Podcast, Week 17 Preview: Jaguars Can Clinch AFC South Against Limping Colts

As the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) head into Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts (8-7), it's tempting to cast about for a nickname for this crucial late-season contest.

The game could be dubbed – albeit lazily – the 50th Anniversary Bowl. Sunday will mark the 50th regular-season matchup between the AFC-leading Jaguars and the No. 3 Colts, with Indianapolis leading the series 28-21.

It's possible the Jaguars are past peak Nobody Believes in Us mode. But there's reason to jump on a nickname like the No Bandwagoneers Bowl.

Jags players have thrived on the indifference and disrespect with which they were met for most of the season -- until they overran the Broncos 34-20 in Denver, ending the sharps' favorite's 11-game win streak.

Now Jacksonville has been thrust into the role of adorable upstart, favored to sweep the Colts, then the Tennessee Titans (3-12) to wrap up the regular season. So many experts, pundits and bookies have become believers in the Jags' chances to win the AFC South, earn the top seed in the AFC, maybe even get to Super Bowl LX, that it's shaken this "small-market" team into disavowing their burgeoning ranks of fans. 

"F—k everybody but us," defensive lineman Travon Walker said following the Jags' win in Denver. "We know everybody’s probably going to try to hop on this bandwagon now, but we don’t want anybody. They can stay where they’re at."

QB Trevor Lawrence has been on fire since Week 13. In the past four games, the fifth-year starter has thrown for 1,082 yards and accounted for 14 total TDs on zero turnovers. Lawrence's passer rating has ranged between 105.4 and 136.7 during that stretch. The "Prince That Was Promised" has led the Jags to what is now a six-game win streak and the first 11-win season since 2007.

Lawrence, too, hopes the disrespect of the Jags continues. "I hope we don't get any [respect]," he told reporters last week. "Everybody out there just keep it up. It's great."

Maybe we could call it the Attrition Bowl, given the number of key players on both sides who've been lost to injury.

The Jaguars on Friday ruled out running back Bhayshul Tuten (finger) for Sunday's game in Indianapolis. The Jags' No. 2 behind Travis Etienne, Tuten has amassed 284 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season. He hopes to return before the postseason.

The Jags placed Jourdan Lewis on injured reserve on Christmas Day, after the veteran cornerback suffered a foot injury last Sunday in Denver. 

Travis Etienne Jr., who likely again will benefit from Tuten's absence, will start Sunday's game with 999 yards and 7 TDs rushing.

After 1,000-plus-yard seasons in 2022 (1,125 yards/5 TDs) and 2023 (1,008/11), Etienne's rushing production tailed off in 2024 (558/2) before rebounding this season. At 26, the 2021 first-round draft pick (19th overall) this year has grown in his role as a dual-threat back.

With two games left in the regular season, Etienne has scored a career-high 6 touchdowns on 33 receptions and 270 yards. In previous years' action, Etienne scored just 1 touchdown over the combined 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. (He was sidelined for his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury.)

What Urban Meyer started in Jaguars mini-camp in 2021, developing Etienne as a receiver, has been picked up and improved by head coach Liam Coen and his staff.

Offensive guard Patrick Mekari (back) and Danny Striggow (ankle) are also listed as out for Sunday. Starting center Robert Hainsey (groin) is questionable, though has not fully practiced this week. Rookie Jonah Monheim is likely to pick up Hainsey's minutes at center, while the o-line will continue -- as it has for most of the season -- to shuffle its rotation to cover for injuries.

It's worth mentioning that both star rookie Travis Hunter (ACL) and edge rusher Jalen McLeod (ankle) remain on the Jags' injured reserve list.

For the Colts, the recent loss for the season of Daniel Jones may have been the biggest blow for Indianapolis. The starting quarterback and early MVP-looker tore his ACL in the Colts' 36-19 drubbing by the Jaguars on Dec. 7.

The starters now on injured reserve – who will not return this season (or maybe ever) – are staggering. Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (neck)? Done. Cornerback Charvarius Ward (concussion)? Done. Same with return specialist Anthony Gould (foot), right tackle Braden Smith (concussion), and tight end Andrew Ogletree (neck).

The Colts' injury reports this season have been voluminous with players listed as "DNP," "Doubtful," and "Out." On Friday, Indy ruled out starting center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) and defensive end JT Tuimoloau (oblique), the rookie defensive end who'd been on a tear versus the Jags in Week 14 until he was knocked out of the game.

Jones' backup, Riley Leonard, who also was injured in Jacksonville, is expected to return to his role as QB No. 2 under recently signed Philip Rivers for Week 17 in Indianapolis. Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) is questionable – he may return for Sunday – as is right guard Dalton Tucker (shoulder).