INDIANAPOLIS — One of the more heated rivalries in the AFC re-ignites in Week 11 as the Indianapolis Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Last season, the two teams split their series with each home team coming out victorious and by a combined nine points. Both teams have added talent on offense, so perhaps there will be a little more offense involved in these matchups starting with Week 11.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. ET
- Indianapolis; Lucas Oil Stadium
- TV: CBS
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Colts lead, 23-13. The Jaguars have won three of the last four games dating back to 2017.
- Last game — Week 13 of 2018. Jaguars won, 6-0.
COACHING STAFF
Colts:
- HC Frank Reich
- OC Nick Sirianni
- DC Matt Eberflus
- STC Bubba Ventrone
Jaguars:
- HC Doug Marrone
- OC John DeFilippo
- DC Todd Wash
- STC Joe DeCamillis
KEY NEW FACES
Colts:
- DE/LB Ben Banogu
- WR Parris Campbell
- WR Devin Funchess
- DE Justin Houston
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
Jaguars:
- ED Josh Allen
- RB Alfred Blue/Thomas Rawls
- WR Chris Conley/Terrelle Pryor
- QB Nick Foles
- OT Cedric Ogbuehi/Jawaan Taylor
- TE Josh Oliver/Geoff Swaim
OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
Colts:
- Overall, this was a pretty quiet offseason for the Colts for a change. It was about building onto and shaping the current roster rather than shaking things up or making sweeping changes. Former starting receivers Ryan Grant and Dontrelle Inman both departed in free agency, and veterans Mike Mitchell and Al Woods also were not re-signed by the team. Offensive lineman Matt Slauson retired following a 10-year career.
Jaguars:
- Starting with the coaching staff, the Jaguars welcome a new offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo, who takes over for Nathaniel Hackett.
- There are several new, significant faces in town including quarterback Nick Foles. The Jaguars were able to pull off selecting offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, who slipped to the second round of the 2019 Draft but was considered the top tackle in the draft by many. Edge defender Josh Allen is also another huge addition. After several running backs formerly behind Leonard Fournette on the depth chart departed this offseason, former Houston Texans rival Alfred Blue as well as former Seattle Seahawk Thomas Rawls have been signed to complement Fournette.
- Some very recognizable characters are no longer with the Jaguars, as former first-round pick, quarterback Blake Bortles, running backs T.J. Yeldon, Carlos Hyde and Corey Grant, former Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief, defensive tackle Malik Jackson and safety Tashaun Gipson are all no longer in Jacksonville.
- Pro Bowl linebacker Telvin Smith has stepped away from football for the 2019 season, taking away one of the team's best defensive players.
EARLY STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH
- Will Foles and DeFilippo Spark The Offense? — The Jaguars' offense has been very hot and cold in recent years, leaning more cold last season. Will replacing Bortles with former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, led by his former quarterbacks coach at the time in DeFilippo, get the Jaguars' offense going?
- D.J. Chark's Development — The Jaguars picked wide receiver D.J. Chark in the second round of last year's draft. He was looked at as something of a raw prospect with high upside. It's Year 2 now; will he take a big leap into WR2 status?
- Jacksonville Maintaining Defensive Dominance? — The Jaguars have been built on a dominant defense in the last few years with tons of talent all over the place. However, Calais Campbell is another year older, Telvin Smith is out this season, Malik Jackson is no longer with the team, and Aaron Colvin's presence in the slot was missed last season. Will Jacksonville continue to have that awesome defense, or will they take a step back? If it's the latter, the Colts offense could smother the Jaguars.
- AFC South Race — With less than half the season remaining, this could be a pivotal matchup in not only the AFC South standings, but for contention for the AFC playoffs. The Jaguars shouldn't have the same struggles they did last year and may look more like the playoff contender that they were in 2017. The Colts are a popular pick to make a deep playoff run.
INTRIGUING MATCHUPS
- Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey — This is always a fun one to watch. Ramsey has done a great job against Hilton in their showdowns since 2016, holding Hilton to an average of 2.3 receptions (5.2 targets) for 36.3 yards per game and just one touchdown. However, Hilton has snuck through for some big plays in the matchup, especially now that quarterback Andrew Luck is back and head coach Frank Reich is scheming up ways to get Hilton free.
- Colts OT Anthony Castonzo vs. Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue — In six career games against the Colts, Ngakoue has 18 tackles (six for loss), 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and 13 quarterback hits, which are almost all career highs for him against any team. He's a handful for any offensive tackle, but the Colts are in good hands by having one of the league's best going against him in Castonzo.
- Colts DT Denico Autry vs. Jaguars IOL Brandon Linder/Andrew Norwell — Autry is a strong, athletic, lengthy defensive lineman who can line up inside or out, attack straightforward or be effective on stunts. The Jaguars have a pair of stud interior linemen to try and counter Autry in Linder and Norwell.
- Colts CB Kenny Moore II vs. Jaguars WR Dede Westbrook — Westbrook's potential has been brewing, and if Foles can provide some stability for Jacksonville at the quarterback position then perhaps it will take Westbrook to the next level. Moore II is the perfect candidate to follow the playmaker outside on the boundary as well as in the slot.
BETTING LINE
- Favorite: Colts (-6.5)
- Over/Under: N/A
RETURNING LEADERS
Colts:
- Passing — QB Andrew Luck (4,593 yards)
- Rushing — RB Marlon Mack (908 yards)
- Receiving — WR T.Y. Hilton (1,270 yards)
- Touchdowns — TE Eric Ebron (14)
- Tackles — LB Darius Leonard (163)
- Sacks — DL Denico Autry (9.0)
- Interceptions — CB Kenny Moore II (3)
Jaguars:
- Passing — P Logan Cooke (4 yards)
- Rushing — RB Leonard Fournette (439 yards)
- Receiving — WR Dede Westbrook (717 yards)
- Touchdowns — RB Leonard Fournette (6)
- Tackles — LB Myles Jack (107)
- Sacks — DE Calais Campbell (10.5)
- Interceptions — CB Jalen Ramsey (3)
COMPARING 2018 STATS
Colts:
- Total offense — 7th (386.2 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 5th (27.1 PPG)
- Passing offense — 6th (278.8 YPG)
- Sacks allowed — 1st (18)
- Running offense — 20th (107.4 YPG)
- Third down offense — 1st (48.6%)
- Red zone offense — 5th (67.1%)
- Total defense — 11th (339.4 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 10th (21.5 PPG)
- Passing defense — 16th (237.8 YPG)
- Sacks — Tied-19th (38)
- Running defense — 8th (101.6 YPG)
- Third down defense — 23rd (41%)
- Red zone defense — 11th (55.1%)
- Time of possession — 18th (30:05)
- Turnover differential — Tied-13th (2)
Jaguars:
- Total offense — 27th (302.0 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 31st (15.3 PPG)
- Passing offense — 26th (194.3 YPG)
- Sacks allowed — Tied-29th (53)
- Running offense — 19th (107.7 YPG)
- Third down offense — 14th (40%)
- Red zone offense — 31st (44.1%)
- Total defense — 5th (311.4 YPG)
- Scoring defense — Tied-4th (19.8 PPG)
- Passing defense — 2nd (194.6 YPG)
- Sacks — Tied-22nd (37)
- Running defense — 19th (116.9 YPG)
- Third down defense — 14th (38%)
- Red zone defense — 5th (51.1%)
- Time of possession — 17th (30:14)
- Turnover differential — 29th (-12)
