JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA

You no doubt remember when the Jaguars came back to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in a playoff game. Very nice! Given the current status of the Jags, what do you believe are the odds that the Jags can win this weekend?

I'm not good at odds. The Jaguars play the Los Angeles Chargers at EverBank Stadium Sunday in what from this view will be a tough game for the Jaguars. This has nothing to do with their victory over the Chargers in an AFC Wild Card playoff game following the 2022 season and much to do with the Jaguars' injury status. Another reason: The best way to combat the Chargers is to pressure quarterback Justin Herbert and the Jaguars haven't pressured quarterbacks well in recent weeks. I continue to believe the Jaguars will contend for a winning record and a postseason spot regardless of Sunday's outcome.

Rob from Middleburg, FL

I hope I am wrong, but I don't believe the Jaguars make the playoffs this year and here's why: The teams that have beaten them this year all have great pass rushers. That has been the formula. Even the Cincinnati Bengals, who as a team are not great at rushing the passer, have an elite end that made a critical play at the end of that game to beat us. The problem for the Jaguars is we have four games remaining against the Nos. 1, 5 and 6 pass-rushing teams in the NFL: the Denver Broncos, Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. I think we will be really hard-pressed to win any of those games. That means we will have to be perfect in the remaining five games to get to 10 wins and I can't see that happening. Despite quarterback Trevor Lawrence's inconsistency, despite our wide receivers not catching the ball and despite our own inability to rush the passer, the No. 1 weakness on this team is the offensive line. I think it has to be our top priority this offseason to address if we want to contend.

I expect the Jaguars will address offensive line in the offseason. I don't expect it to be anything close to an overhaul. This is because I do not sense that the decision-makers see the area as the team's No. 1 weakness.

Chris from Mandarin

I'm not saying the Jaguars are good right now because I don't believe that is true, but they have lost regularly to starting quarterbacks. This has happened regardless of whether they had winning or losing seasons. It also hasn't mattered who the coach was, or who the players on the team were. It's weird, but it is the reality. It will be true until it's not.

Many teams lose to starting quarterbacks. That's not particularly weird, but it's true.

Jason from Orange Park, FL

They have to draft a young guy to at least compete against him, right? Right?

If the Jaguars believe they need competition at any position, they will not hesitate to draft or sign competition at that position. That includes quarterback.

Shawn from Disappointedville, USA

Three ups: Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers looks great (if we re-sign him), wide receiver Parker Washington looks great and you taking the abuse/time to answer our questions. Three downs: Lawrence, the offensive line and the defensive line. My question is after the season who would you extend on offense and defense? What are our top 3 needs?

I would extend tight end Brenton Strange and defensive end Travon Walker. I also would try to figure a way to extend running back Travis Etienne Jr. for the short-term future. Top three needs? Defensive tackle, wide receiver and offensive tackle.

Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL

It's hard to raise the floor in one offseason. Would any NFL team hold up with this many injuries? Arguably your best defensive player, your best offensive player and your best two-way player. And then starters on each side behind them!

The Jaguars have raised the floor this season. They were 4-13 last season and essentially out of contention by early October. They are currently 5-4 and very much in the playoff conversation. Injuries have hurt the Jaguars in recent weeks. They have a chance to get healthy in the coming weeks. We'll see how that affects the results.

Chris from Mandarin

Are you really so obtuse, John? There is a big difference between contending for a Super Bowl and holding playoff position halfway through the season. You know this, but for some reason you want to be pedantic. Even if the Jaguars make the playoffs, they won't be a real Super Bowl contender. They'll be an also ran.

I have said and written many times this season I don't expect the Jaguars to be a Super Bowl contender this season. The Super Bowl from this view is a very lofty goal for a team in Year 1 of a new regime that went 4-13 the previous season. I expect they can be an eight-to-ten-victory team and contend for the postseason. How people choose their own expectations is up to them. I expect the Jaguars will build and grow into an upper-tier team in the coming seasons as they reshape the roster.

Tom from Moncks Corner

What is it that makes you defend Trevor so boldly? He has turned the ball over nearly as many times as he has touchdowns. His completion rate is less than 60%. His accuracy is horrible. He is responsible for many of his sacks. His ability to make decisions and react is slow at best. When he is under pressure, he tries to force passes that he lacks the talent to complete. Keeping in mind that even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while, exactly what is it that makes you think that he is closer to being a "once in a generation talent" or even a franchise quarterback rather than a bust?

I don't know that Lawrence is all that close to being a once-in-a-generation or franchise quarterback and I don't know that he's all that close to being a bust. I think he's still developing in this offense. We have seen flashes of very good play and flashes of not good play. I believe Lawrence can still develop into leading this offense and team to success. You see this as defending. I see it is as trying to explain where Lawrence is in his career without being emotional.

James from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville

O, man. I know it's part of football. And coaches can't blame losses on it. And you lightly touch on it, especially at the beginning of the year. But injuries kill a team. And we've had quite a few of our best players not in there. Usually, the teams that win the Super Bowl have their best players playing. Just my observation.

Injuries matter. It's absurd to say otherwise. If injuries don't matter, why bother drafting or signing free agents? Just hold local tryouts. The NFL is a league of attrition. Good teams can withstand some injuries. But there's always a breaking point.

Randy from Upstate NY

Defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker have basically done nothing so far. Why not see if the rookie Staggow can produce some sort of pressure? The team is still technically in the playoff picture but they look like they're circling the drain.

I expect Jaguars rookie defensive end Danny Striggow – a.k.a., Danny Staggow – will get some increased opportunity as we move forward.

Seth from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

It seems like a quarterback's rating is a trusted guide in evaluating a player. The rating for Lawrence has dropped the last three years and he is ranked second to last among players who qualify. No good for a fifth-year franchise quarterback.

OK.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. OK, so starting fast and getting a lead didn't work. Maybe this team is better as a panic mode team in tight games with one score to win. Anyhow, everyone knows, except for about 3 fans, that another loss is coming Sunday. Is it harder on a team to lose by being blown out, lose a down to the wire game, or lose like they did against the Texans?

Experience tells me when "everyone" thinks they know something about professional football they know much less than they think they know. The thought here is it's tougher losing a down-to-the-wire game, which is what happened to the Jaguars against the Houston Texans last Sunday and why Sunday is a big test of this team's ability to overcome adversity.

Boxcutter Bill from Mass

Things like this past Sunday could certainly cause a collapse, or as a team this could bring them together and really start the build we hope for. We still hold the No. 7 seed. We are in still in line for the division. Everything is in our hands. This is why we love football. The drama. Stay tuned.

Bill is ready for some football.