JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in a 2024 Week 5 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. T-Law was clutch – and efficient. Credit Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence: He not only had a big game Sunday after a tough week with the accompanying outside noise, he did so playing exactly the sort of game he needed to play. Lawrence, after missing multiple big-play passes in a four-point loss to the Houston Texans last week, had an efficient game Sunday and also hit two huge – and clutch – plays. "He ran the offense and saw the field well," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "There were some big throws in there." One was an 85-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the first half and the other was a 61-yard pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk that set up a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brenton Strange in the fourth quarter. This came before Lawrence went three for three for 34 yards as the Jaguars maneuvered for a 49-yard game-winning field goal with :17 remaining. Lawrence on Sunday showed the patience and accuracy needed to execute the game plan against a Gus Bradley/Indianapolis Colts defense that forces offenses to be patient and hit big plays when they're available. Lawrence's statistics – 28 of 34 for 371 yards and two touchdowns – were impressive Sunday. Most impressive was how he played in tough circumstances when he and the team needed it. "I've just kind of been hunkering down and not really listening to anything, honestly," Lawrence said. "That stuff doesn't matter. You don't want to let that stuff creep in. It's about the guys in the building and the work we put in."
2. Youth served. This Jaguars victory was big for myriad reasons. One was they really needed it after an 0-4 start. And it gives them confidence heading to London. But it's also significant that they got huge plays from their young, developing players. Defensive end Travon Walker had a career-high three sacks, including one that led to a first-half field goal and another that secured the victory on the game's final play. Thomas continued to look like an elite, go-to player in the making. Tank Bigsby continued his rapid development into a reliable, big-play running back with 101 yards and two touchdowns. Strange had a key first-down-converting reception late in the game in addition to his touchdown. That's four young, drafted players turning in the sort of big, clutch plays this team hasn't made enough this season. There were a lot of good signs Sunday. That may be the best for the future of this franchise.

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. Trevor and the Jaguars finally got the spark they needed. Lawrence's 85-yard touchdown pass to Thomas got the Jaguars going Sunday, with Thomas' incredible speed taking away the angle of the safety as he blazed down the Indianapolis sideline. The look in Lawrence's eyes as he raced down the field to celebrate was classic – and his body language was that of the guy who started 8-3 last season and not of the quarterback who had lost his last nine consecutive starts. His confidence is back and we saw that in a second-and-24 throw to Kirk for 61 yards to flip the field. We saw it, too, in a laser to wide receiver Gabe Davis two plays later and the perfect high, hard throw to the back of the end zone to Strange. Let's not forget the game- winning drive with a clutch throw to Kirk to get into field-goal range. That is the guy the Jaguars paid to be their franchise.

2. On Throwback Sunday, it was all about the new guys. Rookie kicker Cam Little booted the first game-winning field goal of his career while Thomas posted his first 100-yard game. Bigsby followed up his big day in Houston last Sunday with a two-touchdown performance. Walker posted a career-high three sacks. We shouldn't forget Strange, whose touchdown put the Jaguars ahead 34-20 late in the fourth quarter. For good measure, let's give a nod to linebacker Ventrell Miller who was once again all over the field and made some clutch shoestring tackles to limit what could have been bigger gains.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. Adversity knocked and the Jaguars finally answered. In every game this season, the Jaguars have been faced with a point of adversity. In the first four weeks, they failed to answer the call. The Jaguars battled back several times against the Colts, most notably in the fourth quarter, and they were able to get their first win of the season. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't pretty the whole time. It was the gritty, earned victory that this team desperately needed.
2. The Thomas & Tank Engine. Thomas' 85-yard touchdown catch and run was the second-longest touchdown in franchise history, and he continues to make the ordinary plays look extraordinary with his speed and athleticism. Bigsby brought toughness to the offense on Sunday and his big day was highlighted by two plays: a gritty 19-yard touchdown run in which he got pushed into the end zone by Ezra Cleveland and a 65-yard breakout touchdown in the fourth quarter. The young duo kept the offense afloat during a game the Jaguars desperately needed to win.