JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Marcus from Jax
Can you explain why the Chargers are still ahead of the Jags in the playoff picture? They have the same record, and I thought the first tiebreaker was head-to-head – which the Jags own. Can you fill in the gaps?
The Jaguars after a 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday are tied for the AFC's No. 5 seed with the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills. Because it's a three-way tie, the first tiebreaker is conference record. The Chargers are 6-2 in the AFC, with the Jaguars 4-2 and the Bills 4-3. The Chargers as of this week are therefore the AFC's No. 5 seed with the Jaguars No. 6 and Bills No. 7. Should the season end with the Jaguars and Chargers the only teams tied for a particular seed, the Jaguars would win the tiebreaker and be the higher seed based on their 35-6 Week 11 victory over the Chargers.
Pete from Jax Beach
John: Take me through the thought process of Parker Washington's punt return when it was called a safety but it wasn't. I know it was a smart play but still unsure why..
You're referencing a play in the fourth quarter Sunday on which Jaguars punt returner Parker Washington fielded the ball at the Jaguars 2, then ran into the end zone – where he was tackled. While officials initially ruled the play a safety, Washington fielded the ball after it was touched by Cardinals cornerback Max Melton at the 1. Once a player on the coverage team touches a punt, a player on the returning team can pick up the ball and run "without consequence" – meaning that the receiving team can benefit from the return, but that in the event of a negative play for the return team, the ball returns to the spot where the coverage team initially touched it. The Jaguars in this scenario therefore began the ensuing drive on their 1, where Melton originally was ruled to have touched the ball. It was absolutely a smart play by Washington, who knew nothing negative could come from him touching the ball.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
The Jags had gone 5-17 in their last 22 games before the start of this season. Vegas had them winning 7.5 this year. At the beginning of season, could you imagine having to vehemently defend a 7-4 Jag team coming off a road win?
Fan fan. It's what they do.
Howard from Homestead, FL
Even average fans like me know the rule on the Parker Washington "safety" that wasn't. What does it say about the league that there were two referees who didn't? One of them vehemently shook his head while two Jags players tried to explain it. That's embarrassing.
The play was a little different from the norm because the "norm" is usually the returner fumbling rather than running into his own end zone. But yeah …
GP from Savannah, GA
Three completions first half!! This is our franchise quarterback??? Gladstone will draft a quarterback next year.
Three touchdown passes and a key victory for a team contending the AFC South title. Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone may draft a quarterback next offseason, but the guess here is Trevor Lawrence will start at quarterback for the Jaguars next season.
Troy from Jax
Why can't Coen understand you take the points when you can get them?
This has been a common inbox topic since Sunday's Jaguars victory, with many fans still criticizing Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen for going for a first down on fourth-and-1 from the Cardinals 19 with 1:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars led 24-21 at the time, and a field goal by kicker Cam Little would have forced the Cardinals to drive for a touchdown to win. Lawrence instead threw incomplete, allowing the Cardinals to drive for a field goal that forced overtime. Coen's logic was that the reward of ending the game by gaining one yard was worth the risk of being stopped. Such thinking has become more common in the NFL in recent seasons, with analytics dictating that in an increasingly offense-centric league the chances of the opponent driving for a touchdown are very good – meaning you're better off trying to end the game on your terms rather than allowing your opponent to win the game on its terms. As I have said and written often, the old-school football guy in me prefers kicking a field goal in that situation. But this isn't the old-school NFL and brighter football minds than mine believe you play to end the game. Either way, don't look for the Jaguars to change approach here. This franchise under Coen will be aggressive. When that aggression fails, Coen will be criticized. When it succeeds, few will notice. Welcome to head coaching in the NFL.
Rusty from New Iberia, LA
Once again going for it on fourth down was the absolute wrong decision. I knew it, announcers knew it, fans knew it. Only one that didn't know it is the hard-headed coach. I don't want to hear that this is how things are done in the modern game. If it's analytics, then analytics is absolutely wrong!!!
OK.
Josh from New Milford, CT
Such a good win. I know a lot of people are upset the Jags didn't kick in the fourth. I take the other stance. I believe if they kick that field goal, they end up losing. The defense was gassed, and if the Cardinals "had" to play for a touchdowns, I think they would have gotten there. They certainly had enough time to throw to the end zone a couple of times at the end as it were – if they chose to. Seems like they lacked urgency and settled for a field goal. Could have been bad if they needed that TD. Go Jags!
This is a key part of why coaches attempt to "end the game" in that situation.
Steve from Nashville, TN
Just because you say you are "aggressive" doesn't mean you are good at being that.
Maybe, but in this case it probably means Coen's not likely to suddenly get "unaggressive."
John from Jacksonville
Can we finally put to rest the notion that the refs are out to get the Jaguars? They picked up the flag for linebacker Devin Lloyd's "late hit out of bounds" penalty. Even though it was the right call it still surprised me. When Brissett made the desperation throw on fourth down in overtime, I expected a flag for pass interference which didn't come. What were the chances of a Jaguars victory if those calls went the other way?
NFL officials aren't "out to get" any team. To think that they are is folly. It's folly shared by fans of all NFL teams to a staggering degree, but it's folly nonetheless.
Hassan from Elina, TX
When was the last time you saw a team lose the turnover battle by 4 and still get the win?
It has been a minute.
Nick from Annapolis, MD
I'm relatively confident this was Lawrence's best game throwing the football he has had all year. Not the best with his decision making, but as far as him throwing the ball how he wanted and where he wanted to. Let it rip?
Lawrence told Coen throughout Sunday's game that he was seeing things well and throwing well. Coen agreed. Lawrence made a bad decision or two, but he also had a tipped interception with a big-time play by Cardinals safety Budda Baker leading to another. Let it rip? Yes, sometimes when you let it rip, interceptions happen. Other times, touchdowns happen. Sometimes you eat the bear. Sometimes the bear eats you.
Jerell from Columbia SC
Jags won but what do they have to do to fix their Trevor issue? They won in spite of him. If you swap just the two quarterbacks. Good win, but Trevor left me with more questions than answers.
The three touchdown passes count, too.
Mike from Azores
Hey, John. Are you any closer to admitting that TL is not the guy to win a Super Bowl for the Jags? Seriously now, Brissett was the better quarterback on the field Sunday. The Jags are living on the edge because their $55 million franchise quarterback week in and week out plays like a Bottom 5 quarterback in the NFL.
Lawrence made too many mistakes Sunday and has too many maddening moments. That's true. It's also true that the Jaguars are 20-7 – 21-8 including the postseason – in the last four seasons in games in which he has been healthy and playing for at least a semi-functioning team. Is he perfect? No. Is he frustrating? Yes. But two different head coaches have shown you can win with him and he's not playing like a Bottom 5 quarterback in the NFL.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
That was an exciting game! I saw an observer call it excruciating, stressful, unhealthy to watch... What? That was fun!
Good eye.
