Jaguars’ Week 6 Battle vs. Colts Set To Be for 1st Place in AFC South

The Jaguars and Colts will have one of the biggest games of Week 6 take place in Jacksonville next Sunday.

Divisional games are always huge in the NFL. But Week 6 is even bigger than usual for the Jacksonville Jaguars and their AFC South rivals.

After a statement win against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 in London, the Jaguars effectively bounced back from their 1-2 start to improve to 3-2. In doing so, they set the table for their Week 6 home game vs. the 3-2 Indianapolis Colts to be an early-season clash for positioning for first place in the AFC South.

"I mean, it was definitely a big game, a statement game. The next one could be even bigger. The next one is a divisional opponent. It's I believe two games in one," Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen said after Sunday's 25-20 win. "It's a must-win. But the confidence that we practice in, to know that when we are on our game, offensively, defensively, special teams, we're a team that can't be beat. We stay with that confidence, stay with that swag.

"I think leading into Texans week, we expected to win that game, and we came out and did what we did. This week we worked to win, and that's our motto. I'm excited to see what this week has in store for us, big game this week, we already played the Colts once. Personnel is probably still the same. But I'm excited to play against them again."

The Jaguars have already faced the Colts once this season, with Allen recording three sacks in a 31-21 victory. But four weeks is an eternity in NFL time. Since then, the Jaguars have rode the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. 

"Well, we're on a two-game winning streak and we want to stay hot. We've got a big game coming up next week against the Colts," Allen said. "Obviously you know they've got their top back returning, and we're excited for that challenge. It's make the corrections from this week, move on to next week, and find areas to improve on.

With the Colts likely to start former Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, the Jaguars will have several things working in their favor. They will be the favorites, just like they were in Week 1. But the Jaguars know they can't rest on their laurels, especially after what the first month of the season brought them. 

"It's going to feel great. It's going to feel great. But we have to understand that we're 3-2 and the season is still ahead of us," Travis Etienne said. 

"We're going to enjoy this one. We're going to enjoy the plane ride. But whenever we touchdown we have to understand that we've got to get ready for the Colts. It's a new game. NFL is week-to-week. We can't bask in this because it's still early in the season. Two weeks from now, nobody will remember this game and we have to understand that and keep moving."