JACKSONVILLE – Liam Coen likes this team. A lot.
The Jaguars' head coach likes how they compete. He likes their approach. And he likes how he expects they will respond to their first loss of the season.
"There can be no flinch," he said.
The Jaguars, after winning their regular-season opener in one-sided fashion over the Carolina Panthers, on Sunday lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-27, in a 2025 Week 2 game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, after not trailing until the final minute.
"Our response will definitely have to show up," Coen said Monday during his weekly day-after meeting with the media. "Like I told these guys, 'Nothing is going to change about the way that we go about our business.'"
The Jaguars on Sunday took leads of 7-0, 14-7, 17-10 and 24-17 with kicker Cam Little's 25-yard field goal with 11:34 remaining giving them a 27-24 lead. The Bengals drove 92 yards on 15 plays in the final four minutes, with backup quarterback Jake Browning scoring on a one-yard sneak with :18 remaining.
The Jaguars in 2024 lost 10 games by a score of less, with defensive end Travon Walker on Monday discussing a different feeling this season following a close loss.
"You can definitely feel the positive energy," Walker said. "Nobody wants to lose. That's the whole mindset in the locker room, but we know it's still early in the season and we know the things we can clean up.
"We all play NFL ball. We know how it is in the NFL. It's hard to win games. We have to come together in moments like that and pick each other up and continuously finish the way we started. That's the main thing, finish the way we started."
Coen discussing Sunday's game on Monday lauded quarterback Trevor Lawrence, saying he liked the progress the fifth-year quarterback has made in his first season in Coen's scheme. Coen spoke, too, of liking the team's approach through two games and the need to continue seeing that.
"Anytime you lose, it becomes somewhat of adversity, he said. "We need to improve every single week. That's the goal. Like I said, 'There can be no flinch.' It's one game. It's not the result we wanted.
"I enjoy watching this team compete on Sundays and being a part of that. That's what I'm really interested to continue to see."
The Jaguars (1-1) will host the Houston Texans (0-1), the AFC South champions the past two seasons, at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We're definitely not talking about moral victories here, for sure," Coen said. "We definitely did some really good things in that game [Sunday] and ultimately didn't close it out. That's the frustrating part. We do need to learn how to win as a team in 2025.
"It's a whole new everything and every team needs to come together in those moments. This is a great test for us to see how we respond going into a big divisional game."
Check out top fan celebrations, postgame locker room moments, and in-game action photos from Week 2 in Cincinnati.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Bhayshul Tuten (33)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Devin Lloyd (0), CB Jarrian Jones (22), DE Travon Walker (44), and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
GM James Gladstone and HC Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Arik Armstead (91) and DE Dawuane Smoot (98)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Arik Armstead (91) and DE Dawuane Smoot (98)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
K Cam Little (39)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Arik Armstead (91)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DT Arik Armstead (91) and DE Dawuane Smoot (98)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Yasir Abdullah (56)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Yasir Abdullah (56)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
OL Ezra Cleveland (76), OL Walker Little (72), TE Brenton Strange (85), WR Dyami Brown (5), and WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR/DB Travis Hunter (12)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
OL Walker Little (72)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
S Eric Murray (29)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
TE Brenton Strange (85)
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WR Dyami Brown (5)
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OL Robert Hainsey (73)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR/DB Travis Hunter (12)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DT Maason Smith (94)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
S Andrew Wingard (42)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
OL Patrick Mekari (65)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Jarrian Jones
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23) and CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
OL Robert Hainsey (73)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR/DB Travis Hunter (12)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR/DB Travis Hunter (12)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DL Austin Johnson (99)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16) and Head Coach Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
K Cam Little (39)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
S Eric Murray (29)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41) and CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7), WR Dyami Brown (5), RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1), and OL Robert Hainsey (73)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Tyson Campbell (3)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Dyami Brown (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Bhayshul Tuten (33)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
RB Bhayshul Tuten (33)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
LB Devin Lloyd (0)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Jourdan Lewis (2), OL Ezra Cleveland (76), DE Josh Hines-Allen (41), LB Foyesade Oluokun (23), QB Trevor Lawrence (16), and OL Robert Hainsey (73)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Jourdan Lewis (2), OL Ezra Cleveland (76), DE Josh Hines-Allen (41), LB Foyesade Oluokun (23), QB Trevor Lawrence (16), and OL Robert Hainsey (73)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Tyson Campbell (3), CB Jourdan Lewis (2), and LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Tyson Campbell (3)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16) and Head Coach Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Tyson Campbell (3)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
S Andrew Wingard (42)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
OL Anton Harrison (77) and OL Patrick Mekari (65)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41) and QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Dyami Brown (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Dyami Brown (5) and OL Patrick Mekari (65)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
WR Dyami Brown (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DL Emmanuel Ogbah (90)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
CB Jourdan Lewis (2)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals
NOTABLE
- Coen said he and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. planned to speak Monday afternoon, with Thomas having dropped a pass Sunday on fourth-and-5 from the Bengals seven-yard line – a play that might have given the Jaguars a first down or a touchdown for a 34-24 lead with 3:47 remaining. Thomas, a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2024, also appeared to not go strongly for several passes across the middle of the field – including one in the end zone in the fourth quarter and one in the second quarter that led to the ball caroming off his hands for an interception by Bengals safety Jordan Battle. "I know he had a wrist injury going into the game," Coen said of Thomas, adding that the wrist injury was a "little nag" and not major.
"Did that play a part in this stuff? I have to go talk to him. I think he's aware of it and needs to have a better week this week. I think he understands what's at stake and understands what's going on. We have to go get to the root of it." Coen added, "Everybody goes through some things. Ultimately, it's our job to get to the bottom of it and get him to feel good and play to the highest level he can."
NOTABLE
- The Jaguars sustained no significant injuries against the Bengals, Coen said. "We had a couple of nicks here and there, but not any anticipated misses for the Houston game," Coen said. "Guys got a little nicked up but we don't anticipate missing anybody from this past game to the next." Left guard Ezra Cleveland left the game briefly, but returned. "We may need to take care of him a little bit this week but we anticipate him being able to play Sunday."
