JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

The national media said we had a terrible offseason, lost key players without replacing them and drafted horribly. Now, suddenly, we are the best team in the AFC and Super Bowl contenders? I know "fans gonna fan," but what about "media gonna media?"

The Jaguars indeed are being lauded, praised and hyped this week as they prepare to play the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London Sunday. While I suppose we can say "media" gonna media," my inbox memory also tells me a loooooot of fans didn't love the team's actions this offseason. But I digress. Media indeed is always gonna media, and respect is always going to be as meaningless as it often is elusive. What matters is the Jaguars are good, have been good since the beginning of last season and continue to show it pretty much every week. When this is the case, observers and media eventually will realize and acknowledge this. And if they don't, it doesn't matter. Game will be played. If the Jaguars will enough of those games, they will play in the postseason. If they win in the postseason, they will play in the Super Bowl. If they win the Super Bowl, they will hold a silver trophy and stand on a big podium. That's better than respect.

Alex from Lenexa

Much is always made about the players, time-zone change and rest, but I would love to know any insight you could give about the London trip logistics – especially from the always unsung equipment team. Does the team try to take all equipment for both weeks with them at once? Is there a supplemental trip that will happen for the second game? I assume the organization has this system down to a "T" by now.

The Jaguars' logistics team indeed has the London trip down to a "T," with the trip usually remarkably smooth considering its length and complexity. The Jaguars typically take much of the equipment for game days with them during the trip, with much of the equipment needed for the week stored there from year to year.

Ray from Orange Park, FL

John: Nothing is ever perfect but concerns about the pass defense must be tempered by the circumstances. Two of the wins were routs in which the opposing teams were passing on almost every down in the second half. In the other two games, the Jaguars were ahead late, and the opponent passed more than their original game plan would have produced. If you are very good against the run AND you have opponents in situations in which them must throw a lot, isn't that a good thing?

Yes.

Jadon from Raleigh, NC

I find Ray's stat nugget about us not attempting fourth-down conversions thus far fascinating. My biggest gripe with Coen last year was taking those chances EARLY in games, instead of taking points. My Dad and I would always recount (always being four times) losing those games last year by the amount of points those field goals would have equated to. So, hopefully this is a fruitful adjustment. Do you think this is a trend, or will Coen continue as he was last year, and this is an anomaly?

When the analytics and situations say to go for a first down on fourth down, I expect Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen to do that more often than not. Remember: This is not your father's NFL. I would also caution against believing Coen is less apt to be aggressive now than previously was the case. I also expect people will recount losses and points totals when those attempts fail, just as I expect they will forget times when the attempts succeed.

Will from Bartram Park

With Caleb Ransaw going on injured reserve and Eric Murray banged up, do think we will see Montaric Brown play some safety? After all, he excels in zone and cornerbacks Jarrian Jones and Travis Hunter seem to have locked up our top two corner spots as they both thrive in man coverage. While Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone deserves a lot of credit for his drafting, do you think we will regret passing on Xavier Watts in favor of Ransaw?

I do not think cornerback Montaric Brown will play safety because he's a cornerback and I expect the Jaguars to continue playing with Brown, Hunter, Jones and Jourdan Lewis extensively in various situations at corner. You can almost always find some player a team should have taken ahead of any player if you work hard enough. Playing let's figure out who the general manager should have drafted instead is a fool's game.

Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX

KOAF: I see the brilliant strategy of trading up for Hunter. By losing quality draft picks, we don't have to worry about paying salaries for people we would have taken, which means we have more money to pay our stars. By taking a player who can play both sides of the ball, we save money in the short term and can sign other players more easily. The trio for this team is playing chess while we are all playing checkers.

The Jaguars traded to make Hunter the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft because they believed he was the draft's most-impactful player and would give them the best chance to win the most games moving forward. Beyond that, you're doing a lot of thinking that may be a lot of overthinking.

John from Jacksonville

Does Travis Hunter really have to play both sides of the ball for the draft trade to acquire him be considered a success? How much draft capital would you give up for a Pro Bowl-level cornerback? The Los Angeles Rams gave up two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars. That worked out OK for them (once his back healed up). The Jaguars have two first-round picks, a second and a fourth invested in Hunter. With the picks received from the Cleveland Browns, the Jaguars selected Hunter, running back Bhayshul Tuten and safety Rayuan Lane III.

I expect there always will be varying thoughts on the "Hunter trade" whatever his role and whatever the team's success. If the Jaguars are a good, contending team for the foreseeable future, and if Hunter plays at the level he has played the last two weeks, the Jaguars will be an organization that is winning consistently. That's what matters.

Brad from The Avenues

I have wondered from time to time if the players read your column. In the same thought, I believe it in their best interest to keep that info to themselves.

Probably.

Brett from SHOALHAVEN HEADS, Australia

It seems as though the current squad could get the Jags to the Super Bowl. A pity so many of the games in the next two seasons are being played away from home. Do you think this will affect their chances of success?

The Jaguars lost a lot of games in a lot of venues when they were a bad team. They have won a lot of games in the past season-plus because they are a good team. I expect the Jaguars to be a good team in the coming seasons, so I expect they will win a lot of games wherever they are playing.

Oscar from Palm Coast, FL

The Eagles are coming into London on a two-game losing streak and aren't even flying over until Friday, while the Jaguars are coming off a road win in Cincinnati. Do you think Jacksonville's experience playing in London gives them a legitimate advantage this week, especially with Philadelphia arriving so late?

Maybe.

Big on Blake from Philly

O-Zone, this might be a bit nitpicky, but at what point will everyone start to realize that when every team and every QB has their worst day against the Jags that's it's not the player it's the Jags?! Duval. Go Jags. #catchthemontheirworstday

I expect it will take a while more because for whatever reason it's still not vogue among many observers to realize this Jaguars defense is legitimately good. That's OK. Vogue or not, this defense is really good. It's well-coached, disciplined and has a lot of really good, high-performing players. Who cares if "everyone" realizes it. The Jaguars are 3-1 with one of the best defenses in the NFL. That's better than everyone "realizing" it.

Mike from St. Johns, Florida

As you travel to the global city of London, keep your eyes peeled for Chinese menus on their heads, and if you happen to spot a little old lady, give her a wide berth. Things can apparently get a bit dicey, particularly in Kent. Be sure to visit Soho and have a piña colada at Trader Vic's. And if you hear a hairy hand knocking at your door, I would recommend not answering. Most importantly, enjoy the "Ah-hoooo!" moments, have a couple of pints, and remember: I'd like to meet his tailor.

Don't forget his hair.