JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Tanner from West Reading, PA
The chemistry is back, the culture feels restored and we're firing on all cylinders — yet one thing still nags at me: those losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. What's the missing variable that keeps us from clearing that final competitive hurdle against truly high-caliber teams? With the Denver Broncos game looming, I can't help but wonder: Can we do it?
This seems a common worry among some fans this week as the Jaguars (9-4) prepare to play the New York Jets (3-10) at EverBank Stadium Sunday, and I suppose this worry is understandable. The Jaguars haven't been good very often in the last decade and a half, which means many fans don't recognize when they indeed are good. It also means many fans don't realize that few NFL teams – even the best teams – go through seasons unscathed. That means many fans believe if their team loses to some good teams during the season that their team in turn isn't good and can never beat a team to which they lost. Remember: The Jaguars have victories this season over the Carolina Panthers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers, the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts. All those teams have winning records except the Chiefs and the Chiefs would have a winning record if they had beaten the Jaguars. All those teams are good. Just because the Jaguars lost to very good Seahawks and Rams teams doesn't mean they would lose those games again. Hall of Fame Head Coach John Madden used to say to tell him what the big games were before he coached them, not after he lost them. This applies to the Jaguars this season, too. They can beat good teams. They haven't beaten them all. There are no unbeaten teams in the NFL this season. What's the missing variable that keeps the Jaguars from beating high-caliber teams? I don't know that there is one because the Jaguars have been beating high-caliber teams all season.
Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL
The Colts are not likely the issue for the Jags winning the South anymore. With the Colts' difficulty of schedule and using backup quarterbacks, I think they will fade. The Texans, however … things in the rearview mirror are closer than they appear. That catastrophic fourth quarter may soon loom large short of the Jags winning out.
The Texans are dangerous and I agree they're the likeliest team to catch the Jaguars in the AFC South at this point. This is not as much a statement about the Colts as the Texans. Yes, the Jaguars could regret letting a 19-point fourth-quarter lead vanish in a 36-29 loss to the Texans at Houston. At the same time, these two teams are both very good and it's probably reflective of their respective strengths that they have split the season series. The Jaguars may indeed have to go 4-0 to win the South. Weirder things have happened.
Fred from Naples, FL
Don't tell the Jags this, but they are 11.5-point favorites this week against the Jets. It might ruin this whole "respect" thing the media keeps harping on.
Shh.
Keith from Soon to be Demolished Section 436
Running back Travis Etienne Jr., linebacker Devin Lloyd of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Which one will likely go in the offseason? Don't know how they can keep them all with the cap.
I expect the Jaguars to re-sign Meyers. The 2026 offseason will be an intriguing one, as it is for most NFL teams in the salary-cap era.
J.Hooks from Mandarin
Do you think at any point this season we will see rookie running back Bhaysul Tuten bust for a 70-yarder? I feel like that's the one thing we haven't seen yet and I've been waiting since preseason! I need to see this dude run!
Weirder things have happened.
Bob from Weaverville NC
I've got a feeling the fans like this quite a bit, O man. I know this one is. Dare I say, ALL IN BABY. My heart is telling me we can make it all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
Weirder things have happened.
Joe Living in St. Johns, down by the river
Winning is fun and I like our chances the balance of the season. Denver and a recovering Colts team stand in our way. Can we win the last four and shock the sports world?
Weirder things have happened.
Kyle from Ingalls IN and the mean streets of Arlington
Got 2 for you today, KOAF. The first, why did you rate the 49ers ahead of our beloved Jags in your power rankings? And second, since Philip (Like the ground hog Phil) Rivers is on the practice squad, could one of the division rivals pluck him off before the Colts activate him and make him third string before they can elevate him to the active roster, preventing him from actually playing?
First, I rate teams in power rankings because that's where I rank them. Second, any team could approach any player on any practice squad and try to sign them. It's up to that player whether he signs with the approaching team.
David from Maplewood, NJ
John, Clearly the version of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and of the team overall that has been on display the last two weeks could do some very special things. This is fun. Here's hoping Trevor and the entire team can keep improving because that could be fun like we've never experienced as a fan base literally ever. LET'S GO!!!!
Let's go.
Colin from Sanford
Hey, John. I just got done watching the most recent episode of the hunt and wanted to drop in to show my appreciation for Josh Hines-Allen. Even on the field accomplishments asides, we're truly lucky to have him in Jacksonville.
Hines-Allen indeed is the focus of the latest episode of The Hunt, Jaguars Media's fine – albeit understaffed, underfunded and under-promoted – series that takes fans inside the locker room and behind the scenes of the organization. This latest episode is indeed cool and gives viewers insight into Hines-Allen. It's well worth the watch.
Josh from New Milford, CT
The final score counts, but I think it is noteworthy the Jags have played and dominated all three teams in the division in rapid succession. Epic collapse against the Texans aside, this team is something else.
I think you're saying the Jaguars were dominating the Texans in the first 3 quarters of what became a 36-29 loss to the Texans in Week 10. This is a bit nitpicky, but that's not really the case. The Jaguars did lead by 19 points in that game, but they managed just 213 yards offense for the game and a lot of that lead was built on 10 first-quarter points that came from short fields following turnovers. It was in that sense was a pretty even game before the Texans late rally.
Kelly from Jacksonville
Yo, John. I know he has always received a lot of negativity from fans and media alike, but is fair to think that Baalke (probably spelled wrong but I'm to lazy to check) did a pretty good job of assembling talent for us? I'm not saying he was necessarily a good general manager, but it seems like we're doing pretty well with guys he acquired.
I always thought – and wrote and said – that former Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke had a very solid approach to a lot of what he did. I thought – and wrote and said – that I didn't love the Jaguars' approach to signing so many aging unrestricted free agents in the 2024 offseason. It seemed at the time a formula for making the roster older and more prone to injury. But overall … yes, I thought Baalke acquired a lot of good players and at times drafted soundly.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even with the Jaguars alone in first, you still suck.
The Jaguars play host to the Jets at EverBank Stadium Sunday.
Darryl from Bogota via Orange Park, FL
Something that I think people are overlooking was when tight end Brenton Strange pulled ETN across the line to gain for a first down. It's getting overlooked because in the grand scheme of the game it didn't really matter, but that type of play, that type of effort, speaks to the culture of the team. What it tells me is this team is good, this team wants to win, this team believes it can win, and this team will do everything it its power to win. January could be fun, maybe even February.
You're right that this was somewhat overlooked. Strange is a big-time, aware football player and he absolutely is crucial to this team.
Colin from Sanford
Hey John, speaking of KOAF and Shadrick Sightings, "You've been heard" used to be a staple here to punctuate insightful comments. What does it take here to get "heard" anymore? Duval!
What?
