JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
The team showed resiliency with getting a win. Isn't that the most important thing?
This is as good a place as any to start this Tuesday O-Zone, with the resilience and the accompanying result absolutely the most important part of the Jaguars' 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans in a 2025 Week 3 game at EverBank Stadium Sunday. I assume this question stems from what can only be considered a weird level of dissatisfaction over the victory by parts of the Jaguars' fan base – and here in the O-Zone. Think back over the core of that last sentence a moment: A level of dissatisfaction over the victory. Really? We're dissatisfied with victories around these parts now? We're so jaded by success that we expect 20-point victories and historical dominance? The Jaguars, after a 4-13 season last season and after two division titles since 1999, are 2-1 through the first three games of a new regime. They beat the two-time defending AFC South champions Sunday. They are a game out of first place in the division. They have forced nine turnovers in three games and are one of the NFL's best rushing teams. I don't expect this team to be among the NFL's three or four best teams this season. I don't expect them to win the Super Bowl. But to look at this start and be dissatisfied – or to mutter the ridiculously tied "Same Old Jaguars" stuff – is to completely misunderstand what's going on around the Miller Electric Center. Fans have waited for years for signs that this thing to turn and to show signs of long-term success. Those signs are being shown. Let's hope we can open those eyes, buckle up and enjoy at least part of the ride ahead.
Sam from Orlando, FL
Trevor really isn't the guy, is he? Drops or not. It's really going to take a change of scenery and us poor fans will have to watch him succeed consistently elsewhere, aren't we?
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has improved in his first season in Head Coach Liam Coen's system, and he has impressed with his approach and increasing grasp of what's needed to succeed in that system. He has not played perfectly and has struggled in too many extended stretches. He must continue developing and improving, and there's no reason that can't happen. There's currently no reason to be considering "a change of scenery."
Jason from North Pole, AK
Houston has one of the more talented defenses in the league. I think anyone who was paying attention expected this to be low-scoring, ugly at times, and a one-score game. I am frustrated too with some of the illegal shift penalties. That said, the Jaguars are near the top of the league in pre-snap motion rate. Pre-snap motion is also a statistic that is a good indicator of high-functioning coordinators and offenses. The downside is it puts a lot more on the players mentally. Seems like we need to give them time to learn the scheme and things will improve?
Yes.
Luke from Brisbane, Aus
Howdy O. I'll take an ugly "W" over an ugly "L" anytime. What's the vibe around the team about this one? There's obviously a fair bit to correct, but to their credit they overcame some self-inflicted adversity to pull out one they typically have lost in recent years.
The "vibe" around the Jaguars is that they're happy to be 2-1 and feel like they should be 3-0. This is not a facetious or snarky answer. A victory in the NFL is always good and should always produce a "good vibe," particularly in the early weeks of a new regime and direction.
Jason from Rochester
The offense seems to be pressing, which isn't surprising given the new scheme/players/expectations. What is surprising is how the defense has played thus far. Are you in the same line of thinking as me that this team is better than I thought coming into week one?
The Jaguars' offense struggled Sunday. It's inaccurate to say they have been struggling the entire season. I have written and said often that this team is better than I expected before the season. I have been impressed with how quickly it has formed an identity and I am particularly impressed with this team's resiliency and "buy in." These players and coaches believe in the direction. They are fighting. They are working together. I don't expect this team to finish 16-1. There will be adversity and tough stretches. But this feels like the start of something.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
It's been a while, if ever, that someone shouted out the Late Night O-Zone. It is one of the coolest things this website does, in my opinion. Whether it's the crazy highs after a win, or the anger/frustration after a gut-wrenching "L," we love the quick-trigger answers. I doubt anyone else has it on their website, and I'm too lazy to check, so stay cool knowing the fans love what you do. Also, please keep doing the Late Night O-Zone.
I am the king of all Late Night funk.
Rob from Jax
So, I'm convinced Hines-Allen reads the Ozone now.
My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee or Spidey Sense – tells me you're referencing an O-Zone discussion last week on whether a defensive end can be playing well if he "just gets pressures" as opposed to sacks. I made the point several times that pressures absolutely can be a measure of a defensive end playing well, a point that irked many O-Zone readers. Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen was the dominant player on the field Sunday when Jaguars were on defense and he secured the game with a late-game pressure that became a game-clinching interception by safety Antonio Johnson. I don't know if Hines-Allen reads the O-Zone. I assume he has more pressing matters.
Chief from Biloxi, MS
The team is giving too many yards away because of penalties. Is this who they are supposed to be or can they have their act together? Only fifteen more games remain.
You're correct that the Jaguars are giving away too many yards with penalties through three games. That really hurt at times in the first half Sunday. This is not who the Jaguars are "supposed to be." It's who they are now and it must become "what they were" as the season continues.
Jacob from Fayetteville, AK
Am I wrong or did the offense look terrible? Where was Travis hunter? Oh, and I'm not complaining. A win is a win! Go Jags.
Well, at least you're not complaining.
Johnny from Jax
Zone, Is it true that in my calculations the Jags have only trailed games this season for :18 seconds?
I haven't seen your calculations, but I do know the Jaguars have only trailed for 18 seconds this season.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Opposing defenses will just start stacking the box until Lawrence proves he can beat them. He has come nowhere close to proving he can yet and that's not good. Give me Blake Bortles over Lawrence any day. Here's to hoping Lawrence proves me wrong.
The Texans took essentially this approach Sunday. It worked for the most part and teams typically try things that work until they don't.
Steve from Nashville, TN
Do you agree if the Indianapolis Colts are for real that it is a good thing we don't see them until December when perhaps the Jaguars will have their offense figured out by then and our coaching staff more game-day experienced?
The Jaguars scored 26.5 points a game in their first two games and could have been in the 30s both games. They had a more difficult game offensively Sunday, which is not at all uncommon in a week-to-week league. I haven't gotten the sense watching this team early this season that game-day experience is an issue. I have gotten the sense that Coen is going to be aggressive and often make decisions that the more old-school-leaning observers don't understand.
Pete from Jax Beach
John. One illegal shift (of the many called on Jags), the official essentially said the receiver wasn't set for one second before another player went in motion. On the replay it seemed he was set, it wiped out a big play, thought the official should have passed on that call, too subjective, thoughts?
It was really close, close enough that it resembled a lot of plays on which illegal shift isn't called.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
I'm going to leave all the angst and gnashing of teeth to others and say the defense was stellar, especially JHA. Jags D-backs have got to be among the best in the league to this point. And have you noticed how much better the tackling has been?
The Jaguars' defense has been impressive, more impressive than perhaps expected. Hines-Allen has been really impressive, about as impressive as should have been expected. The tackling has been really impressive.
