Jacksonville Jaguars: Keys to beating Colts in Week 10

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in must win mode after losing four straight games. Here’s three keys to winning in week 10.

Blake Bortles leads the beleaguered Jacksonville Jaguars into a Week 10 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars must snap their current string of four consecutive losses if they want to make a run at the playoffs. Here are three keys for winning on the road.

First of all, the Jaguars offense has lost its edge and identity with the injury to Leonard Fournette. He has played in only two games this season. Fournette has carried the ball 20 times for 71 yards. He played in Weeks 1 and 3, but has been inactive throughout the following weeks.

T.J. Yeldon leads the Jaguars in rushing with 334 yards on 81 carries. There is a huge discrepancy between Fournette’s and Yeldon’s running style. Fournette is the sledge hammer. Yeldon is dump off pass receiving back. Most of all, Corey Grant is sorely missed as the change of pace alternative to Fournette.

The Jaguars have to run the ball efficiently. Through scheme or creative play calling, Jacksonville has to re-grasp their identity as a running offense. They were built to run the football.

Next, the Jaguars have to pressure Andrew Luck. In Week 8, Luck was not sacked and threw for 239 yards with three touchdowns. If he has time to throw, Luck will find the open man. Apparently, A.J. Bouye will not play on Sunday, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.

D.J. Hayden or Tyler Patmon will fill in for Bouye, while the other plays the slot corner. Jacksonville should be able to blanket the Colts receivers. The front seven of the Jacksonville defense has to corral Luck.

Finally, Bortles has to protect the football. He must make good decisions on when to throw and when to run upfield. Bortles is not confident enough in himself to complete passes into tight windows. Remember how efficient he was in the playoff stretch and run, last season? Bortles is out of his comfort zone without the security of the running game. Play action fits his quarterback play style.

Jacksonville is getting healthy again. The bye week helped soothe the routine bumps and bruises. Expect Jacksonville to start the third quarter of the schedule with a win.