5 Instant Observations on Jaguars' Nail-Biter vs. Colts

The Jaguars should certainly hope the Colts keep Shane Steichen for another season. The Colts might have some questions to ask after their late-season collapse, but if Steichen returns then there is no reason to project the Colts to be much of an issue for the Jaguars. In three seasons, Steichen is now 1-5 against the Jaguars and his lone win was an overtime victory over Mac Jones in the final game of the Doug Pederson era.

The fact the Colts went through the farce of starting Philip Rivers over the last three weeks should be a stunning indictment on Steichen, and is a big reason the Jaguars won. Riley Leonard looked significantly better against the Jaguars a few weeks ago than Rivers did today, which should give the Jaguars some AFC South comfort if the Colts retain their staff.

Jacksonville got in their own way

There are a few plays that made this game a six-point win instead of a commanding blowout. The Jaguars were the better team through the entire course of the contest, moving the ball with ease on offense and making several key stops on defense after the first two drives of the game. With tha t said, Sunday was the first time the Jaguars of old crept back.

From two red-zone turnovers -- including a failed Hook and Ladder play on an otherwise effortless first drive -- to a poorly called fourth-down quarterback sneak to two kickoffs that landed the Colts in Jaguars territory, there are geniunely a few handpicked instances you can find of why this game was close. If the Jaguars stay out of their own way, they blow the Colts out convincingly.

Jarrian Jones, Parker Washington come up big ... again

The two best picks of the Trent Baalke era might very well be cornerback Jarrian Jones and wide receiver Parker Washington. The Jaguars would not be on this winning streak without either of them, and both came up huge for the Jaguars on Sunday with game-changing plays at key points in the game.

Jones picked off old man Rivers with a beautiful rep in the fourth-quarter to set up a field goal in a tied game, giving the Jaguars a lead they would not let go of. Washington had his second 100-yard game in a row (third of his career), recording eight catches for 115 yards and once again proving to be a dynamic threat.

Campanile adjusted well

Kudos to Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile for his adjustments on Sunday. The Colts came out with more under center looks than they had in any other Rivers starts, and the Colts put together two impressive drives to score 10 points on the first two drives of the game. After that, though, the Colts scored just seven points just once on their next nine drives, and that score came when they started at the Jaguars' 39, got a questionable third-down call go their way, and then had a pass interference land them at the Jaguars' six-yard line.

The Jaguars' "bend but don't break" defense has done a good job all year long of settling in after questionable starts, a sign of good coaching. It happened once again on Sunday, and the Jaguars left Lucas Oil Stadium as winners in large part because of it. As Jaguars cornerback Buster Brown told me in the locker room this week: "Camp has the blueprint."

Play of the Day

Jarrian Jones' game-shifting pick of Rivers gets the nod here, though Lawrence's 3rd-and-10 completion to Jakobi Meyers to set up the game-sealing fourth-down is a close, close second.

• Jaguars Send Rivers Packing, Inch Closer to AFC South Title
• Jaguars @ Colts Week 17 Live Game Thread
• Duval Breathes Sigh of Relief as Jaguars Survive Colts
• Jaguars Reveal Inactives For Week 17 Colts Battle