Colts-Jags renew rivalry as AFC South race tightens

INDIANAPOLIS -- Fred Taylor thinks Sunday's game at Indianapolis feels like a playoff preview.

Yes, it's only December, and yes, it's only for the lead in the AFC South.

But everything else seems tailor-made for postseason hype. There's Jacksonville's four-year quest to dethrone the Colts as division champs; the potential postseason implications; and the rivalry that has become one of the NFL's fiercest intradivision clashes.

"It's right there in front of us," Taylor said. "The Colts have been the beast in this division and are even the Super Bowl champs, and I think the stage is set right now, because in the past we were always a number of games behind them after the 12th game of the season."

Not this time.

The Jaguars (8-3) head into Sunday's marquee matchup just one game behind the four-time division champs with a chance to grab a share of the division lead.

They have a healthy quarterback who has yet to throw an interception this season, a solid two-pronged running attack with the rejuvenated Taylor and the emerging Maurice Jones-Drew, and a defense regarded as one of the NFL's best even without injured linebacker Mike Peterson (hand) and defensive tackle Marcus Stroud.

Stroud will miss his fourth consecutive game after being suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Perhaps the most important trait is that Jacksonville has not endured its typical post-Colts blues this year.

In past seasons, the Jags' chase has always been derailed by what has followed Indy. A year ago, after losing at Indy in September, they lost at Washington. And after routing the Colts 44-17 in December, the Jags closed out a promising season with three straight losses that kept them out of the playoffs.

The results suggest Jacksonville has always treated Indy games like the playoffs, so Taylor has spent this week trying to help his teammates find that balance.

"There's no reason to go out and rah-rah your way to victory," he said. "You've got to get out there, get on edge and sometimes you get so anxious that you miss assignments. So you have to pace yourself accordingly."

The Colts (9-2) have been there before as the chaser.