The Jaguars (9-4) hold the outright lead in the AFC South for the first time this season, after drubbing former No. 1 Indianapolis 36-19 last week in Jacksonville.

But with four games left in the regular season, the division crown is far from clinched.

The second-place Houston Texans (8-5) are one game back after beating the Chiefs 20-10 in a defensive showcase on Sunday night.

The Texans field the top-ranked defense in the league. Led by DB Darrel Stingley Jr. and a ball-hawking secondary, Houston leads the league in pass defense, allowing 172 yards per game, and scoring defense. With their beatdown of the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday, when the defense limited two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes to possibly the worst game of his career, the Texans are on a five-game road win streak.

The Colts (8-5), crippled by injuries, have sunk to third in the division.

The Colts on Tuesday reportedly signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the practice squad. The former Colt QB, who retired in 2020, is expected to take over under center after starter Daniel Jones (Achilles) and backup Riley Leonard (knee) were injured in Sunday's game in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars' defense has allowed just 82.9 yards per game, the fewest in the NFL this season, and is No. 2 in takeaways with 23. Over the last four games, the defensive units have scored 35 points off turnovers. They top the rankings for defending the run, and while the Jags sit at No. 11 and No. 27 in total defense and passing defense, respectively, opposing offenses would be foolish to focus on those rankings.

DE John Hines-Allen and LB Devin Lloyd have led the Jags' defenders. Lloyd leads the team with five interceptions and his 59 tackles are third most for Jacksonville. Hines-Allen, the Jags' all-time sack leader (with 60) leads the team with seven this season and also has 11 tackles for loss.

With the NFL's top-ranked defense and an increasingly cohesive and confident offense, the Jaguars still feel disrespected. They like it that way.

Coen stressed the team is in no position to act cocky.

"We know what happens when we let the foot off a little bit. We've seen what that looks like … you learn from those moments and those times and games," he said. "Are we going to play perfectly every single snap in every single game? Probably not, but if we can have the right mindset and mentality for 60 minutes and four quarters, I (will) feel a lot better about that."

Activated for Week 14, safety Eric Murray forced a fumble and had two tackles and a pass defensed against the Colts. In his first seven games this season, the 10-year veteran totaled 33 tackles (18 solo), four passes defensed, an interception and a QB hit before being placed on IR on Oct. 31.

"His presence was definitely felt – his communication, his confidence," Coen said Monday of Murray's return after he missed five games to a neck injury. "I think he's going to take a step forward as he gets more and more comfortable after not playing in a long time."

CB Greg Newsome, who grabbed his first interception as a Jaguar on Sunday against the Colts, credits the front seven for the way Jacksonville's secondary has dominated.

"They do a great job at setting the edge, shedding blocks and making plays. We've got unbelievable linebackers that run sideline-to-sideline with the best of them," Newsome said Monday. "They do a great job of allowing us to play with our strengths."

Newsome also tallied five tackles and one pass defensed in Sunday's contest.

Coen's praise for players returning to the Jags' defense also extended to Travon Walker, as the defensive end returned from a Week 11 knee injury that sidelined him for two games. Walker tallied six tackles versus the Colts, giving him 26 total, along with 2.5 sacks so far this season.

"Getting him back out there is a good thing for us," Coen said.

Jacksonville returns to practice Wednesday, preparing to host the New York Jets (3-10) on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Coen and Jags players have reached peak confidence this season, and know they face a dizzying schedule ahead, whatever the records of their upcoming opponents are. Still, no one's in panic mode.

"We're not sitting here talking about 'Man, we have to play our best football now,'" Coen said. "We're in a process of just trying to improve, get better each day, taking it seriously. 1-0 every week.

"It's a process, a daily, hourly process, and that's how we're taking it."

Newsome, a first-round pick for the Browns in 2021, is also circumspect about looking ahead.

"I went to the playoffs one time, and it didn't go the way that I wanted. So, I'm super excited for the opportunity to get back to that, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to handle our business these last few games," said Newsome, who's in his first season in Jacksonville. "We've been doing a great job. We’ve got the Jets this week, and we’ve got to find a way to keep getting wins."

The Jets currently rank 27th in total offense – sitting at No. 30 against the rush and No. 8 in passing defense, allowing just over 190 passing yards per game.

The Colts dominated the AFC South for much of the season, looking unstoppable behind Jones, who was widely seen as the frontrunner for 2025 NFL MVP. Featured behind Daniels was the league's leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor – who was held to 89 yards rushing yards versus the Jags.

Indianapolis hosts the Jags in Week 17, then wraps up the regular season on the road against the Texans.