JACKSONVILLE – Two days out, Doug Pederson's perspective is clear and measured.
The Jaguars will play host to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs Sunday afternoon, an important game that the Jaguars' head coach said is being treated as such.
It's just not being treated as the most important thing ever.
"It's Week 2, just the Kansas City Chiefs; it's the next one on our schedule," Pederson said as the Jaguars (1-0) prepared to play Chiefs (0-1) at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Chiefs, who have played host to the last five AFC Championship Games, beat the Jaguars twice last season – 27-17 in the regular season and 27-20 in AFC Wild Card Playoff in January. The Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-21, in the regular-season opener and the Chiefs lost to the Detroit Lions, 21-20, in Week 1.
The Jaguars have won nine of the last 12 games, with the only losses during that span to the Chiefs and Lions.
"We know everything about the game and the importance of the game," Pederson said. "We're looking to improve from Week 1. We love the fact the game's here at home and in front of our fans.
"Everybody treats it differently. For me personally, it's just the next one. It's the next one on the schedule against a really good team."
NOTABLE
- Guard Brandon Scherff (ankle), center Luke Fortner (ankle) and defensive tackle Tyler Lacy (hip) will play Sunday, Pederson said. Scherff and Fortner sustained injuries in Week 1, with both players missing practice Wednesday and practicing limited Thursday. They practiced limited again Friday and were listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report of the week.
- Safety Antonio Johnson and cornerback Gregory Junior were ruled out Friday with hamstring injuries after not practicing this week.
- "I think everybody heals differently," Pederson said of Scherff. "Pain tolerance is different for everybody. It just goes to show the type of person that he is and how important his teammates are and this team and trying to be available for every game."
