JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars turned an AFC South clash into a one-sided blowout Sunday, dismantling the Indianapolis Colts 42-7 at EverBank Stadium behind a career performance from running back Bhayshul Tuten and sharp efficiency from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Fresh off a bye week, Jacksonville improved to 5-2 on the season and solidified its position atop the division. Indianapolis dropped to 2-5 following a turbulent stretch in which the front office traded away star offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Tuten sparks explosive ground game
Head coach Liam Coen had urged his offense to generate more chunk plays on the ground, and Jacksonville responded with 183 rushing yards against the division rivals. Tuten led the charge with a career-best 104 yards on 16 carries, highlighted by an evasive 39-yard touchdown scamper in which he shook off safety Camryn Bynum.
The second-year tailback also made an impact through the air, catching two passes for 55 yards, including a 25-yard catch-and-run score on a screen pass. In total, Tuten amassed 159 yards from scrimmage, the highest single-game tally by a Jaguar since the 2023 season, The Florida Times-Union reported. Tuten became the first Jacksonville running back in franchise history to log at least 100 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and a score both on the ground and through the air in the same contest, according to Sports Illustrated.
“Either I’m running the ball good, or I’m catching it well out the backfield,” Tuten said after the victory. “I knew a big game was coming and today was a great day to show up.”
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. added 41 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own to complement Tuten’s explosive afternoon.
Lawrence shines before starters rest
With the ground game churning, Lawrence was rarely asked to push the ball downfield into heavy coverage. The franchise quarterback completed 10 of 14 pass attempts for 210 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, compiling a 153.3 passer rating. Jacksonville’s commanding lead allowed Coen to pull his starters before the fourth quarter began.
Lawrence connected with rookie tight end Boerkircher on a 31-yard touchdown in the first half, marking Boerkircher’s second scoring reception in two weeks. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., the subject of recent league trade chatter, hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass on third down in the red zone.
The Colts mounted their only serious first-half surge following a Jacksonville fumble, but the threat evaporated instantly. Second-year safety Rayuan Lane stepped in front of a pass from Colts quarterback Daniel Jones and returned the interception 92 yards for a touchdown. The return was the second-longest pick-six in Jaguars history, The Florida Times-Union noted. Linebacker Branson Combs later collected his first career interception to stifle another Indianapolis drive.
Injury concerns linger despite home dominance
The lopsided win extended Jacksonville’s home winning streak to seven consecutive regular-season games at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars have won each of those seven contests by at least 17 points, outscoring their visitors 271-75 over that stretch and building an NFL-best plus-85 point differential on the year.
However, the afternoon was not entirely positive for Jacksonville. Defensive tackle Davon Hamilton suffered a non-contact lower-body injury in the first half and was carted off the field. Coen acknowledged the severity of the moment postgame, noting that medical personnel will evaluate the full extent of the defensive anchor’s injury in the coming days.
Jacksonville will take its divisional lead on the road in the coming weeks before returning to EverBank Stadium on Nov. 29 to face the Tennessee Titans.
