Prediction for Jaguars’ Week 8 Showdown With the Indianapolis Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a terrific opportunity to extend their lead in the AFC South when they battle the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.The 4-2 Jaguars already lead the Colts and the Houston Texans by 2.5 games in the division. With the Texans on a bye this week, a Jacksonville win will extend the team’s lead to three games over Houston and 3.5 games over Indy. The Colts have already started a fresh rebuild by trading two franchise pillars this week in advance of the NFL’s trade deadline on November 10. On Tuesday, Indianapolis sent eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and, just a few hours later, traded star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. With more trades likely to follow, the Colts have undergone a stunning fall from grace since starting the 2025 season 8-2. Despite Indianapolis punting on this season with an eye toward the future, Jacksonville cannot take the Colts lightly, which was number one of my five keys to a Jaguars victory. Division games are always tough, no matter what the matchup looks like on paper. If the Jaguars want to keep a comfortable lead in the division and make a run at the AFC’s top seed, they can’t afford to drop a home game against a depleted, rebuilding opponent. The MatchupAs long as the Colts still have superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, they are a dangerous team. Taylor is fifth in the NFL with 587 rushing yards, and his eight touchdowns are tied for the league lead. How will he fare in his first game without the All-Pro Nelson anchoring the Colts’ offensive line?Jacksonville again boasts the NFL’s top run defense, but it will have its hands full with Taylor, who has proven he can have success against any defense. Quarterback Daniel Jones has fallen off a cliff since returning from the Achilles injury that ended his stellar 2025 campaign. Jones is only completing 59.6% of his passes and has an awful 4:7 TD-INT ratio this season. Jones used to be able to mask his deficiencies as a passer by making plays with his legs. However, he only has 68 rushing yards through seven games. On offense, Jacksonville should be able to get a big day from Bhayshul Tuten, who is PFF’s highest-graded running back after seven weeks. The Colts give up over 124 yards per game on the ground, giving Tuten a prime opportunity to run wild. Indianapolis has an average pass defense, giving up about 215 yards per game. It is a defense that Trevor Lawrence, who is playing like an MVP candidate, should be able to exploit. The Colts give up 25.7 points per game, tied for 23rd in the NFL. The Jaguars should be able to score plenty on Sunday. Where Jacksonville may have its biggest advantage is in the turnover department. The Jaguars have a plus-5 turnover differential, the third-best in the league. The Colts, on the other hand, are dead last with a minus-9 differential. Prediction Even though this game has all the ingredients of a trap game for Jacksonville, expect head coach Liam Coen to have his team fully prepared and focused. The Jaguars are rested and have had an extra week to get healthy and prepare for the Colts. Jacksonville is also coming off a last-second loss to the Texans, so the Jaguars should have a little extra motivation on Sunday. This one could get ugly for the Colts. Prediction: Jaguars 41, Colts 13