JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Leonard from Jacksonville
Yo, Johnny O. If the Jaguars played like they played against the Chargers, they would be Super Bowl-bound. How can a team with this level of talent play like they played the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans the week before?
This was a common inbox theme Sunday following the Jaguars' 35-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at EverBank Stadium, and understandably so. The Jaguars, after all, turned in one of their most impressive victories of the last decade and a half Sunday just one week after squandering a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in a 36-29 road loss to the Houston Texans. Why so "good" one week and so "bad" the next? One reason is the Jaguars are in Year 1 under Head Coach Liam Coen, and it often takes time for a developing team in a new regime to reach any level of consistency. Another reason is the Jaguars had very real motivation Sunday to respond following a remarkably tough loss the week before. But the biggest reason is one that baffles fans – but that is and always be true. That's that the NFL is a week-to-week league. One or two plays can change a game's momentum. The Jaguars played very well for three quarters against the Texans. Momentum shifted and they couldn't close. They closed in a big way Sunday. Good on them. On to the Arizona desert.
Andrew from Panama City, FL
What a difference disciplined football makes. One penalty for five yards. Side note: the NFL really needs to ease up on roughing-the-passer penalties. While I understand the intent, we've seen numerous examples over the last few years where even the commentators express that they don't know what a defensive player is supposed to do to avoid a flag.
The reduction in penalties was perhaps the easiest-to-overlook Jaguars storyline Sunday. The Jaguars played their cleanest game of the season. It also was their most impressive victory of the season. This was not remotely a coincidence. Roughing the passer is tough. The call on Jaguars rookie defensive end B.J. Green II Sunday? Really, really, really tough.
Dustin from Newberry, FL
The Jags won 35-6 against a 7-3 team. They were dominant and put together the most complete game they've played in a long time. A great way to rebound.
Sunday was cool. Fans liked it.
Tudor from St. Augustine, FL
Let's turn & burn Mav! ; )
I laughed at this. I'm not sure why I laughed and I don't particularly like admitting I laughed, but I did laugh.
Ed from St. Augustine, FL
I'm surprised there has been no mention of only one penalty for five yards.
You just mentioned it.
Marc from St Augustine, FL
Zone, I have a sneaky suspicion that for as big of a gut punch as some of these losses have been- particularly in Houston, the wins against Houston, Kansas City, and now Los Angeles will be even more significant if things play out as they stand. The postseason is imminently in front of them once again.
The Jaguars were the No. 7 seed in the AFC entering Sunday's game. They were 4-1 through five games and never have been under .500 this season. The postseason has been very much a possibility all season.
Shawn from Jacksonville
Finally, a complete game with all phases, offense, defense and special teams. Such a perfect win.
I admit I smiled a bit Sunday when I received multiple emails along these lines. I smiled because the tone suggests that it's common around the NFL for teams to dominate all three phases for four quarters – seemingly suggesting, too, that the Jaguars are somehow overdue to blow out good teams by 29 points. Word to the wise: Such complete games are rare in professional football, even for good teams. Most NFL games ebb and flow. Most seasons ebb and flow. The Jaguars this season are 6-4. Two of those victories have been one-sided. Three have been nailbiting-ly close. Welcome to professional football. Nails get bitten. Breath gets held. Everybody gets paid.
Stephen from Greensboro, NC
They talk a lot about a coach "having" the locker room. Sunday was a statement that these guys are bought in. Every single unit came out and redeemed themselves from last week. Liam Coen may be the biggest winner today.
Jaguars Head Coach Lian Coen has "had the locker room" in his first season to a remarkable degree since the offseason. I never wondered this week if he would maintain that grip. I wondered if perhaps the matchup and the Jaguars' injury situation would be too much to overcome. But yes … Sunday was another example that this team is bought in. It was an impressive, important day.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
That was as complete of a performance as we have seen around these parts in a decade, plus. Rarely have all phases hit the way they did Sunday. Trevor's ever-present boneheaded throws didn't even kill us. The lines were on point, finally getting pressure, and the receivers caught the catchable balls. Now, is that game replicable? I expect zero scores like that the rest of the year. That was exceptional, but would you expect more complete games like that? Gahhhhhh just IMAGINE if last week hadn't happened. We'd be in unreal shape. Great response after the meltdown, kudos to coaches AND players.
This is not the Southeastern Conference. You can't expect scores like that every week. You can't expect scores like that any week. You win by however many you win by and you move on.
Nic from Raleigh, NC
A few weeks ago, I mentioned to you that I've noticed over the past few years that the team always seems to play better when they're angry. You said you hadn't really noticed that. Then, in his post-game speech, HC Liam Coen said, "That's us! We play our best pissed off. That's who we are!" I just wanted to share this with you because I feel validated. Thanks!
Well, goody for you.
Jim from Jagsonville
Rootin' for Tuten! O-Line did well. Congratulations to Hines-Allen! One penalty?! Our most complete game this year. Is this the turn-around we've been hoping for? Keep my feet on the ground, O-man!
The Jaguars were impressive Sunday. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten was impressive. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen was impressive and he set the franchise record for career sacks with 56. They were dominant defensively. And in the running back. Remember, though: They have won two of their last three games and are 6-4 through 10 games. They have been above .500 all season. There was no need for a turnaround. They have been good all season. They remain good.
Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville
They were challenged and they responded with great strength and determination.
Pretty much.
Herve from Jacksonville
First complete game of the season? All four quarters, all three phases.
This was the Jaguars' most complete game of the season. It would qualify as a lot of NFL teams' most complete game of the season. The Jaguars outgained the Chargers 345-135. They had a 30-8 first-down advantage. That's unusual stuff. It was not the Jaguars' first complete game of the season.
The other Ryan from Denver from Aurora
Winning is cool.
Fans like it.
Scott from Wichita
#WRIST BAND!!!
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence wore a wristband with select plays for the first time this season on Sunday. He said afterward the idea was to expediate getting to the line and getting the ball snapped in certain situations such as red zone and third down, etc. Much will be made of the wrist band this week, and perhaps rightfully so.
Mark from A*rcher*
Now that is how an offense is supposed to operate in the fourth quarter with a lead to close out the game.
Yes, it is. The NFL is hard. If it was easy, teams would always play exactly as fans hope. If it was easy, it wouldn't be particularly interesting.
Mac from Jax Beach
Oh wise King of all Funk. As a season-ticket holder since Day 1 I'm trying to recall a game where we dominated a playoff-caliber team so thoroughly from start to finish. Do you remember any such time? Truly an amazing day at the 'Bank Sunday.
I wrote Sunday night that it was the Jaguars' most impressive victory in the 15 seasons since I returned to Jacksonville in 2011. A more impressive victory? Maybe 30-9 at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5 of 2017? It's a short list.
Andy from Alpharetta, GA
Wow. And in a good way.
Yes.
Nick from Annapolis, MD
What a difference a week makes. Wow.
The NFL is a week-to-week league. Always has been and presumably always will be. Once in a great while a team has a season in which it is dominant and numbingly consistent. These are rare. The Jaguars' season through 10 games is what contending looks like.

