JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bryan from Tampa, FL

What is your sense for which Jags team will show up to the Cardinals game? Is the team still pissed off?

I expect the Jaguars (6-4) to be very motivated and focused when they play the Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday. I don't know if they will be pissed off. I didn't get a sense this week that they were as pissed off as they were focused on showing they can play well – and win – two consecutive weeks. The thought here is it's OK they weren't pissed off all week and that it's OK – even better – to be focused rather than pissed off. Good teams from my experience stay focused without being pissed off. Remember: It's really difficult to stay pissed off all the time – unless, of course, you're an aging senior writer. Then, it's remarkably easy.

Dan from Madrid

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is so different when he plays freely. Do you think Doug Pederson screwed him over when they emphasized not turning the ball over?

While it is vogue in some Jaguars circles to blame former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson for all sins of the Jaguars' past – and a few in the present – it's hard to realistically say Pederson "screwed Lawrence over" by emphasizing reducing turnovers. Pederson was trying to win games. Lawrence at times has committed too many turnovers. Was Pederson supposed to encourage more?

Brendan from The Banana Patch

John, do you think the league will change the roughing-the-passer-on-every-sack problem in the offseason? Perhaps add an asterisk *with intent* -- only throw the flag if there is intent involved with landing on a quarterback, etc.?

No. The league tries to remove judgement from officiating as much as possible – and trying to judge intent is particularly difficult. I agree that including intent would help the situation at times. The league's concern is including it would create as much controversy as it solves.

Chris from Mandarin

Trevor Lawrence did indeed play well Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. He's basically Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's big bro at this point. I think fans, myself included, get worked up over Trevor's stats because we see so many other quarterbacks around the league doing more with less perceived talent. Most people would probably agree that Trevor is a better quarterback than Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, and he threw for 450 yards this past weekend. Trevor hasn't had as much luck with the deep ball this season, and that could perhaps account for some of the low yardage totals. What do you think it would take for this offense and Trevor to have more of an impact throwing the ball, so defenses don't have to crowd the box as much against the run?

One issue here is that wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown haven't been as healthy or as consistent this season as would be ideal. I don't know if the Jaguars' offense at this point is going to shift direction and suddenly hit a lot of deep balls. What will it take for Lawrence and the passing offense to be more effective? We saw a bit of it in the second half against the Chargers, when Lawrence got into a rhythm with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. The offense was running well and staying in positive down-and-distance situations – a good combination for any quarterback to have success. Lawrence also has great trust in tight end Brenton Strange, who may return this week. While the deep ball may not be destined to be the Jaguars' offensive identity this season, consistent passing with reliable receivers can have a positive effect.

Sam from Orlando, FL

I really think with a better supporting cast, David Garrard would have gone down as the best quarterback in Jaguars history. (Statistically)

OK.

Brad from Yankton, SD

Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold … I didn't look up their statistics, but fair to say after several teams and disappointed years in the middle of their careers they have found the right coaches, teammates, systems to now being very successful. I think we have found the right coach, general manager and system. I think we established that 8 other teams would take Lawrence. These guys don't grow on trees. Let's support Trevor and let him develop here in his mid-career. Otherwise, we're going to be watching him be a superstar somewhere else. We all know how painful that can be!

I don't know how many teams would trade for Lawrence. I do know he will be the quarterback here for the foreseeable future and any talk of him not being the quarterback next season – and quite likely the season after that – is a time-wasting exercise.

Marcus from Jax

I know that there are many examples of great leaders in NFL history that did not have fiery personalities, but I have also worried that too many of the Jaguars key leaders have a more laidback demeanor. Not every leader needs to be fiery, but someone needs to light that fire and Trevor, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, Thomas, defensive end Travon Walker and even linebacker Foye Oluokon are all on the more chill side. I think the game Sunday proves that they need some fire to win, so how do they keep playing "pissed off?" Is that on Head Coach Liam Coen, or are there guys on the field who can provide that?

My thought always has been that "fiery" leadership is a bit overrated. The best fire comes from within. This is even true within the context of Coen recently saying the team plays its best when it's "pissed off." That appears true, but it's still up to players to find that "pissed-off-ness" inside themselves, not because their teammates are hollerin'.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Everyone keeps talkin' wild card. Am I the only one with hopes/fantasies of winning the division? Or, did I just jinx us by writing that?

I don't know who "everyone" is in the context of this conversation. I do know the Jaguars are focused on winning games. If they keep winning, nothing – AFC South, home-field advantage, a wild-card spot – is out of the conversation. If they don't keep winning, then all the conversation is just talk.

Mark from Green Bay, WI

Not a Jaguar question, but where will the college Gator Bowl be played while the stadium is being rebuilt?

To be determined.

Kathy from Palm Coast, FL

I am thrilled by the Jaguars' last game. I do have a comment. Why do you always say the team problems are due to injuries? Every team in the NFL has injuries and most don't blame injuries for poor play. It's always been "next man up."

I don't always say the Jaguars' problems are because of injuries. I write about and discuss injuries as part of the NFL because injuries are a major factor in professional football. Of course every team has injuries. And of course coaches and players try to discuss injuries as little as possible and say things like "Next Man Up" in media availabilities because nothing good from their perspective from saying, "We are really beat up as a team and it will be hard to overcome the loss of Player A or B." That's fine for them to take that approach. I try to write and discuss the NFL in such a way as to allow readers and listeners to really understand what's happening – and if you want to understand what's happening, it's unrealistic to ignore injuries. It's a player's league and players matter. If the level of player didn't matter teams, wouldn't draft players or spend millions of dollars in free agency. They would simply hold open tryouts and we would have a league of rosters stuffed with Mark Wahlbergs running around in hoodies. Until we have that, injuries will matter – however players and coaches choose to discuss them.

Brad from Yankton, SD

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to win out (look at their schedule and who they play at home) 12-5. The Buffalo Bills will get a wild-card spot. So, the Jags need to win 5 games to get the last Wildcard Spot. Liam Coen owns the Last Win. Go Jags!!

This seems like a solid prediction based on the past. November, December and January have ways of making predictions based on the past seem silly in professional football.

Peter from Sp.Duplek, Slovenia

As a fan, would you rather win a game with old-fashion playcalling - plenty of running, throwing the ball like 20-25 times a game – or on gimmick plays?

I assume a fan would just want to win, though fans' tendencies to fan makes it difficult to assess what they want with any accuracy. Most coaches would prefer to win with plenty of running and minimal throwing because that means you're controlling the line of scrimmage and it's much easier to win when you're doing that.