JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. Now that the bye is approaching, I'm getting some perspective on the Jags through seven games. We had a tough schedule and only really played one game poorly. We missed winning one game by a bad call by the officials and one game against a very good team. The Houston Texans don't seem the same, the Tennessee Titans are having issues – and our only obstacle is the Indianapolis Colts, who are hot. However, we play them twice later in the year and I think by then we will have worked some things out and they will ultimately hit some adversity. I still believe, but we need a few of our key players to heal and return soon. Am I stable in my thinking?

The Jaguars are 4-3 entering their Week 8 bye, and they are two games behind the Colts in the AFC South with 10 games remaining. But while the Colts indeed look strong, and while they have the AFC's best record, the Jaguas' focus moving forward must and will be on themselves rather than the Colts. If the Jaguars play to the level they were playing through five games, the thought here is they can win six or seven of their final 10 games and make the postseason. That might mean a chance to catch the Colts in the division. It might not. But if the Jaguars don't play well, it won't matter what the Colts do. The Jaguars absolutely need some of their key players – particularly tight end Brenton Strange, defensive end Travon Walker and linebacker Devin Lloyd -- to get healthy and soon. Either way, my role is not to determine if you're stable in your thinking. Much goes into determining that beyond one's perspective on their favorite NFL team.

Marlin from Trenton, FL

Hi, John. The way the schedule plays out over the last ten games, the Jaguars should be favored in six or seven matchups. It seems like the train has come off the track, though –and I don't think they will win more than two or three more games this year. Do you still see them winning more than eight games this year?

The Jaguars are 4-3, with two losses by a score or less. They have had one "bad" loss. Because it came this past Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams it is fresh in the memory. A lot of good teams have bad losses. I absolutely believe the Jaguars can win at least half of their remaining games and win nine or more games.

RE from Orange Park, FL

MIghty O. We gave up a first-round draft selection and drafted wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter to play both sides of the ball, yet this staff has yet to do what they and him claimed to be able to do and that is play both sides. The only way to find out is to put the kid in and let him play 90% on both defensive end and offense and let's see if he can do it or are they scared they might find out he what they said he could do?

Why would the Jaguars be scared of this?

Derek from Brookings, SD

Is it time to let Travis Hunter play full-time at both cornerback and wide receiver? At this point, he's the best on the team at both positions. He says he can handle full time at both. Maybe it's time to try it out over a game and see how he handles it?

Maybe.

Andrew from Halifax

A question recently said that the Jaguars are carrying $70 million in dead money. Are you able to clarify what that means and what contracts are (majority) responsible for this?

"Dead money" on the salary cap means cap money allocated to players no longer on the roster, and it's typically bonus money that originally was prorated and that has accelerated into the current cap year because the player has been traded or released. Former Jaguars players such as guard Brandon Scherff, wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Gabe Davis have high "dead-cap" figures.

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

Wow! All the negativity. They lost to two physical NFC teams who are also extremely well coached – not the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. When will they start calling for practice squad players? I guess it's like the man said, "Fans fan, that's what they do?"

That man sounds like quite a man.

Tom from Charlottesville, VA

Has the league caught up to Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen? When the San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh questioned/complimented the offensive system, did he provide a blueprint to stop the offense? Same question on the defensive side except no coach blowing a whistle? Bye week coming at a good time to reevaluate?

Many, many teams use a variation of the Jaguars' offensive system.

Jordan from Jax

How teams scheme against each other is an interesting gauge of strengths and weaknesses. Most defensive game plans against the Jags have been to stop the run and make quarterback Trevor Lawrence have to throw to win the game. Sometimes he has and sometimes he hasn't, but defensive coordinators across the league are telling us they think of our quarterback as a liability.

Lawrence must be more consistent in this area. The passing offense as a whole must prove this is an unwise way to defend the Jaguars.

Greg from Marietta, GA

Curious what the players and coaching staff do during the bye week, especially one coming from London. Do coaches start game planning immediately for the next game and do they use the full two weeks preparing for the Raiders or do they also focus on the Texans game as well.

Players by NFL rule have four days off over the bye week, with the Jaguars scheduled to practice on Monday. Coaches spend the bye week mostly self-scouting with an eye on the big picture and the second half of the season. The Jaguars' preparations for the Las Vegas Raiders begin Tuesday as would be the case on a "normal" game week.

Gerry from Jacksonville

While the Jaguars stunk it up in London, the overreaction is laughable, especially when it comes to Lawrence. We are literally one bad ref call away from five wins. Maybe six if the kicker doesn't miss a field goal and point after, and Hunter doesn't step over the line of scrimmage. Oh, by the way, Lawrence did make the explosive play that was called back because of the offsides. Gotta be patient. Go Jags!

Go Jags.

Reese from Loyal Jaguar Fan in Va

Virginia receiving a lot of shine in the ozone this week. Do not worry. We have solid hands in VA! Go Jags!!!!

I once lived in Virginia. I was very young and it was for a brief time. My grandparents lived there, too. They were older and they loved there for a long time. My father was born there and lived there for a longer time than me and a shorter time than my grandparents. I have fond memories of Virginia.

James from Palm Coast, FL

With all the talk about TL, some points are valid, but I also believe dropped passes change the dynamics of the offense. Everyone wants to move on from Lawrence, hoping the next star is on the horizon. Let's look at the Jets, who over the last four decades had 40 quarterbacks. How are the Jets doing?

Not great.

Chris from Mandarin

How much higher do you think ticket prices will need to be when the stadium renovations are completed? Is there any chance that this could offset the supposed financial need to host a game in London every season? It is clear that hosting a game in London offers no real competitive advantage for the Jaguars as they are only one game above .500 in all the years they have played there.

I don't have a great feel yet for prices when the Stadium of the Future opens in 2028. I expect the Jaguars will play a home game in London for the foreseeable future. The Jaguars have been a lot under .500 over the years they have played in London.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Did cornerback Jarrian Jones buy wide receiver Parker Washington a very nice dinner in London after the game? With drinks? And dessert?

You're referencing a Washington punt return for a would-be touchdown that was negated by an illegal block-in-the-back penalty on Jones in a loss to the Rams Sunday. If an apology indeed was in order over the play, I don't know that it needed to come from either Jones or Washington.

* *Gary from St. Augustine, FL**

Even during the bye week, you still suck.

The Jaguars have a bye in Week 8 and will visit the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.