JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Ross from Mechanicsville, VA
A complete team. That's what this feels like. We had that in 1999, but not in 2017. It seems to me that this is completely balanced. You never know who will catch the ball. You never know who will intercept or sack a quarterback. When somebody is hurt, you never know how good the next man up is going to be. This feels like a more balanced, sustainable team than we have ever had in Jax. Given your vast experience, is this what you see, too? You have written things that make me think you see it, too. Thanks, O-Zone!
Yes, that's what I see. The Jaguars enter Sunday's game against the 8-7 Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with an 11-4 record leading the AFC South – and from this view, this is the best Jaguars team since they finished the 1999 regular season with the NFL's best record at 14-2. It is absolutely becoming the most balanced, sustainable Jaguars team I have seen since I returned to Jacksonville in 2011. It is not a perfect team. There is no such thing as a perfect team. But it has been a good team all season and with the recent accelerated ascension of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, it's quickly turning into an extremely good team. Its quarterback is playing at a high level. Its offense is balanced and difficult to defend. Its defense is stout and opportunistic. That combination is extremely difficult to beat.
Alex from Detroit by way of St. Augustine, FL
One thing I'm concerned about, too many offensive snaps made at the last minute. I thought we got away with some delay-of-game flags Sunday. I am sure Jags will learn from this and have a quicker composure for the next rowdy environment.
Don't get too stressed about the play clock. NFL offenses routinely operate in the final seconds of the play clock. This is particularly true of an offense such as the Jaguars that does so much at the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars scored 34 points on an elite defense in a tough environment this past Sunday in a victory over the Denver Broncos. There was nothing wrong with their composure in that game.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
Sorry, New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. Sorry, Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson. NFL Coach Of The Year: Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen.
He must be in the conversation.
Zach from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Do you think the Jags need to add some more draft picks to the defense or do you believe we have all of the pieces?
I expect the Jaguars to draft both offensive and defensive players every offseason, and I don't expect the people currently making football decisions for the Jaguars to ever approach an offseason believing they have "all of the pieces." I expect the Jaguars to make moves in free agency next offseason. I expect there will more high-profile activity next offseason on defense than offense.
Bo from Winter Springs, FL
I've been reading this column and writing in occasionally for years now. The longer I've read, the more I've realized that you know quite a bit and also nothing at all at the same time. How do you do it?
I am the king of all funk.
James from Titusville, NJ
Only our long snapper made the Pro Bowl? I didn't see it, but good for DaVon Hamilton. However, I thought he has done a much better job on defense as a defensive tackle.
Ross Matiscik is the Jaguars' long snapper. He made the Pro Bowl for a third consecutive season. DaVon Hamilton is a defensive tackle who long-snapped for a half in the Jaguars' victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 14. He played at a Pro Bowl level at defensive tackle much of the season.
Adam from Bryan, TX
It's always coaching, huh, John? I guess you were right.
Indeed.
Chris from Norfolk
The best analogy I've heard is unlocked. Coach has taught him some things that weren't clicking and TL drew a lot of confidence from it. Another theory we are kicking around is he just wasn't passionate about football. Thanks for all you do. I'd love your thoughts.
Lawrence is unquestionably as confident as he ever has been in the NFL. This team and this coaching staff believe strongly in him and he knows this. He always has been passionate about football. There's no reason to kick the last theory around any further.
Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL
I'm pretty sure the lack of Pro Bowl selections is because the league doesn't want to bother having to call up all the alternates because they know our boys are gonna be unavailable preparing for our game the following Sunday.
Maybe. Probably. Can you repeat the question?
Nic from Raleigh, N.C.
The motivation behind this team has been the lack of respect they receive nationally, and they've made that clear. I thought that would end this week after beating the top team in the AFC, and dominating all the phases. But practically no one would consider the Jags Super Bowl contenders, and I'm not sure why not after what we've seen all year – especially the last six weeks. There's no reason to think this team can't make a run. At this point, and most fans would agree, keep the disrespect coming, like defensive end Travon Walker said, we don't want any new fans!
The nice thing about the whole "respect issue" is the Jaguars can make it mean what they want it to mean when it really means nothing. They have used it as motivation, which is fine. Maybe they will get some respect. If they do, great. If they don't, they will still go to the postseason where they can win a Super Bowl – and have trophies and rings. If they get those, respect will matter not a whit.
Brian from Round Rock, Texas
What do all these players have in common: Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr., defensive tackle Arik Armstead, Walker, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, linebacker Foye Oluokun, cornerback Montaric Brown, wide receiver Parker Washington, left guard Ezra Cleveland, punter Logan Cooke, center Robert Hainsey, Hamilton, right tackle Anton Harrison, safety Antonio Johnson, cornerback Jarrian Jones, kicker Cam Little, left tackle Walker Little, linebacker Devin Lloyd, long snapper Ross Matiscik and tight end Brenton Strange?
All play for the Jaguars.
Jim from Reno, NV
Merry Christmas Zone. Not really a question, but providing some additional bulletin board material for the Jags, courtesy of Aqib Talib: "When they have a playoff game, am I betting with the Jaguars at home? No," said former NFL defensive back Aqib Talib on The Arena: Gridiron. "Am I betting on them to win the Super Bowl? No. They got a good team, but as I said, I saw it in person, it was more about what the Broncos did wrong than what the Jaguars did right. It is just not wowing me. I think the Broncos are better than them. The Patriots are better than them. The Bills are better than them."
Talib once played in the NFL. He was a good cornerback, best I recall. There are many former NFL players with opinions. How relevant their "insight" is to what happens on the field is very debatable.
Dave from Los Angeles, CA
How present has Travis Hunter been around this team and its incredible run post-Texans? He's a winner and a special player, and the Jags are somehow doing all of this without him. Makes me excited for the future. His future addition to this team feels like a massive luxury at this point.
Jaguars rookie cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter has been around the team since sustaining a season-ending knee injury seven games into the 2025 regular season.
Thomas from Charlottesville, VA
Forgive me for not remembering which player said this:" He has us prepared for anything they may do". To me. this is the best compliment a player can give to a coach! Great job Coach Coen and the entire staff! No respect, but definitely Coach of the Year!
I have no idea if Coen will win Coach of the Year honors from any of the entities that award such things. My sense is there may be too much momentum for Vrabel and Johnson for Coen to win it – though it will be something of a disservice of he does not win it. Remember this about Coach of the Year: Winning it usually isn't a great indication of the quality of coach nor is it an indicator of long-term success. My sense is Coen is going to be Jaguars' head coach with significant success for a long time. That's much cooler than being Coach of the Year.
Dylan from Albany, NY
Mr. O. Can you please help me understand how the Broncos are still in a lot of Power Ranking Top 5s but the team that shellacked them at home is not?
Not really, no.
