LONDON – Sunday is important to the Jaguars.
It's important because any NFL game is important, but defensive end Calais Campbell said the events of last Sunday give it some added emphasis.
The Jaguars last Sunday lost to the Tennessee Titans in a one-sided game at EverBank Field – and if losing is a habit, Campbell on Friday said it's not one the Jaguars need to start.
"It's very important," Campbell said Friday as the Jaguars (1-1) prepared to play the Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Wembley Stadium Sunday at 9:30 a.m. "Good teams don't lose two in a row. They stack wins. When you lose, you have to nip it in the bud and move on quickly."
Quarterback Blake Bortles, who – like Campbell – addressed the media Friday after practiced, agreed that the game has urgency because of last week's showing.
"I think so, definitely," Bortles said.
The Jaguars struggled offensively through the first three quarters against Tennessee, with Bortles completing 11 of 25 passes for 89 yards with two interceptions entering the fourth quarter.
"It's a chance to kind of turn around what happened last week offensively," Bortles said. "We didn't play well. We left a lot of things out there and could have done a lot more. This gives us a chance to get back on track."
The Jaguars are trying to win for the third consecutive season at Wembley, having beaten the Buffalo Bills in 2015 and the Indianapolis Colts last season.
"We've had a good couple of years in the past here in London," Bortles said. "It's exciting to be back."
Notes and observations from Friday around the Jaguars:
*The Jaguars arrived in London shortly before 6 a.m. local time following a flight of a little more than seven hours from Jacksonville. The flight was followed by a bus ride to the team hotel near Wembley, which was followed by a two-plus-hour practice at Allianz Park. Players were encouraged to sleep on the plane to adjust to the time change, which they did with varying success. But said players don't realistically adjust to the time change immediately. "Today's a tough day regardless," Bortles said, adding that after five trips to the United Kingdom in as many seasons many Jaguars players "know how to take care of their bodies and they know how to get their rest and do everything they can to get ready to play Sunday, so I think that helps." …
*Bortles, who on Sunday will be starting at Wembley for the fourth consecutive season, commented on Friday on something many around the Jaguars have noticed – that's that Wembley has felt more like a home stadium and home crowd in the last two seasons (2015-2016) compared to 2014. "I remember the first year coming over here … you really didn't know what to expect," Bortles said. "There were a lot of different jerseys in the stands, which I'm sure there always will be, but more and more it seems to be Jaguars fans each year, which is really cool. I think it's helped that the last two years we've won. We want to keep that streak going." …
