NFL Football
2025-12-28 - Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 17
Saturday 28th December 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
Depending on how the Houston Texans perform on Saturday, the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) could be in a position to win the AFC South the following day.
They are heading out on the road to face the desperate Indianapolis Colts (8-7) who have not been able to overcome injuries on both sides of the ball and now need to win out, and hope for help, if they are to make the Playoff. Several weeks ago the Colts looked the most likely to win the AFC South, but even the return of Philip Rivers has not been able to turn things around for the Colts and they are on the brink of elimination.
Indianapolis could have Sauce Gardner back to help a Secondary that have been exposed in recent weeks and who just allowed Brock Purdy to carve them up.
However, you have to wonder if he is truly healthy enough to make a big difference for a team that may feel they have blown their hopes of reaching the post-season over the last couple of weeks. Even the motivation to play spoiler for a Divisional rival may not be enough considering how close the Colts will feel they were to making the Playoff and then falling short.
The Colts have at least continued to play hard at the Line of Scrimmage and clamp down on the run, but the Secondary issues have still allowed teams to move the ball up and down the field.
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars will be very confident with what they have been producing Offensively having just beaten the Denver Broncos on the road. The Offensive performance in that win is really encouraging and the trade for Jakobi Meyers has opened up the passing game for Trevor Lawrence to show what he can do at the NFL level.
Even if Sauce Gardner is back, the Jaguars have to feel good about their chances to move the chains on this side of the ball, which will shift the pressure onto Philip Rivers.
The veteran Quarter Back did all he could in keeping the Colts competitive in the defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, although this is looking like a tougher test on paper considering how well the Jaguars have been playing on the Defensive side of the ball.
Indianapolis would like to lean on Jonathan Taylor and the running game, but the Colts have been struggling at the Line of Scrimmage in recent outings and that has seen the team have real issues in establishing the run.
Pressure can be generated up front if the Jaguars can push the Indianapolis Colts behind the down and distance, although Rivers' last performance suggests he can have some success throwing down the field.
Of course it is difficult on a short week having lost an important game and the feeling is that eventually the Jaguars will have a bit too much and that will see them pull clear on the scoreboard.
It was the case when the teams met in Florida and the Jaguars can keep hopes alive of perhaps even stealing the Number 1 Seed away from the Denver Broncos.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road favourite.
The Pick :
Indianapolis Colts 23-30 Jacksonville Jaguars
