JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Brian in CA Desert from Tracy, CA
Living on the left coast, I am insulated from the local scene. From where I sit, the Jaguars get absolutely no respect. The national media seems to be infatuated with the Houston Texans' defense. Yes, it is a good defense, but the tone I am seeing in the national media is the AFC South belongs to the Texans. No respect. I believe Liam is correct in that assumption as well. Last I checked, the Jags are in first place. Just saying.
This without question is the theme of the week as the Jaguars (9-4) prepare to play the New York Jets (3-10) at EverBank Stadium Sunday, with players spending the week echoing Head Coach Liam Coen's theme that the Jaguars are overlooked and "disrespected" by pretty much the entire professional football world. I'm not smart enough to know the precise definition of respect when it comes to how a collective views a specific NFL team. I do know people nationally tend to pay little attention to the Jaguars. Part of this is habit because this team was bad for a long time. Part of it is market size. Part of it is laziness on the part of people whose job it is to pay attention to such things. The biggest thing to remember when it comes to "respect" and the NFL is this: It doesn't matter. You play your way into the playoffs in professional football, with how you are perceived not figuring into any playoff formula. People think the AFC South belongs to the Texans? OK. If the Jaguars win their last four games, the AFC South will belong to the Jaguars and it won't matter what those people thought. Bottom line here: The Jaguars seem motivated to prove to the NFL world they're good. They seem very focused and to be using the whole respect thing as fuel. Good on them. Use it. Keep winning. Then you'll have all the respect you need.
Alex from Detroit by way of St. Johns County
O', while I am excited and feeling incredibly positive about how the Jaguars have played in recent games, I can't help but to feel a sense of dread that primarily stems from the lopsided losses against the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. Can you share your thoughts on how the Jaguars would fare against either team in this time? I know the only chance we play them is in the Super Bowl, but what are the key things to look at when considering whether our team is truly "good" good? Thanks.
The Jaguars lost to the Seahawks, 20-12, in Week 6. That's a one-score game and that's not lopsided. They played poorly early in a 35-7 loss to the Rams the following week and the game got away from them quickly. That happens sometimes, particularly against very good teams. The Rams and Seahawks were tough matchups and would be tough if the Jaguars played them again. They would be tough matchups for any team because they're good, physical teams. The Jaguars also have improved dramatically since those losses. What are the keys to knowing if the Jaguars are truly good? They have beaten a lot of good teams. They run well. They stop the run well. They're physical. They are also 9-4 and seeded No. 3 in the AFC. I'm not sure what else this team can do to show it's truly good. This is it. This is how contending looks.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
When you look at the D-line overall, the names just don't really jump out at you as a whole. If you look at the Houston Texans, every single starter and even backups are "names." I know not a name makes a player, but just saying it feels as if outside of defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, defensive end Travon Walker and defensive tackle Arik Armstead, the guys with the best run D in the league are maybe benefiting from a good scheme? WE know defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is phenomenal, but looking elsewhere people have to be saying "Danny Who?" and "What's a Dickerson?" Do you foresee the rush D to stay at this level with health, or would it seem to reason there is more of a "coming back to earth?" I just don't know if they are overperforming, to an extent, with the talent or if they are this good and getting better. Thirteen games is no small sample size, to be sure, so the latter seems fair.
You don't scheme the NFL's No. 1 rushing defense. You play it.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
If only we had Liam starting back in 2021. We probably would have a few Super Bowls by now. Is this the dynasty that never happened because of a Dougy P and that other guy? Here's hoping the new GM can draft.
Things happen when they happen, and I'm not smart enough to know how much the Jaguars would or wouldn't have won in recent seasons had they gone different directions with their previous two head-coaching hires. I know the Jaguars won a lot for a season and a half under former Head Coach Doug Pederson, and I know a lot went wrong for a season and a half after that. My impression is that Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone absolutely can draft. We'll learn in three or four seasons if that's true or not.
James from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville
Mr. O-man, I could get used to this.
You are not alone.
Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC
Something I noticed many times this season is a tendency for Etienne to run into a wall at the line when there was wide open grass just to his left or right. I watched some old Jaguars highlights last week and what stood out was Taylor's vision; his ability to see everything, not just what was right in front of him, and bounce runs outside when there were no holes in front of him. On Sunday I saw Etienne suddenly bouncing runs outside, especially on his first touchdown run. Is this something that stood out to you as well or has he done so all season and I just didn't notice until now?
Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor was a great player. Remember: When you watch highlights, you're watching a player's best plays. This is not to say that Taylor didn't have exceptional vision and bounce-outside ability. It is to say that Etienne has very good vision and ability to bounce outside, too – even if he, like pretty much every back ever to play, doesn't hit it precisely every time.
Adrian from Reading, UK
Could it be fair to say that being great at one thing only works until that one thing is taken away - either by injury or by another team being able to handle it on the other side of the ball, whereas if you're good enough across the board you can win sustainably even when things don't work out for you in one particular area that week?
Quite often, yes.
Alex from Apex, NC
The O-Zone has been surprisingly positive this week, so let's keep it going! Feels like we should be talking more about the impact Tony Boselli has made to this team. Since adding him, has felt like the Jags have made sound personnel decisions that has led to this run. Would love to hear your thoughts on this matter, and one fer Boselli!
Boselli, a Hall of Fame left tackle, is fond of saying that as executive vice president of football operations his job is similar to his job when he played – i.e., doing whatever is possible to help more high-profile positions succeed. He therefore doesn't care all that much that people aren't discussing his impact. But yes … his impact in his first year in the position has been positive. The Jaguars are indeed moving steadily in the right direction. Is it a coincidence that has been the case since he became EVP? Hardly.
Mark from Archer
John, so I get it. The Texans are a good team. We lost to them by blowing a huge lead. But we did put up 29 points against the best defense in the league. If the Jags play them again this year I do not think they implode again.
OK.
Michael from Middleburg
I find myself wishing that it were January 12, 2026, so I could know whether to feel happy or sad
The Jaguars are good. Enjoy it. That doesn't mean they're going to win every game the rest of the season. I don't know how they will fare in the postseason. I do know they're contending in December and they're playing good, sustainable football. This is the fun stuff.
Aaron from White Hall, AR
This Sunday's game against the Jets is the biggest in franchise history.
Good eye.
