The battle for first place

After a hot start, the 1-2 Jacksonville Jaguars travel to take on the 1-2 Indianapolis Colts for AFC South supremacy.

Throughout their journey to arrive at this point, the two teams have faced taxing challenges and unparalleled adversity. After what seems like ages of waiting, the world gets the matchup we have been thirsting for.

In the weekend that is unanimously considered the most important football weekend of the season -- the first weekend of October -- the Jaguars have an opportunity to withdrawal from the "get better" bank that they have been depositing into all season long.

Starting quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Andrew Luck meet face to face for a third time -- this time with absolutely everything on the line.

Some people might even argue that Luck and Bortles are among the top 10 quarterbacks in the entire AFC South, and they certainly have the stats to prove it.

Blake Bortles has one fumble for a first down this season, leading by one in the statistical category over Andrew Luck (0).

Plus, Andrew Luck has thrown four more interceptions than Blake Bortles, leaving a lot of fans to wonder if Blake Bortles is no longer Blake Bortles but Andrew Luck is Blake Bortles and Blake Bortles is Andrew Luck. Makes you think.

The 2015 season has been a long, emotional roller coaster, and I think I speak for everyone when I say it feels amazing that we have finally made it to this point.

Though I'll admit, at this exciting juncture in the 2015 campaign, it's hard to think back to exactly when the season started. Now older than I was then, it's hard to picture the young, unproven Jaguars team that began their race to maturity in late August. It's hard to believe that that same team now faces the challenge they have been dreaming about this entire season.

It's been a hell of a long ride. Here are a few things that have happened since the beginning of the 2015 NFL season to put the journey in perspective:

- NASA found water on Mars.

- Chaps made his return to sportswriting.

- The Earth orbited into a completely different division of the year.

The adventure has been incredible, and it's even more incredible that the Jaguars have somehow found a way to place themselves in a position to win control of the AFC South.

Sure, this control could be ripped from their grasp in any of the weeks (days) that follow, but there's no way to know for sure that this can or will happen so this game is very important and probably even one of the most important games of the season so far.

This is it, y'all. Winner takes all.

For a week.