JACKSONVILLE – The streak means nothing to Doug Marrone.
The Jaguars' head coach on Tuesday said he doesn't consider seven victories in a season – or four victories in a four-game span, either – as "success," so in that sense he doesn't worry much about this young team's ability to handle it.
It's not that Marrone isn't aware of what's gone on around the Jaguars in recent weeks.
He just sees what's going on in his own way.
"I haven't defined that as success, for me – so I think that's where that becomes difficult," Marrone said as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (7-3) prepared to play the Arizona Cardinals (4-6) at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
"I told the players last week, 'Hey, six games in college gets you bowl eligible … it gets you nothing in the NFL.' I hate to tell you: Seven games doesn't do anything for you in the NFL, either."
The way Marrone approaches the season, Sunday's game is important because it's the third game of the third quarter. The idea is to win every quarter, something the Jaguars accomplished in a 3-1 second quarter but missed in a 2-2 opening quarter.
"What I'm trying to do for this football team is not look ahead, learn from what we've done and keep it in the quarter," he said. "This is the third game of the third quarter. We've done a good job. We've flipped a switch. In the first two quarters, we've lost the second game in both of them.
"We were able to win the second game [this past Sunday in Cleveland]. That's what we talked about. In this game, we've got to go out and, 'Hey, let's win this quarter right now.'''
The Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South by a game over the Tennessee Titans with six games remaining. The last time they were in first place entering Week 12: 1999, when they finished 14-2 and won the second of two consecutive AFC Central titles.
"We've got to prove it week to week," Marrone said. "I've been saying that every day. Today, we'll concentrate on today. We're concentrating on this game because it's the third game on the third quarter. We want to win this quarter.
"We have the ability to do it when we play this week. That's going to be our goal. We have to make sure we can be productive on Sunday and play well."
Also on Tuesday:
*Right tackle Jermey Parnell (knee) was expected to miss practice, as were wide receiver Allen Hurns (ankle), left guard Patrick Omameh (quadriceps), linebacker Blair Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Donald Payne (hamstring). Running back Leonard Fournette (ankle), wide receiver Marqise Lee (knee), kicker Josh Lambo (right hip) and quarterback Blake Bortles (right wrist) were listed as injured and expected to practice. …
*Marrone on Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald: "He can make unbelievable catches and run great routes. What people don't talk about is here's a guy who's a first-ballot Hall of Famer who does a lot of dirty work. He goes in there and blocks and does a lot of things that people don't pick up on film. I know as a coach I appreciate that. I think it's a great example for young receivers in this league.'' …
