Jaguars vs. Colts: Gardner Minshew returns, other storylines to watch in Week 6

1. What would a win in Week 6 mean for the Jaguars?

After losing to the Washington Commanders in the opener last year, the Jags won two in a row. However, they then went on to lose five straight before they beat the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9. Their losing streak could be attributed to inexperience. After all, it was head coach Doug Pederson's first season leading at the helm, so an adjustment period was expected. This year though, the bar has been raised considerably.

The Jaguars are no longer an underdog. In fact, they're thought to be the best team in the AFC South. However, Indy and the Houston Texans have been better than expected before the 2023 season began. Right now, both Jacksonville and the Colts have identical 3-2 records and whoever comes on top in Week 6 will get sole control of the AFC South.

By winning, the Jags would widen the gap in the division and hold a potential tiebreaker in playoff seeding. Also, beating the Colts would solidify their spot as the top 3 teams in the conference. It's hard to see Jacksonville catching up with the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) and the Miami Dolphins (4-1). But building momentum early in the season could help the Jags enter the postseason at full steam.

The bottom line is that the Jaguars cannot afford to take the gas off the foot pedal. They simply have enough talent not to make a deep playoff push. The good news is that they've been gelling and executing better in recent weeks. Losing to Indy would be a huge step back, which is why they can't afford to lose in Week 6.

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