A Game of Give and Take | Quick Thoughts Before Week 5 vs. Chiefs

Oct 03, 2025 at 03:52 PM

by John Oehser, Brian Sexton & Kainani Stevens

JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Monday.

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

Remarkable transformation. Monday marks the Jaguars' lone scheduled 2025 prime-time game. This may be the last season for a while this franchise has so few such appearances – and "electric" matchups such as the one against the three-time defending AFC Champions could be common in future seasons. That's because what's happening around the Jaguars – a 3-1 start with a road victory last Sunday over a previously unbeaten team in the San Francisco 49ers – feels very much not like a fluke and very much like something this franchise can sustain. This is in large part because the mindset in this organization is dramatically different than in recent seasons. It's not surprising to these players and coaches when they fight, grind and will their way to victories as they have the past two weeks. Players and coaches alike have bought into the idea that they are a physical, tough, smart team that knows how to win games late. And Head Coach Liam Coen correctly noted this week that while the Jaguars have won close games in recent weeks, they have not trailed in the second half of those close games. That means they are in control, which means they are "close victories," which is not the same as "fluky victories." The Jaguars in a short time in this new regime have turned themselves into a team that expects to win and knows how to win. That's a remarkable culture change in a short time and a foundation piece for what feels like a bright future.
Sustainable success. Much has been made about the Jaguars' league-leading 13 takeaways through four games – and understandably so. But what's easy to miss is that the core of the Jaguars' defensive success is the physical approach of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, whose core defensive philosophy is to be violent at the point of attack and aggressively get off blocks. Linebacker Dennis Gardeck while meeting with the media Monday shared another core Campanile belief: "God rewards those who run to the football." 13 takeaways in four games likely isn't sustainable. But the violence, physicality and effort that Campanile preaches, and that the Jaguars' defense has shown in four games, absolutely is sustainable – and it's those latter traits that make you believe this Jaguars defense can be strong all season.

Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 2, 2025.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

The quarterback needs to have a big night on Monday. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been playing well enough to win, but that won't be enough against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The defense's 13 takeaways have given Lawrence plenty of extra opportunities to make up for mistakes. The Jaguars' third-down and red-zone issues aren't all on him, with dropped passes and penalties contributing. While you can overcome those against quarterbacks Bryce Young of Carolina, C.J. Stroud of Houston and Brock Purdy of San Francisco, that's tougher against Mahomes. It's prime time for Lawrence to have a strong showing.
The coaching staff has done an outstanding job with Devin Lloyd. The Jaguars' fourth-year linebacker leads the NFL with 4 takeaways and 3 interceptions. He also has been a tackling machine. Lloyd always had the physical gifts to be an impact player, but it just never clicked. Longtime NFL linebackers coach Mark Duffner told me on the practice field in August it was on the coaches to unlock that talent and they shouldn't give up on Lloyd just because it hadn't worked to that point. Credit Campanile and linebackers coach Tem Lukabu for finding the keys to a very talented and intangibly rich player.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 2, 2025.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

Lloyd's great week turns into a great month. After an amazing performance against the 49ers that included two interceptions, Lloyd was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. A day later, Lloyd became the AFC Defensive Player of the Month – an honor not bestowed to a Jaguars player since 2005. Lloyd's turnaround is true feel-good story. The Jaguars declined Lloyd's fifth-year option, so he's playing for a new contract. If Lloyd's play continues at this level, he will be cashing in big in free agency and he will deserve every penny.
It's all about the give and take. The Jaguars have established their defensive identity this season as a team that has their eyes and hands on the football. With a league-leading 13 takeaways, they have shown they are relentless when pursuing the ball either by forcing fumbles or picking off opposing quarterbacks. Something will have to give on Monday night as the Chiefs have not fumbled this season and Mahomes has thrown only one interception. I think the Jags secondary will have some opportunities as Mahomes will look to feed wide receiver Xavier Worthy the same way he did last week vs. Baltimore.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman B.J. Green II (95) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 2, 2025.