Jaguars vs. Colts: Preview, score prediction for Week 7

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

As unbelievably foreign as it may be to say, the Jacksonville Jaguars are 3-3 and a half-game back in the AFC South. For a franchise that hasn’t had a season above .500 since 2007, that’s a really big deal.

How have the Jaguars gotten to this point? By running the football over and over again, and sacking the opposing quarterback over and over again. Currently, Leonard Fournette currently ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards with 596, and the Jaguars defense ranks first in the NFL with 23 sacks. Winning a second game in the division would do wonders for the Jaguars. Additionally, keeping pace with the Tennessee Titans is paramount, and something the Jaguars must do.

For the Indianapolis Colts, the season is sputtering out of control. After a Monday night loss to the Titans, the Colts need to win a game to at least give Andrew Luck a chance to salvage the year once he comes back.

Keys To Victory

Luckily for the Jaguars, Andrew Luck remains sidelined with an injury. What that means is it will once again be ex-Patriot Jacoby Brissett starting for the Colts. While Brissett has been okay for the Colts, he’s not a quarterback who has shown he can take over a game. Add in the fact that Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are playing like the best cornerback tandem in the NFL, and you have a recipe for possible disaster for the Colts. One has to assume the two will shut down T.Y. Hilton and company.

To make matters worse for Indianapolis, the team placed starting guard Jack Mewhort on injured reserve. That makes an already suspect offensive line weaker.

Basically, the game plan for the Jaguars should be relatively simple: Play good defense, run Leonard Fournette and limit Blake Bortles’ throws. In Jacksonville’s last win against Pittsburgh, Bortles threw the ball 14 times. In the team’s week one win, he attempted 21 passes. Basically, the less Bortles is asked the do, the better of chances the Jaguars have to win. While Fournette injured his ankle against the Rams, head coach Doug Marrone said it was nothing serious, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.

For the Colts, they’re going to have to shut down the run. If they can do that and force Bortles to throw, they could have a chance. But getting the crowd into the game early on is going to be key.

Odds

Point Spread: Jacksonville -3
Moneyline: Jacksonville -165, Indianapolis +145
Over/Under: 43.5

Odds via Sportsbook Review

Prediction

I think this will be a chance for the Jaguars to assert their dominance in the AFC South, and I expect them to take full advantage of that chance. The Colts may be able to compete early on, but the Jaguars should prevail behind a common blueprint.

Final Score: Jacksonville Jaguars: 30, Indianpolis Colts: 14

Home/Indianapolis Colts