The Jacksonville Jaguars have already built a 2.5-game lead in the AFC South and have a chance to bury the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday inside EverBank Stadium. 

It is the first game the Jaguars are playing at home since way back in Week 3 on September 27. Jacksonville went on the road and defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 and then played back-to-back “home” games in London before last week’s bye. 

Now back in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are facing a Colts team that has punted on the season and turned its focus toward the future. 

On Tuesday, the Colts parted ways with two of the team’s cornerstone leaders and best players. First, they traded eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. Just hours later, Indy shipped defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers. 

The Colts are likely to make even more trades before the November 10 trade deadline. Wide receiver Josh Downs has already requested a trade. 

All eyes will be on superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, who hasn’t asked for a trade but has acknowledged that his time with the Colts may be coming to an end. 

On paper, this game looks like a mismatch, especially considering the Jaguars have beaten the Colts 11 straight times as the home team. 

However, division games are always tough, no matter the record of the teams. 

Despite their early-season success, the Jaguars have yet to win a game against an AFC South foe. In their only division game, Jacksonville lost 34-31 to the Houston Texans in London in Week 6. 

Both the Colts and Texans are 2-5. If the 4-2 Jaguars take care of Indianapolis on Sunday, it will likely officially bury any chance the Colts have of making a miraculous run. 

Through the first six games, the Jaguars have looked like one of the AFC’s top contenders. Jacksonville has already gotten through the toughest portion of its schedule and now has a chance to go after the conference’s top seed and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

First, they have to beat the Colts on Sunday. 

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has continued to play at an MVP level. Bhayshul Tuten has been a revelation as the team’s RB1 and is PFF’s highest-graded running back through seven weeks. 

Wide receiver Parker Washington has solidified his place among the NFL’s most dynamic weapons. 

Defensively, the Jaguars are once again the league’s stingiest against the run and will be looking to finally get their pass rush going against an Indianapolis offensive line that just traded its best player. 

One of the biggest storylines in this game will be whether WR Brian Thomas Jr. can rebound from his benching against Houston and finally make an impact. 

The Jaguars have a little more than a week to decide whether they will move on from their talented but struggling receiver or keep him in hopes he can be an important part of a potential Super Bowl run. 

Several teams would love to acquire BTJ if Jacksonville makes him available. He is running out of chances to prove to the organization that he is worth keeping. 

The Jaguars have an excellent opportunity to pick up an important win over a depleted division rival. However, they cannot afford to overlook the Colts, who would love nothing more than to play spoiler against Jacksonville. 

Head coach Liam Coen must make sure his team is 100% focused on beating the Colts and not fall victim to what could easily be a trap game. 

If the Jaguars win, they can confidently turn their attention to the trade deadline. The team needs help on the defensive line and in the secondary. Plenty of players are available who can come to Duval and help Jacksonville reach an even higher level. 

But first, the Jaguars need to handle their business against the Colts.