INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Trevor Lawrence accounted for two touchdowns and directed a decisive fourth-quarter drive that drained the final minutes off the clock, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 23-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The win improved the Jaguars to 12-4, solidifying their position atop the AFC South, while the Colts fell to .500 at 8-8, damaging their playoff hopes in the season’s penultimate week.

In a game defined by critical red zone stands and timely defensive plays, the Jaguars methodically pulled away after a tight first half. Lawrence, the clear star for Jacksonville, completed 23 of 37 passes for 263 yards and added 26 yards on eight carries. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another, consistently extending drives with his arm and legs against a relentless Colts defense.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final quarter with Jacksonville clinging to a 20-17 lead. After a Cam Little field goal extended the advantage to six points with 6:58 remaining, the Colts’ ensuing drive stalled near midfield. Taking over with just over three minutes left, the Jaguars embarked on a masterful, clock-killing possession.

Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr., who finished with 76 yards on 17 carries, executed a 13-play drive that consumed all but 18 seconds. The series was a lesson in ball control, featuring four Etienne runs and three short Lawrence completions. It was capped by Little’s 53-yard field goal with 0:18 left, which provided the final margin and left Indianapolis with no realistic chance for a comeback.

The Colts’ final desperation heave was intercepted in the end zone as time expired.

Indianapolis had started strong, taking the opening kickoff and marching 62 yards on a 14-play drive that consumed nearly nine minutes, culminating in a 33-yard Blake Grupe field goal. They extended their early lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown plunge by Jonathan Taylor, who finished with 70 yards on 21 carries.

Jacksonville responded immediately, with Lawrence engineering a 14-play, 69-yard answer. He capped the drive himself, scrambling for a 4-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7. The Jaguars then seized momentum entirely in the third quarter. Lawrence found Parker Washington for a 37-yard gain on a deep out route, setting up his own 6-yard scoring run on the next play to give Jacksonville its first lead at 17-10.

Washington was Lawrence’s primary target, hauling in eight catches for 115 yards.

The Colts struck back quickly, aided by a 26-yard defensive pass interference penalty. Philip Rivers connected with tight end Mo Alie-Cox on a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17. Rivers finished 17 of 30 for 147 yards with one touchdown.

Jacksonville reclaimed the lead for good on the ensuing drive, settling for a 34-yard Little field goal after advancing to the Indianapolis 16-yard line. The Jaguar defense then made a pivotal play early in the fourth quarter. With the Colts driving near midfield, Rivers’ pass intended for Josh Downs was intercepted by Jaguars defensive back Jaylon Jones, who returned it 13 yards to the Indianapolis 21. That takeaway led directly to Little’s 42-yard field goal, making it 20-17 and setting the stage for the final, game-sealing drive.

The Colts’ defense, led by safety Nick Cross with 12 tackles and cornerback Kenny Moore II with 10, kept them in the game. Linebacker Germaine Pratt added an interception just before halftime to snuff out a Jacksonville scoring threat. However, the offense could not sustain drives when it mattered most, punting on three consecutive possessions in the second half before the critical late interception.

The victory completes a regular-season sweep for the Jaguars over their division rival, having defeated the Colts 36-19 in Jacksonville three weeks prior. It also defied the pregame betting lines, which had installed Indianapolis as a 5.5-point favorite. The combined score of 40 points fell well under the over/under line of 48.5.

Jacksonville will look to secure its division title and improve its playoff seeding when it hosts the Tennessee Titans next Saturday. Indianapolis, now needing help to reach the postseason, travels to face the Houston Texans, also on Saturday.