Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) – Indianapolis Colts (2-3): 37-34
We had to wait until October. After four consecutive defeats, the Jaguars finally found the path to victory. They were the last without success this season in the NFL. Facing a divisional opponent, Doug Pederson's men offered themselves air and hope.
The recipe is however simple. When you draft top picks in the draft back-to-back, you expect them to perform. For probably the first time since they've been in Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence and Travon Walker acted like bosses at the same time.
The first choices are showing
Trevor Lawrence (28/34, 371 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) celebrated his 25th birthday perfectly with a performance worthy of his status. Aside from a horrible interception, his game was perfect. He managed to let go of his arm to perfectly find his receivers, notably rookie Brian Thomas Jr. (5 recs, 122 yards, 1 TD). In attack, Tank Bigsby (13 races, 101 yards, 2 TDs) also stood out, confirming his gradual takeover of the running back position, at the expense of Travis Etienne.
Travon Walker put the Colts line through hell, which was certainly decimated. Author of three sacks and a defended pass, he limited Joe Flacco in his movements and in his reading time. He particularly stood out during the very last play of the match. As Flacco prepared to throw a hail mary to give the Colts a comeback chance, Walker broke away from the offensive line to crush him, 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Flacco, always indestructible
Despite this excellent game from Walker, Joe Flacco (33/44, 359 yards, 3 TDs) proved, as he did last week and even last season, that he still has something under the hood. He even had the luxury of a 21-yard run. Like the veteran that he is, he distributed the ball to all his receivers, certainly with a relationship that seemed natural with the young Josh Downs (9 rec, 69 yards). But it is above all, as since the start of the season, Alec Pierce (3 rec, 134 yards, 1 TD) who has shown himself to be the most dangerous. The second-year receiver is establishing himself as a true deep threat in the NFL this year. His game-ending touchdown even almost offered the Colts an extension.
It was without counting on Trevor Lawrence, who calmly used the 2 minutes 30 he had to get the ball back. With passes to his various targets and a few runs from Tank Bigsby, he offered an ideal position for his kicker to win the match. Rookie Cam Little performed perfectly with a 49 yard kick.
A field goal which gives the Jaguars their first victory of the season. For Trevor Lawrence, it is even the first success since November 26, 2023. A victory in week 12 against the Texans last season. The end of a long wait, and perhaps the beginning of a Jacksonville comeback.