The Jacksonville Jaguars entered Week 18 without much to play for. Win or lose, they were expected to dismiss head coach Doug Pederson. Then again, several players had one last chance to make one last impression before the regular season ended. That nor the prospect of sweeping their division foes ultimately wasn't enough to come out on top, as the Jags lost 26-23.
One day after the loss in the finale, Jacksonville gave Pederson the pink slip. His dismissal and the search for his replacement have taken center stage, so this is a good time to ensure a handful of strong individual performances against the Colts don't go unnoticed.
With that in mind, here are three Jaguars who showed out in Week 18.
Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. was one of the team's bright spots in 2024 and wrapped up an impressive rookie campaign on a high note, registering seven receptions for 101 yards with no touchdowns. Against the Colts, the former LSU Tiger became only the fourth first-year wideout to log over 1,200 yards and at least 10 touchdowns in the Super Bowl era.
Brian Thomas Jr. = Good at football pic.twitter.com/UFfZE26uCW
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) January 5, 2025
You can say what you want about controversial general manager Trent Baalke, but he hit it out of the ballpark by drafting Thomas 23rd overall in 2024.
Parker Washington, wide receiver
Sophomore Parker Washington saw an uptick in playing time after fellow receiver Christian Kirk suffered a collarbone injury. He made the most of his chance and continued his plight for a bigger role in 2025 with a strong outing against the Colts in the finale.
The former Penn State Nittany Lion finished the game with two catches for 15 yards. That statline doesn't pop off, but he scored the Jaguars' lone touchdown of the day, one that showed his superb control and concentration.
Arik Armstead, defensive lineman
One of the most puzzling decisions the Jaguars made last season was deploying Arik Armstead as a defensive end even though he was at his best when lined up inside. More often than not, it didn't work, which is probably why the former Oregon Duck will return to his more familiar defensive tackle spot in 2025. That said, his last game playing on the edge was a productive one.
Armstead posted a team-high nine total pressures and his Pro Football overall grade of 89.6 was the highest among Jaguars defenders in the finale. That should give Jacksonville a reason for optimism moving forward.
3 Jaguars who failed to make a strong impression vs. the Colts
Mac Jones, quarterback
Like other Jaguars players set to become free agents, Mac Jones had an opportunity to boost his stock. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to capitalize on the opportunity. The Alabama product wasn't outright dreadful but wasn't great either, going 20-of-32 for 225 yards with one touchdown and one pick.
Jones' interception. was an ill attempt to push the ball downfield. He targeted Brian Thomas Jr. but the pass came up short and was picked off.
Montaric Brown, cornerback
While Ronald Darby got benched the last four games of the season, his replacement, Montaric Brown, proved to be not much better. Granted, the former Arkansas Razorback has flashed at times but has also been inconsistent. He had one of his worst outings of the season against the Colts, giving up five receptions on six targets for 77 yards.
On top of that, Brown's PFF overall grade of 28.8 was the lowest among Jaguars defenders. One of the team's biggest priorities in the offseason will be to find a starting cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell.
Joe Gaziano, defensive end
Defensive end Joe Gaziano was on and off the Jaguars' practice squad in 2024. He got a call to the active roster when star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen had to miss the finale due to personal reasons. The former Northwestern Wildcat showed against the Colts why he hardly ever suited for Jacksonville.
Aside from posting just one total tackle, Gaizano struggled to contain running back Jonathan Taylor. The Colts knew they had a favorable matchup and run his way as much as they could, and why not? The formula worked, and Taylor finished the game with 177 yards on 34 carries.