Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns, and Travis Etienne rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a commanding 36-19 victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts in a matchup of the top two teams in the AFC South on Sunday.
Lawrence completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. caught three passes for 87 yards, while Tim Patrick had 78 yards and a touchdown on five catches.
Etienne carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards for Jacksonville (9-4), which won its fourth straight game to move into sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
Indianapolis (8-5) lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury late in the first quarter. The offense continued to move the ball at times with his backup, rookie Riley Leonard, but struggled to finish drives.
Leonard finished 18-of-29 passing for 145 yards and an interception with a rushing touchdown for the Colts, who lost their third straight game and fourth in the last five. Jonathan Taylor carried the ball 21 times for 74 yards and a score.
Indianapolis has lost its last 11 games at Jacksonville.
The Jaguars turned two first-half turnovers into 14 points, fueling their 28-10 halftime advantage. The Colts finished with three total turnovers and conceded a safety in the loss.
Devin Lloyd intercepted Jones on the Colts’ first offensive play of the game, giving the Jaguars the ball at the Colts’ 21. It was Lloyd’s fifth interception of the season, but his first in over two months.
Four plays later, Etienne punched in a 3-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
Indianapolis responded with a touchdown drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown from Taylor.
Jacksonville reclaimed the lead 2:05 later when Lawrence found Jakobi Meyers for a 14-yard touchdown.
On the first drive after Jones sustained his injury, Jarrian Jones stripped Taylor as he stretched out for a first down. The very next play, Etienne broke off a 28-yard run for his second touchdown to make it 21-7 with 12:52 left in the half.
After Leonard led a field-goal drive, the Jaguars added to their lead with a 7-yard touchdown catch by Tim Patrick with seven seconds left for a 28-10 advantage.
After the teams traded field goals, Jacksonville’s Josh Hines-Allen effectively put the game away with a safety sack and a Cam Little field goal after the ensuing safety punt, which made it 36-13 with 4:41 left.
Leonard scored his first career touchdown with 1:51 left, rushing it in from 6 yards out.
–Field Level Media
