JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
After all the ducks from Blaine Gabbert, the stupid relocation jokes to London, the Gus Bradley Era (gulp) and Urban Meyer Era (GULP), I am beyond thrilled to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is amazing for us fans who have been through all the crap. What is the biggest hurdle for the rest of the season besides the loss of nose tackle DaVon Hamiliton?
I don't know that any "hurdles" facing the Jaguars the rest of the season are so daunting they can't be overcome. I do think the most pertinent objective is something Head Coach Liam Coen discussed after a 33-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Thursday – and that's the need for the Jaguars to play their best when their best is needed. This statement is an example of why Coen is such a good head coach and leader – i.e., the ability to keep what's important at the forefront. The Jaguars are good. Really good. They have shown over the last season and a half that hey can beat the NFL's better teams – the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, etc., etc. It's how they play in the biggest moments and biggest games – i.e., when their best is needed – that likely will determine whether they reach their ultimate goals this season. It sounds simple, but keeping a large group of people motivated and focused on what's important is perhaps the most important part of being a successful NFL head coach. Coen is high-end good at that. And by the way … this isn't about light at the end of the tunnel anymore. The Jaguars are good. Really good. They are out of the tunnel. These are the good times.
Ryan from Reality
We have to trade BTJ before the deadline, right? He has one catch over the last four games combined and did not get even a single target Thursday. I know he brings a vertical element to our offense, but so could tons of designated "deep threats" making far less money. For everyone's sake, just get what you can for him and let him have a fresh start with a team that knows how to use him.
I expect the Jaguars will be doing a lot of asking – and a lot of listening – between now and Tuesday's NFL trade deadline. I expect a lot of that listening will be to teams asking about wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The tone of your email is a bit curious, though. It seems to suggest the Jaguars don't know how to use Thomas effectively. The Jaguars lead the league in total points and have scored more than 30 points in each of their last three games. What have we seen to suggest that knowing how to use players is a systemic issue?
Pete from Daytona Beach, FL
Mina Kimes of ESPN believes the Jaguars will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. I would expect your response to be "good eye."
They certainly have a chance. Why wouldn't they?
Peter from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Tell me I am overthinking this, but do the Jags have a bit of a New England Patriots-from-last-year vibe? What has me wondering is how favorable the remaining schedule looks. On paper, that should be a good thing, but I can't help wondering whether it might leave us with an inflated sense of who we are. Then we get to the playoffs and find out we are not quite the team we thought we were. Signed – A fan who's apparently capable of creating new things to worry about.
The Patriots played in the Super Bowl last season. That means they got to the playoffs and found out they were a team that could get through their conference and play in the season's biggest game. All teams should be so fortunate to have such an inflated sense of themselves.
Joy from Jacksonville
These may have been asked already and I missed it. Two questions please. How do you think the NFL will react to two playoff games, including the AFC Championship, being played in a stadium with 43,000 or so seats? AND can the NFL make Jaguars Owner Shad Khan move the game?
If this scenario occurs, the NFL will react by watching two playoff games being played in Jacksonville. No, the NFL cannot make the Jaguars move the games.
James from Socorro, NM
The Jaguars point differential is really impressive.
The Jaguars' 108-point differential is by 50 points the best in the NFL through eight/nine games. Fifty points better than any other team in that category indeed is impressive. They also hold a 229-121 advantage in points scored-points against. Anytime you're scoring nearly double the points as your opponents, you're in elite, all-time territory. This is professional football, not the Southeastern Conference.
Sean from Saint Johns City, FL
This is what I thought quarterback Trevor Lawrence could be when he was drafted.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Of course this is how you thought he would be playing.
John from Soon to be Section 206 again!
With regard to replay, now we have the "expedited replay" mysteriously popping up at times, which implies that every play is being watched and reviewed by some official entity. With that process in place, why in the world other than the production value (read $$) of increased drama and commercials do we even have or need coaches challenges? Wouldn't the man behind the curtain not be able ensure the proper call is made on the field already? Why make a coach have to officiate the game too when it is already being done it both on the field and in the mystery booth?
The NFL does not implement replay systems or rules to increase drama or revenue. I expect moving forward there will be extensive discussion on how best to incorporate "expedited replay concepts" into the officiating process. I don't expect this incorporation to be seamless, but I do expect in the long run there will be more involvement with all games on a remote basis from a central officiating entity. I expect officials would still call games on the field in this scenario.
Wes Brown from Ponte Vedra, FL
I am certain that Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone has been working the phone lines nonstop lately to improve this team through trades before the deadline. However, I am a little surprised no moves have yet been made. Is the reason as simple as not yet finding a willing dance partner? Or is it strategic patience in hopes that there are some specific teams that, with one more loss, might become "sellers" this Sunday afternoon?
Both.
Josh from Siem Reap, Cambodia
Som the refs crew in the Philadelphia Eagles-Washington Commanders game got flexed out. I didn't even know that could happen, but it got me wondering. Why have "crews" at all? An offensive line needs cohesion. A ref crew doesn't and actually SHOULDN'T. That inevitably leads to one crew calling holding more than the rest and another leaning towards pass interference, etc. Why not have one "supervisor," like a senior ref that makes the schedule each week? Put the best refs with the worst ones week in and out. Seems like a good way to train them and – I don't know if teams do this -- stops them from game planning around a ref squad.
Officials work in crews because continuity and communication matter. Teams would "game plan" just as much around individual officials in different officiating roles with rotating crews as they do now.
Chris from Mandarin
The national media discounting a Jaguars blowout of the Ravens really is all too predictable, particularly when you consider that two other AFC contenders that get more love from the media, the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, had a nearly identical output to the Jaguars in the games directly preceding this one. The Bengals beat a Lamar-less Ravens team 35-13 two weeks ago and the Buffalo 'Fighting Josh Allens' (working title for a franchise rebrand) defeated the Ravens 36-10 only a week ago, but the national media didn't bat an eye. Why do you think this is? Trevor and the Jags have been remarkably good and consistent for like 20-plus games and still everything this team does gets discounted in some way. I see this for what it is, but what do you make of the resistance to come around on this team? Does it really come down to Tony Kornheiser's BS article about Jacksonville having nothing to do but eat at Waffle House during the Super Bowl in 2005, and the subsequent "wilderness years" that occurred for this franchise for the next 15 some years?
Former players sitting behind desks on television are in no way any "final say" on what is what in the NFL. Respect is a mirage. Records, titles and trophies are real.
