JACKSONVILLE – Lookahead Wednesday.

Let's get to it …

Beefbar from Grillville

The Jaguars have the mashed potatoes, broccoli, garlic bread and all the sides, but it feels like we are still missing the steak. What I mean by that is: Do we have enough on this roster to finally get over the hump and consistently beat the top-tier teams in the league — the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, etc.? Or are we always going to have a pretty good-looking plate without the one piece that actually makes the meal complete?

This strikes me as a strikingly short-sighted way to see a Jaguars team that finished 13-4 with an AFC South title in its first season of a new regime last season – and that leads the AFC South with 2-1 record through three games this season. I am reminded of what the late Hall of Fame Head Coach/Broadcaster/Video Game Guru John Madden used to say when critics said his team, the Oakland Raiders, could not win "the big game." Madden's response was, in essence, he wished people would tell him what "a big game" was before the game rather than after the game. The Jaguars last season beat the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos. All were various levels of "big games." Except for the Chiefs, who were good when the Jaguars played them, all those teams made the postseason. Remember, too: The Jaguars played the defending AFC Champion Patriots this past Sunday and beat them, 35-6. Second-tier teams don't play in Super Bowls. The Jaguars from this view are at minimum among best eight-to-10 teams at this early stage of the 2026 this season. They may end up being better than that. Either way, there is plenty of meat with this meal and the best may be to come.

Charles from Savannah, GA

My question is: Did Trevor cause a viable controversy by kneeling at the 1-yard line that warrants an investigation by the league?

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence "took a knee" at the Patriots 1-yard line this past Sunday after a 15-yard run on third down with 8:06 remaining with the Jaguars leading 28-3. Lawrence said afterward he was a bit in "four-minute mode," which is when the offense is prioritizing draining the clock. That's plausible, reasonable with no reason to think otherwise. Had the clock indeed been around four minutes or less, it was the right play – and a smart, aware play. But with 8:06 remaining, Lawrence indeed should have scored. While Lawrence joked that he was trying to help running back Bhayshul Tuten fantasy owners, he said shortly before that joke that he was trying to run the clock. While the joke has spawned a lot of instant online hot takes from uniformed folks clamoring for attention, an investigation from this view would be patently unnecessary and utter silliness. Remember: Not everything's a conspiracy. Some things just are.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

If a timely deal does not get done with wide receiver Parker Washington, there is always the franchise tag. There is no need to fret. We can all enjoy the season.

Absolutely.

Kalani from Duval

This time last year it felt like we couldn't find fourth and fifth gear on offense. This year, it feels like we barely need it. I think we handle Cincy in similar fashion. It's a nice feeling. I like it.

This time last season the Jaguars were in the early stages of learning Head Coach Liam Coen's offense. There was the expected learning curve and the inevitable hiccups. Once the Jaguars hit their Week 7 bye week, there were fewer hiccups. The team began playing well and the team continues to play well. The Jaguars are capable of beating most – if not all – NFL teams if they play well. This does not remotely mean they are assured of "handling" a Cincinnati Bengals team that is also playing well and that features an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow, at least one elite wide receiver in Ja'Marr Chase and a defense that is playing well. The Jaguars will need to play well and score offensively to win on Sunday. There is every reason to believe they will do. There is also no guarantee that it will happen.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. I believe what we saw Sunday against the Patriots is a validation of the Jaguars' ability to win games against the best in the league. They absolutely crushed the Pats and really should have beaten the Broncos the week before (by the way, the Browns are now also 2 -1). The Jags have four more games with playoff teams from last year. We split venues with these four games, two are in EverBank against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears, two in London against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. Of our 14 games left this season, 10 are out of Jacksonville, two of those are international. It certainly looks like a grueling stretch with massive travel demands against some really good teams? Seems like a rare occurrence in the league? But with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans at 0-3 and the Indianapolis Colts at 1-2, we are off to a good start. How many of our upcoming games do you think we need to win to make the playoffs?

I expect 10 victories will get you in the playoffs. Ten sometimes does not get you in, but those cases are relatively rare.

Keith from Space Coast, FL

How concerned should we be with BTJ? He was essentially a non-factor in the game and seems to have lost snaps to rookie Josh Cameron.

I don't know how to counsel fans on levels of concern. The Jaguars were 13-4 last season and are 2-1 this season. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. during that span has struggled at times with consistency and at other times he has made some significant plays. He has mattered to the offense during that stretch, but the offense in no way has been overly dependent on him. I expect him to matter going forward, though I do not expect the offense to be overly dependent on him.

Johnny from Jax

First, it was just the Browns (who are now 2-1 by the way), now it's the demise of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. It's never about the Jags playing well, keep fueling the fire, National Pundits, please keep fanning the fire!

Remember: It is more fun for national pundits to talk about what is going wrong with a big-market team than what is going right with a small-market team. Why wouldn't it be?

Daryl from Jax

When the Jags manhandled the Browns, the story was it was the lowly Browns, who are now 2-1. After clobbering the Patriots, the story is what's wrong with Maye, not how good are the Jags. I guess we are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL.

And so it has been, so it is and so it shall be.

Mark from Des Moines

Hey O, when are we going to lock up Parker Washington? He is playing like an elite wide receiver and it is only going to cost us more money to try to re-sign him. Do you think the team is comfortable with there being a chance he walks for more money?

The Jaguars want to pay Washington and the sides have yet to reach a deal. I think the team would like to get a long-term deal done and also knows the franchise tag is available for the 2027 season if necessary.

Kat from Augusta, GA

O-Zone, I don't think this can be said enough. The Jags haven't had a legitimate No. 1 receiver since the Jimmy Smith era. The front office has to figure out a way to sign Parker Washington sooner rather than later. It feels the longer this goes on, the less likely we are to re-sign him.

The Jaguars want to pay Washington and the sides have yet to reach a deal. I think the team would like to get a long-term deal done and also knows the franchise tag is available for the 2027 season if necessary.

Kevin from Jacksonville

Do you feel that breeze? I think that's our Super Bowl window being wide open.

As long as Lawrence is healthy with the current regime responsibly building and maintaining the roster around him, the "windows" are open.

JT from Palm Coast

But do you know if the Jags will immediately leave for London after they beat the Bengals in Cincinnati?

No. The Jaguars will return to Jacksonville after Sunday's game against the Bengals then leave for London the following Thursday.

Jeremy from Riverview

So, after twenty games or so, it seems like one thing is true, you do not want to face the Jaguars if they are coming off a loss. This fan, at least, is impressed at the team's ability to bounce back under this coaching regime.

Good eye.