JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

The Jaguars have not been to the playoffs in consecutive years since back in the last century. They let two very solid players walk after career years. They did not have a first-round pick in 2026. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still somewhat of a question mark. These are legit reasons why this Jaguars team is perhaps disrespected by the consensus football world at large. Going down the rabbit hole of national media predictions in preparation for my future bets and fantasy draft, I was a little amused at how low the consensus NFL media rated the Jaguars. When you looked closer, most caveated their mediocre outlooks with, "Hey, they may be great" sorts of quotes. They are certainly high on the potential of tight end Brenton Strange, wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., running back Bhayshul Tuten and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. I actually think the Jags and Texans are the best two teams in the wide-open AFC. When does it start?

There objectively are far more reasons to think the Jaguars will be good in 2026 than to think they will slip significantly from their 2025 13-4 AFC South Championship season. This is a solid, well-coached team with a quarterback who was one of the NFL's best last season. They also were the NFL's No. 1 defense last season. And while many national analysts believe losing players such as linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne Jr. will prompt a decline, there's little thought around the Jaguars that those departures will have such an extreme effect. An argument absolutely can be made entering the season that the Jaguars and Houston Texans are the AFC's two best teams. Are they far and away the best? No. But any conversation without them in it overlooks a lot that shouldn't be overlooked.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, I agree that power rankings are meaningless. However, it's the lack of respect that bothers me. On paper, the Jags have a better team than last season. You would think that would count for something with the media. As we both know, consistent winning should cure this perception. Go Jags!

I think the Jaguars are a better team entering the 2026 season than they were entering 2025. I think it's hard to argue reasonably that they shouldn't be among the NFL's better teams in 2026. I think they will have ample opportunity to show they are among the NFL's better teams, which is why rankings mean nothing.

Jim from Kansas City, KS (new home of the Chiefs)

No question. Just a thanks for your daily column. I try to read every one and have only missed a few. We are of approximately the same vintage, so a lot of times our views on society in general and the newer (non-boomer) generations are remarkably close. When my day is not going well, I bring up your column. It is usually good for a chuckle, laugh and sometimes a snorting laugh. Luckily, I work from home, so don't have to worry about cubemates hearing the snorts. Keep up the good work!

I am the king of all funk.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, uniforms never influenced the outcome of a game.

Fans love talking about uniforms. I understand this to be true because of the constant, round-and-round, never-to-be-solved, free-for-all that occurs whenever the topic arises here in the O-Zone. I have said and written often that I just never connected with the topic. I think uniforms are cool. I think helmets, for the most part, are cooler. But I barely notice them when watching a game, certainly not to the point that I thought about them much before or after. And they certainly never influenced the outcome of a game.

Randy from Jax

Is this the first time the Jags did not claim someone off waivers or sign anybody after the roster cutdown?

No, they didn't do it in 2024, either. (For example.)

Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX

Engineer-KOAF (E-KOAF): What if it is 95 degrees, clear skies and no breeze at all? Will the "passive cooling system" do anything to alleviate the temperature or will Jaguar fans be at the mercy of needing a 10-15 miles per hour sustained wind to keep cool?

Unlike the Great Uniform Obsession, I completely understand Jaguars fans' concern with temperatures inside the Stadium of the Future – and I understand the skepticism many O-Zone readers seem to have about the designers opting for passive cooling, air flow and canopy as opposed to air conditioning I am not an engineer or air-flow expert. I have not been inside the completed Stadium of the Future because no one has been inside the completed Stadium of the Future because the Stadium of the Future is not completed. I am also not smart enough to fully explain how the cooling will work beyond the canopy being expected to lower the temperature by 10-to-15 degrees, with the air stream cooling it beyond that. I am smart enough to know that smarter people than myself with expertise in this area are designing the Stadium of the Future. I'm assuming these people are smarter and more efficient than my old man, who was a television repairman and had "ultimate set of tools." These people believe the Stadium of the Future will be cooled and provide a pleasant viewing experience. But maybe readers of this column know more than these smart people. Anything is possible, I suppose.

David from The Island

The east side of the stadium for 1 p.m. starts during the first couple months of the season was too hot, too sunny and largely just miserable. A roof with a little breeze will feel like air conditioning.

I expect fans will have a pleasant experience at the Stadium of the Future. I suppose I will expect this until shown otherwise.

David from Jacksonville

To those complaining about the new stadium canopy and cooling - I encourage you to go down to Miami and go to Brickell City Center, which is a massive, outdoor, four-story mall. Their climate canopy is amazing. It is easily 15-to-20 degrees cooler than it is on the street. It looks like a similar system is being used for the new stadium. Just wait for it to be completed. I think it will be the best of both worlds. Mid-70s-to-low-80s outdoor weather, perfect for football.

It's far more fun to argue and be pessimistic than to take this into consideration.

Demetrius from Tampa, FL

At what point is Trevor Lawrence going to get the credit he deserves?

I do not know. I perhaps somewhat naively thought his near-Most Valuable Player-level season last season would change national perception of him. It seems that is not the case, at least in some circles, and many nationally do not grasp that he is legitimately good and reaching an elite level. When will he get credit for being really good? Maybe when he does it for another season. Maybe not. The nice thing is it does not matter as long as the Jaguars win.

Scooter from St. Augustine, FL

Pundits are predicting wins and losses for the Jaguars 2026 season. I believe that there are not any teams that will absolutely beat them! They could go all the way! What say you, KOAF? Perfect Season?

You go, girl.

Brandon from Louisville, KY

Hypothetical: Let's say the Jags have a good year and Camp gets hired as a head coach. How much of a defense is the defensive coordinator's scheme versus the head coach? How similar would our defense look next year to this year?

In the case of the Jaguars, Head Coach Liam Coen runs the offense and the defensive scheme is that of Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile. How similar the defense would look if/when he becomes a head coach in 2027 somewhere else would/will be determined by the new defensive coordinator.

Lane from Winter Garden, FL

Zone, NFL salaries are known because agents want it out there so that no player is underpaid in relation to other players at his position. That's what I have been told anyway.

Well, if that's what you have been told …

John from Jacksonville

Why would the announcers have to explain having two BTJs? It should be simple enough for most fans to figure out which BTJ based on whether the Jaguars are on offense or defense. It was different when Josh Allen was sacking Josh Allen.

I don't know why announcers need what they need. I know it's unusual for one team to have two players with names so similar, so as a conveyor of information the instinct is to explain situations make potentially confusing ones clearer. I expect this phenomenon eventually will feel more normal and those discussing the Jaguars will simply say "defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr." or "wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr." And then per chance our long national nightmare will at last be over.