The Jacksonville Jaguars will welcome the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 for a rematch of the season opener. One of the biggest storylines surrounding the game is the return of Gardner Minshew, who wore the Black and Teal for a couple seasons before he was shipped out of town in 2021.
Wherever he goes, Minshew becomes well-liked and respected by coaches and teammates alike. Heading into the division bout, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell talked about what he expects from the mustachioed quarterback.
"I think the run game changes a little bit but he has enough moxie to be able to make the runs," Caldwell told the media Thursday. "He's not as athletic as they are but he's an athletic quarterback and he can buy time with his feet. He can run his own read. He's able to make plays with his feet but he's also a veteran quarterback that knows where to go with the ball."
"So I think the offense will stay similar and they'll lean heavy on the running backs and let the quarterback do what he does," Caldwell said.
This season, Minshew has fared well in relief of Anthony Richardson, completing 68.75 percent of his passes for 553 yards with two touchdowns. Now, he'll have a chance to beat his former team. It won't be easy though. In fact, the Jags are a 4-point favorite and Indy hasn't won at EverBank Stadium, since 2014. With that in mind, here are three storylines to keep an eye on in Week 6.
3. Can the Jaguars offensive line build on Week 5's performance?
The Jaguars offensive line hasn't underperformed at times this season but they've gotten progressively better in recent weeks. Rookie Anton Harrison has made progress since his rough outing in Week 2 while right guard Brandon Scherff is coming off a pretty efficient outing.
For the second game in a row, Brandon Scherff didn’t allow a sack, hit or hurry in pass protection
— PFF JAX Jaguars (@PFF_Jaguars) October 9, 2023
Vs. the Bills
47 pass blocking snaps
0 sacks allowed
0 pressures allowed@Jaguars 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cwR2yUBjv4
Having left tackle Cam Robinson back in the fold also helps. On the other hand, Walker Little, who took over at left guard in Week 5, is dealing with an MCL injury and is out for the game. This means Tyler Shatley, who got the start against the Atlanta Falcons, will return to the lineup.
In Week 6, they'll go against a group that includes DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and Grover Stewart. Winning the battle in the trenches will be key if the Jaguars want to move the ball and reach the end zone.
2. The Jaguars need to stop the Colts duo of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss
It feels like forever since the Colts and running back Jonathan Taylor got into a contract impasse. For a moment, it looked like his days in Indy were coming to an end. However, the former Wisconsin Badger and the team have amended his relationship with the team and he's back in the fold.
Now healthy and fresh off signing a new contract, Taylor joins a backfield that was already clicking. Although the Colts only mustered 65 yards in the opener, they've registered at least 120 rushing yards in each of the last four games. Zach Moss, RB2 on Indy's depth chart, has toted the rock 89 times for 445 yards and has averaged 5.0 yards per carry.
Taylor's return will allow the Colts to run the ball by committee and keep both of their running backs fresh. That said, the Jaguars are adept at stopping the run. Currently, they rank fifth in rushing yards allowed and 10th in rushing touchdowns scored in the league. On top of that, they're getting reinforcements in defensive end Dawuane Smoot, who's set to make his season debut in Week 6.
At one point, the Colts will be forced to throw the ball but they will try to establish the run early on. Hampering their ability to move the ball through the ground will be key for the Jags' to come on top.
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.