JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, I'm sure I'm not the only one who realized that the Jags beat the entire AFC West.
The Jaguars can clinch the 2025 AFC South title against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium Sunday – and a strikingly strong season against a strong AFC West indeed is a reason. The Jaguars did go 4-0 against the AFC West this season – 34-20 over the 13-3 Denver Broncos, 31-28 over the defending AFC Champion and 6-10 Kansas City Chiefs, 35-6 over the 11-5 Los Angeles Chargers, 29-28 in overtime over the 2-14 Las Vegas Raiders. That's impressive considering the Chiefs at the time of the Jaguars-Chiefs game were a strong team and considering the Broncos and Chargers have been two of the AFC's best teams all season. It's interesting to note that the Jaguars' toughest game against the West was against the last-place team. Life's funny sometimes, though not everyone always laughs.
Steve from Nashville, TN
We are for sure going to have at least one division winner in each conference hosting a wild card game where the visiting team has significantly more wins than the home team. Do you have any salient thoughts on this seemingly recurring situation each year?
If you win your division, you get a home playoff game. That's the reward – and that should be the reward. If winning the division doesn't get you that, you may as well eliminate divisions. If you're a wild-card team playing on the road against a division winner with a worse record you and you're mad about that, take out your anger by winning the road. Teams win on the road in the postseason all the time.
Chris from Fleming Island, FL
OZONE; two questions. Do you think the Cleveland Browns were counting on the Jags '26 first-round pick being in the Top 10 and not the Bottom 10 when they traded the No. 2 overall selection last spring? And do you expect Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence to be even more comfortable in Head Coach Liam's offense next season?
Maybe. Probably.
Anita from Springfield
I am 100% enjoying the current ride and have visions of Lombardis dancing in my head, but I'm also starting to get new stresses I haven't really had before. Like not being able to retain good players and coaches. Winning is fun, and I like it, but I didn't expect it to cause a new type of angst. Just read offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanole on a head-coaching candidate short list and got all sad.
Good teams lose players and coaches. Good teams withstand these losses. Head Coach Liam Coen and Lawrence will be here. That's the core of the core.
Rees from Loyal Jaguar Fan in Va
What is this feeling that I am feeling? Go Jags!!!
Gas.
Scott from Jax in Rehoboth Bch, DE
There's no such thing as a gimme in this league, O-man. If by chance the guys do lose to the Titans (a very big if, mind you!) and the Texans win, do the Texans take the division title? And if so, why would that be with both teams having similar records?
The Texans would win the AFC South in your scenario because they would have a better division record at 5-1 than the Jaguars at 4-2.
Daniel from Orange Park, FL
If the Jags win Sunday and either Denver or New England lose, but not both, what happens to our seeding then?
The Jaguars would be the AFC's No. 2 seed in this scenario.
J.Hooks from Mandarin
Yo, John, what's going on with Dyami Brown? Is he even practicing with the team? Is he disgruntled? I don't recall seeing him on the injury/inactive list. What's up with that guy?
Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown is practicing with the team. I have seen no indication that's he's disgruntled. He's playing sparingly because the Jaguars are very good at the position.
Kathy from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Do you know why Maason Smith has been inactive the past two games? Is it performance or injury? Do you think he will be on the roster next year?
Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith is healthy. He has been inactive because the Jaguars are playing the players they feel are best at the position. Smith is under contract for the 2026 season.
Yetidaddy from Somewhere and yet no where
What do you suggest a fan do to manage the stress of meaningful football in December? This winning is tough!
Enjoy it. This is why you're a fan. The alternative to December stress is disinterest, desperation or disillusion. Or some combination thereof.
James from Destin, FL
Hi, John. Say another team wants to interview a coordinator for a head coaching position. Can Jaguars Owner Shad Khan offer that coordinator more money to prevent him from leaving? Can Coen try talking to that coordinator to stay to keep the band together? Just curious. I like what we have.
An owner can offer a coordinator money to stay in this scenario. A head coach in theory can try talking a coordinator into staying in this scenario. Remember, though: Coaches, while connected to players and organizations, also have their own careers and ambitions. As they should. As pretty much anyone woud. NFL head coaching opportunities are difficult to attain. Coaches do turn them down at times, but they usually turn them down because they don't like something about the opportunity – not out of loyalty to their current team or money.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
I'm sensing you may take issue with those who juxtapose the NFL and the Southeastern football conference in efforts to justify results. Fair?
Comparing the NFL and the Southeastern Conference is silly. One is professional league of grown men who are the best in the world at what they do. The other is an increasingly professional league of not-yet-grown men, some of whom might one day have a chance to someday be among the best in the world at what they do. One has almost nothing to do with the other.
Chris from Jacksonville
Do you think the NFL would consider divisional realignment in order to improve/increase regional/in-state rivalries? Geographically, Indianapolis should not be in the AFC South. It would be great if Jacksonville had an in-state division rival. Here is the solution… 1) Move Indianapolis to the AFC North 2) Move Baltimore to the AFC East 3) Move Miami to the AFC South. John, do you agree with my realignment suggestions? If so, how do we get some traction/visibility for this idea?
I do not expect the NFL to consider divisional realignment so long as there are 32 teams as currently configured in eight divisions. Miami, for example, has longstanding rivalries in the AFC East and Baltimore has longstanding rivalries in the AFC North. Why would these teams want to change? I doubt there will be any traction for this idea. Remember: NFL rivalries are built on meaningful games that decide seasons. Geography matters in college football. This is not college football.
Art from Just shy of the ditch
Happy 26! O, It's always coaching when you are able to avoid trap games like Sunday? Here's hoping we got one more in us this week and a few more in the New Year, thanks and best to you.
Coaching is important in the NFL. Players must believe in the coach and Jaguars players believe in Coen to a striking degree. This team has a chance to win the AFC South and go deep in the postseason. That's true of pretty much every team in the AFC postseason field. It will be an interesting, fun month if you like football.
Mac from Jax Beach
Oh mighty O! They've got talent and momentum, but to get there they would likely need near-perfect execution, good fortune (no major injuries), and maybe a few bounces going their way. What does your crystal ball tell you the Boyz must do to sustain this success through the last game and into the playoffs?
The Jaguars could stand to improve in the run a bit, particularly on the interior. They also could stand to get home a biiiit more rushing the passer. But that's nit-picking. The Jaguars for the most part must stay focused, continue preparing as they have prepared and continue playing as they have been playing. That formula should have them in the game against pretty much any team in the AFC playoffs.
Rob from Jax
Aside from the obvious answer of Trevor Lawrence, if the Jags were to win in the playoffs and make it all the way to the Super Bowl, who needs to be the best player for them during that run?
I'll go with defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. If he's the Jaguars' second-best player outside Lawrence it probably means the Jaguars are playing with leads – and protecting those leads.
Justin from New York City
Happy New Year.
Sure.
