Tank Bigsby fans flames of RB controversy with jaw-dropping outing for the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars got their first of the year when they beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 in Week 5. Whether it was Trevor Lawrence having a career day, or kicker Cam Little nailing the game-winning field goal, there was plenty to like. For his part, running back Tank Bigsby chipped in with his first 100-yard game ever in the NFL, and after an impressive outing, you could make the case that he should be the team's No. 1 option in the backfield.

As someone predicted before the game, Bigsby had his first 100-yard game against the Colts, toting the rock 13 times for 101 yards with two touchdowns. On top of that, caught one reception for 28 yards for a total of 129 yards from scrimmage. Without a doubt, his most impressive play was his 65-yard touchdown run.

Meanwhile, Etienne had six carries for 17 yards. Both of them ran behind the same offensive line, so it's fair to say that Bigsby is getting the most of his chances of the two.

It's also worth noting that his performance against the Colts wasn't an outlier. The week prior, the former Auburn Tiger racked up 90 yards on seven carries.

For the season, Bigsby has had 32 carries for 273 yards with two touchdowns. On top of that, he's averaged a whopping 8.3 yards per carry.

Etienne, on the other hand, has averaged 4.3 yards per tote and tallied 231 yards on 47. That's a pretty good statline but not nearly as good as Bigsby's, which is why the coaching staff should consider giving the latter a featured role on a permanent basis.

The Jaguars must go with the hot hand (Tank Bigsby is the hot hand)

Travis Etienne has been a key cog on offense for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two years, but there's no doubt Tank Bigsby is currently the better player of the two. What makes his performance even more impressive is that he was underwhelming in his rookie season.

But as impressive as Bigbsy's improvement has been, head coach Doug Pederson told the local media after the win over the Indianapolis Colts that Etienne remains the lead back in their backfield.

"No, not at all. Travis is our guy, and Tank had a good game. That's just the way games go," Pederson responded when asked if the team plans to give Bigsby a bigger role. "And [I'm] happy for Tank, great for the offensive line. In some of those situations, but no, Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game today."

Pederson's comments make sense when you take into account that Etienne has had more than 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons. Moreover, he right for not overreacting, but the truth is that Bigsby is currently outplaying his fourth-year counterpart, so he should strongly reconsider his stance.

The Jacksonville Jaguars must enjoy their well-deserved first win of the season, but once the celebration ends, they must consider giving Tank Bigsby a bigger role. It worked against the Colts, it could certainly help them rack up more victories in the immediate future.

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