaukee allows to opponents (79.4).

The Panthers and Jaguars square off Sunday for the first time in Horizon League play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Isaiah Dorceus is averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 assists for the Panthers. Danilo Jovanovich is averaging 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 55.4% over the last 10 games.

Kyler D’Augustino is scoring 17.8 points per game with 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Jaguars. Jaxon Edwards is averaging 10.4 points and 1.9 steals over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6, averaging 74.2 points, 33.9 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 5.5 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.0 points per game.

Jaguars: 2-8, averaging 79.1 points, 28.4 rebounds, 20.2 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.5 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Indianapolis, IN

Brief anti-ICE protest pops up on East 86th Street in north Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Brief anti-ICE protest pops up on East 86th Street in north Indianapolis

Anti-ICE protesters lined up on both sides of East 86th Street, near the Monon Trail crossing, in Indianapolis on the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2026.

The group of roughly 200 people chanted, “this is what democracy looks like” and held up signs as vehicles drove by, with some drivers beeping in support.

“Since President Trump took office for his second term, it’s not normal and we can’t be conditioned anymore,” Peter Moore, a 48-year-old resident of Carmel, told IndyStar when asked why he was attending the protest. “The more we protest, the more of an effect we’re going to gradually have. I’m very encouraged by the response out here.”

More than 1,000 anti-ICE protests are scheduled nationwide for Jan. 10, and Jan. 11, following the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Good, 37, was shot and killed on Jan. 7 by Jonathan Ross, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal officer based in Minnesota.

“We’re seeing U.S. citizens at risk, we’re seeing people’s safety at risk,” said Brittany Miller, 27-year-old Indianapolis resident, when asked why she was attending the protest. “Silence is compliance. If we don’t do something, if we don’t say something , I think we’re headed in a really scary way. If we keep showing up and keep pushing back, there’s power in the people.”

Anti-ICE protesters line up on East 86th Street in Indianapolis

Patti Freeman Dorson, a 69-year-old resident of Indianapolis, talks about why she attended an anti-ICE protest in Indianapolis on Jan. 10, 2026.

Anti-ICE protesters line up on East 86th Street in Indianapolis

Brittany Miller, a 27-year-old resident of Indianapolis, talks about why she joined an anti-ice protest on East 86th Street on Jan. 10, 2026.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19.

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