3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Jaguars' anxiety-inducing win vs. the Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars got one step closer to seizing the AFC South title when they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Along the way, Liam Coen became the first rookie head coach in NFL history to win 12 games after his team went 4-13 the year prior.

Sure, the game was closer than the Jags might've liked, and they didn't look as sharp as they had in recent weeks. However, Jacksonville did what any other good team would in its position: It took care of business on a contest it was supposed to win, and that's what ultimately matters.

After all, historians won't look back at Week 17 of the 2025 season and complain that the defeated Indianapolis by a mere six points. Moreover, there were several bright spots during this AFC South showdown. With this in mind, here are three winners and two losers from Jacksonville's 12th victory this year.

Winner No. 1: Montaric Brown, Jaguars cornerback

The Jags did a good job of containing the Indianapolis offense, limiting Philip Rivers to 130 yards. The pass rush most definitely deserves praise for bringing the heat throughout the game, but cornerback Montaric Brown also did his part to stymie the Colts.

Brown gave up just two completions for 10 yards on eight targets and racked up three pass deflections. Not surprisingly, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 88.7 was the best among Jaguars defenders in the win over their dreaded division foe.

Loser No. 1: Jaguars special teams

The Jaguars have one of the best special teams units in the NFL, but they didn't have their best showing in Week 17. They gave up a 53-yard return at the start of the game, and later allowed another one that went 55 yards. The first one led to a field goal, and the second one resulted in a touchdown for a total of 10 points.

On top of that, the linebacker Ventrell Miller was flagged for illegal contact when the Jags received the ball on their first offensive possession of the game. The silver lining is that this hasn't been a constant occurrence, but you bet special teams coordinator Heath Farwell will look back at the game and see what went wrong in order to have his group s firing on all cylinders come playoff time.

Related: Liam Coen's historic feat with Jaguars just sent shockwaves across the NFL

Winner No. 2: Parker Washington, Jaguars receiver

For the second week in a row, Parker Washington came through when the Jaguars dialed his number. The former Penn State Ninntay Lion finished the game with eight receptions for 115 yards. His success is even more impressive when you take into account that the Colts did a good job of neutralizing fellow receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers.

Conversely, you could make the case that Washington shone precisely because Indianapolis took away Thomas on Meyers. However, he made the most of his opportunities when Trevor Lawrence looked his way, and that is worth recognition.

Loser No. 2: Liam Coen, Jaguars head coach

There's no doubt that Liam Coen is responsible for his team's turnaround, and he, without a doubt, deserves strong consideration for the NFL Coach of the Year Award. That said, he didn't call his best game against the Colts. Sure, it wasn't dreadful, but it certainly left a bit to be desired.

Early in the first half, the Jaguars were having no trouble moving the ball downfield, but Coen chose to get pretty and called a trick play that resulted in a fumble that the Colts recovered.

Later, Coen dialed up a sneak on a fourth down in the fourth quarter that gave the Colts the ball back. Now, you can blame him for being bold. The issue is that it was an unnecessary gamble to take, as the game was tied 17-17 with enough time left on the clock, and the Jags could have easily kicked the field goal to get ahead 20-17.

In the end, Jarrian Jones got the ball back, and Cam Little went on to nail the game-winners. Still, Coen took a risk when he didn't have to. Speaking of...

Winners No. 3: Jarrian Jones, Jaguars cornerback

Several Jaguars have bounced back after a slow start to the season. Trevor Lawrence and Josh Hines-Allen are the ones who stand out the most. However, Jarrian Jones' improved play after getting benched in favor of Jarrian Jone shouldn't be overlooked.

Just a few games after Jones was benched, he began to get snaps, and he made the most out of his opportunities, mainly while playing in the slot, where he's at his best. And against the Colts, he picked off Philip Rivers and shifted the momentum back to the Jaguars to help them seal the win.

Although the Jags miss Jourdan Lewis, who landed on Injured Reserve with a foot injury, Jones is helping soften the blow of his absence.