Week 3 may have been incredibly important for the Indianapolis Colts, but it may have been even more important for their AFC South rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts went into their matchup with the Houston Texans, their other division rival, desperately needing a win, which they got, to avoid a massive 0-3 hole.
The Jaguars also needed a win, but for other reasons: to show that they're still the team to beat in the division, and that last season's final stretch showed who they really are. Now, they're 2-1 and in control of the division, while the only other team to have a win is the Colts, and the Texans and Tennessee Titans each have zero.
Each respective win looked considerably different, though. For the Colts, it could have gone the other way due to offensive turnovers and poor quarterback play from the Texans.
A combined 3-9 record in the AFC South keeps the window open for the Indianapolis Colts
For the Jaguars, while Trevor Lawrence didn't throw for 200 yards, he threw three touchdowns and posted a 100+ quarterback rating. The Jaguars may have gotten the more important win, but what does the Colts' win do for them?
It gives them the edge, for now. How long is another question to be tackled down the road, but as it stands after Week 3, the Colts stealing the win over the Texans was huge because it dropped Houston to 0-3. Additionally, the Titans also lost to the New York Giants; they are also 0-3.
It's no surprise the Titans are where they are; they were projected to be one of the bottom teams in the league before the season began. The same can't be said for the Texans, but a shaky defense and C.J. Stroud have them winless, when last year's defense and a shaky Stroud could have had them 3-0 instead.
In hindsight, even though the Colts have a win, nothing has gone right for the majority of the division; even the Jaguars could have, and maybe should have, beaten the Denver Broncos in Week 2, considering the outcome of last year's matchup. In any case, as Week 3 concludes, the Jaguars and Lawrence have shown they're clearly the team to beat in the AFC South. For now, they're in control.
As for the Colts, the Texans' head-scratcher of a conundrum gives them the edge right now, and if Houston keeps falling, Indianapolis might actually have a fighter's chance to compete with Jacksonville. At the very least, play this season as the division's second seed.
The good news for the Colts is that their next two games are winnable, depending on whether you rank the Washington Commanders’ and Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 3 wins as wins by good teams, or wins by teams who happened to beat two better teams that both lost games they should have won.
The Colts don't see the Jaguars until November. By then, the Colts could realistically have two or three wins (they also play the Titans in the meantime). The Colts' truest division test, by the looks of it, will be the Jaguars.
As far as the other teams in their division go, the Colts have a leg up right now, and that's something positive to build on and keep the hope alive.
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