Death, taxes, and the Indianapolis Colts losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Duval County.
This marks the ninth straight loss for the Colts in Jacksonville and it is the first time that the Jags swept the season series since 2017. The offense started the game off on a good note with a field goal drive to start the game but it was all downhill after that. Gardner Minshew had his worst performance as a Colt.
He was shaky all afternoon. Minshew was responsible for the four turnovers by the Colts and could have had some more if the Jaguars defenders didn’t drop interception opportunities. The Indy defense had a slow start but started to play better as the game went on but got no help from the offense until it was too late.
There are not many positives to take from Indianapolis in this dreadful loss but here are five takeaways from the matchup:
1
Rough day for Gardner Minshew
Gardner Minshew has kept the Colts offense alive during his time filling in for Anthony Richardson this season but today he played a big part in the blowout loss to the Jags. He was playing with happy feet throughout the afternoon and never got settled back in after his fumble on Indy’s second drive of the game.
Oh yeah, 41!@JoshAllen41_ | #INDvsJAX on CBS/NFL+ pic.twitter.com/jOup3bA7Oa
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 15, 2023
I would put that fumble on Bernhard Raimann getting beat by Josh Allen but this is the second time this season that Minshew has fumbled the ball on a sack.
After going down 14-3, it appeared that the Colts were going to make it a one-score game after Jonathan Taylor’s 40-yard reception put the offense at the Jacksonville 30-yard line. Then Minshew would have back-to-back bad reps.
He got lucky on the first play after JT’s explosive play when Devin Lloyd dropped an interception but Minshew followed that up with another questionable throw when he sailed the ball behind and past his receivers right into Andre Cisco’s hands.
Make the play when it comes your way 😤@andrecisco7 | #INDvsJAX on CBS/NFL+ pic.twitter.com/LWcKpfz2Ta
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 15, 2023
On the first drive of the second half for the Colts, Minshew once again sailed a ball over Michael Pittman Jr.’s head for the easy pick for Rayshawn Jenkins.
J-Villains cleaning up!#INDvsJAX on CBS/NFL+ pic.twitter.com/01uPA5jvEE
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 15, 2023
The woes didn’t stop there for Minshew. On a fourth-and-five in the fourth quarter, Minshew attempted to throw off his back foot and a hospital ball came out of his hands for another easy interception for the Jaguars defense.
.@Dee_Willl2 with his third pick in as many weeks!#INDvsJAX on CBS/NFL+ pic.twitter.com/DCEAB2HOKy
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 15, 2023
Minshew ended the game going 33-of-55 for 329 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and a lost fumble. Jacksonville scored 17 points off the turnovers and it makes you think how the game would’ve gone if Minshew had an on-par performance against his former team.
It won’t get easier for Minshew next week against the stout Cleveland Browns defense. His team can’t afford another repeat performance in Week 7.
2
Defense quietly good on third downs
When you look at the score you would think that the Jaguars had a lot of production on offense but they finished with just 233 total yards. Part of that was how good the Colts’ defense was in third-down situations.
Jacksonville was 4-of-14 on third downs and Indy forced six three-and-outs. Three of the three-and-outs resulted in field goals because of the turnovers and a 53-yard kick return by Jamal Agnew.
Gus Bradley’s defense is now 33-of-86 on third downs through the first six games.
3
First 100-yard receiving game for the Colts
There were some close calls this season with Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs but after today’s game, MPJ became the first Colt to go over 100 receiving yards this season. It was a pretty standard day for Pittman Jr. being Gardner Minshew’s safety valve.
He dominated the targets with 14 and the next closest player was Josh Downs with eight. Pittman Jr. turned that into nine receptions for 109 yards. He had a long of 40 yards and that catch led to the first touchdown of the day for the Colts.
Pittman Jr. will get an opportunity to see what he can do against one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL next week when he lines up across Denzel Ward.
4
Jonathan Taylor as a receiving threat?
Jonathan Taylor isn’t known for his receiving ability but it has been one of the more underrated parts of his game. He’s not going to go out and be effective in the slot like a Christian McCaffrey but Taylor has shown he can be a homerun threat as a receiver if he can get the ball in open space like he did today.
On a third-and-five, Shane Steichen had Taylor run a crossing route and not only did it get the first down, but he turned it into the first explosive play of the game for the Colts with a 40-yard gain.
Plenty of room for Jonathan Taylor to run 😤 @JayT23
📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O pic.twitter.com/O9qBZQMhcb— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2023
While it could be that the Colts were forced to throw the ball being down three scores, this was just the fifth time in Taylor’s career that he finished a game with at least six targets in the passing attack.
Taylor turned those targets into five receptions for 46 yards. I don’t expect that this will be a weekly thing for him but the design by Steichen to get Taylor the ball in an open space like that could be a sign of things to come.
It will be interesting to see if Taylor’s role in the passing attack evolves compared to how he was utilized in that department in years past.
5
Career firsts for Day 2 rookies
Josh Downs didn’t impact the game much but he was able to get his first career touchdown. He utilized his shiftiness to create space for the easy toss for Minshew for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
First career TD for Josh Downspic.twitter.com/8PozEInkrh
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 15, 2023
Downs finished the game with five receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown.
He wasn’t the only 2023 Day 2 pick that got a career first. JuJu Brents was able to get his hands on his first interception in the NFL in the fourth quarter.
Juju Brents with the first interception of his career. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Jaguars#DUUUVAL#INDvsJAX pic.twitter.com/n9oXEJa5Cc
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 15, 2023
Brents had a solid game outside of the touchdown that he gave up in the first half. He had some good reps against Calvin Ridley throughout the game. He looks like he is starting to get comfortable in his role on the defense.
Brents finished with seven tackles (five solo), two pass defenses, and an interception.
