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4 Bold Predictions in the Jaguars' Showdown With the Colts, Starting With Josh Hines-Allen
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- 4 Bold Predictions in the Jaguars' Showdown With the Colts, Starting With Josh Hines-Allen
Josh Hines-Allen and the Jacksonville Jaguars have heard about the pass rush all bye week. Jacksonville is paying Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and Arik Armstead a combined $63 million this season, and the three have 4.5 sacks through six games. The Indianapolis Colts come to EverBank Stadium on Sunday with a quarterback who goes down a lot.
Indianapolis (2-5) has lost three straight, fired general manager Chris Ballard and then traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner on Tuesday. Jacksonville (4-2) comes off a 34-31 loss to Houston in London and has won the last two meetings in the series. "This has to all be about our improvements, us getting back on track," head coach Liam Coen said Wednesday, per the team's website .
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The Jaguars are a big home favorite . Here are four bold predictions for the first game out of the bye.
Josh Hines-Allen leads a four-sack day
Sep 27, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Daniel Jones has been sacked 19 times, per NFL.com , including six times against Tennessee and four more in Minnesota. Now he's without Nelson, and rookie fourth-round pick Jalen Farmer is expected to take over at left guard .
Hines-Allen has 17 pressures and a 77.1 grade that ranks 18th among 113 edge defenders, according to PFF . Walker leads the team with two sacks. We laid out the pass-rush fix the Jaguars need during the bye, and this is the matchup to make it. Bold prediction: Jacksonville sacks Jones four times, and Hines-Allen gets at least one.
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Parker Washington goes over 100 yards
Oct 18, 2026; London, ENG; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) runs with the ball against Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) during the second half at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Parker Washington has 26 catches for 416 yards and four touchdowns, and his 81.6 grade ranks 13th among 76 receivers, according to PFF . He went for 124 yards and two scores against Philadelphia in London, and he has become Trevor Lawrence's top target .
Indianapolis is thin at corner. Sauce Gardner has a 62.6 coverage grade, 47th among corners, per PFF , and was limited Wednesday with a calf injury before practicing fully Thursday. Justin Walley missed both days with a knee injury, and the Colts put Cam Taylor-Britt on injured reserve this week. Bold prediction: Washington tops 100 yards and catches his fifth touchdown.
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Travis Hunter intercepts Daniel Jones
Football – NFL – Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – October 18, 2026 Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter celebrates intercepting a pass from Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud.Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Travis Hunter caught a touchdown and picked off C.J. Stroud in the end zone in London, per the Jaguars . He has two interceptions on 311 snaps at corner, and his 69.0 coverage grade ranks 23rd among 101 corners, according to PFF .
Jones has seven interceptions, and his 48.3 passing grade ranks 32nd of 35 quarterbacks, according to PFF . Jacksonville's pass defense still has communication issues to clean up , and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile put it simply. "No defense can overcome giving up chunk plays," he said, per the team's website . Bold prediction: Hunter gets his third interception.
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Brian Thomas Jr. catches a touchdown
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts to his reception during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Brian Thomas Jr. has nine catches for 105 yards, and he was benched at halftime in London after a career-low 15 snaps. "I really just wanted to flush it, come back ready with a different mindset, come back ready to go," he said this week, per The Associated Press .
His name sits at the top of the Jaguars' trade rumors ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline, but Coen expects him to help. "He's going to be able to help us make plays this week. I bet it. I know it," Coen said, per The Associated Press . Bold prediction: Thomas catches his second touchdown of the season, and Duval gets a reminder of why the Jaguars drafted him in the first round.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
