Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio is making sure his team doesn't become complacent as a result of its thrilling win over the Colts this past Sunday.
Del Rio's Jaguars face the winless Buffalo Bills this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Coming off a win Jacksonville is still celebrating, Del Rio is bringing his players back down to earth for a game some are saying is a trap.
"The outside world comes at you from a different angle," Del Rio said in commenting on the trap-game angle. "We're about being professional, preparing for our opportunity and making the most of it."
Sunday's game might offer an opportunity for the Jaguars to move up in the AFC South standings, as the Titans travel to Dallas, the Colts host the undefeated Chiefs and the Texans are at home against the Giants. The Jaguars will be facing a Bills team that is last in the league in offense and 28th in defense. The Bills have allowed 34 or more points in each of their last three games and traded their top rusher, Marshawn Lynch, to Seattle this week.
"They're dealing with a lot of the issues we've had, and we expect them to respond the same way. We expect them to be inspired," Del Rio said of the Bills.
Del Rio need only remind his team of its game against the Bills last year, an 18-15, come-from-behind win by the Jaguars. The Bills defense dominated the Jaguars up front in that game, especially defensive tackle Kyle Williams and linebacker Paul Posluszny.
"They got after our run game pretty well last year with basically the same personnel," Del Rio said. "Don't get too carried away with small samples," he added of the Bills' run-defense failures this year.
Del Rio's charge to his team this week?
"Win anyway we can. We're desperate, too. We need to find a way to somehow scratch out a win. I'm sure they feel the same way. We'll find out how we respond on Sunday," Del Rio added.
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew also downplayed the trap-game angle.
"We're going there. It's always tough to play in Buffalo," Jones-Drew said, suggesting that the venue for Sunday's game has the Jaguars' attention.
"It's another week to get better. It's a Buffalo team that's played us tough four out of the last five years," he added. "Keep having fun and enjoy the moment, not being satisfied with one victory."
Defensive end Aaron Kampman, a veteran spokesman for the team, said the key to coming off a thrilling win is "staying disciplined, staying focused, keeping to your habits. That's the message Jack gave us. That's how you avoid letdowns. We haven't accomplished anything, yet."
Should the Jaguars win in Buffalo, they will put themselves in a strong position for a week-six Monday Night Football game against the visiting Titans. It'll be a night of civic celebration and the Jaguars could punctuate the festivities with a victory that might deepen their roots in the division title race but, first, they must win in Buffalo.
That's the message.
