JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jacob from Fayetteville
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but was this a defensive win?
There are no dumb questions, only dumb senior writers. And I don't know that you can define the Jaguars' 26-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday as a specific "kind" of victory. The NFL is about big moments, momentum and key plays – and I've seen few games in which one side of the ball or another won the entire game without the other side contributing a moment, momentum or a key play. Yes, the Jaguars' defense played well Sunday. Very well. But the Jaguars wouldn't have won without running back Travis Etienne Jr. making a great move on a well-blocked play for a 48-yard second-quarter touchdown. Or without rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter making a remarkable catch for a first down from the Jaguars' 6-yard-line in the same quarter. It took the entire Jaguars team to win Sunday, as is almost always the case.
J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL
Man. That was a great win, but it almost felt like a loss. The offense needs to start gelling. What do you think their issue is?
I learned long ago that fans – like normal people – see things through myriad lenses. I therefore am usually not surprised at how fans see a particular game. I admit I am a bit surprised to learn that a road victory over an unbeaten team with a reputation for consistent winning can "almost feel like a loss." The Jaguars are 3-1.
Jeff from Dripping Springs, TX
This defense is incredibly fun to watch. You can really feel the heart they poured into this one. How much do you think our playing with a lead has affected how productive our new defense has shown to be?
It sure doesn't hurt.
Mike from Middleburg, FL
Aren't we sort of making much ado about nothing over the whole Saleh thing?
To review: Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh last week said the Jaguars do a "great job" stealing signs legally. It was sort of a weird "compliment" that didn't sound all that much like a compliment and served as a weird storyline Sunday with an accompanying weird postgame exchange between Saleh and Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen. I don't know if the whole incident was "much ado about nothing," but I sense it will drift peacefully away now. Ah, the storylines we embrace. Onward ho.
John from Ocala, FL
With the Robert Saleh nonsense, should we lean into this and call the defense the Steal Curtain? OK, maybe not, but this team is starting to take on AMAZING status! Go Jags!!!
I sort of laughed at this.
Mark from Des Moines, IA
I love the way the defense is playing O. They are ball-hawking opponents and forcing fumbles left and right. If they do the same against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, the league will need to start taking the Jags seriously. What should their nickname be?
I'm still sort of laughing at Steal Curtain.
Paul from St. Augustine, FL
What a game! I'll leave it to others to debate about the Jaguars' "legal signal-stealing system," but I have to say I definitely approve of their legal ball-stealing system!
Good one, Paul.
Nick from London, England
Very fortunate that we were able to steal their "don't tackle the punt returner" sign.
Moving on.
Kerry from Millersville, Md
O.As I am sure many will point out, you sort of misspoke about the franchise tag and Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. The reason you cited explains why they can't use the fifth-year option on Lloyd. However, I do agree that the Jaguars are unlikely to use the tag because as an "outside linebacker" his "tag price" will be impacted by the likes of T.J. Watt and a number of other pass-rush outside linebackers, which will put it the $25-30 million range. The question is really what a long-term deal might cost if he plays at this level all year, with only one year of performance at that level.
You're correct that I misspoke on an answer regarding Lloyd and the franchise tag. My eyes read franchise tag and my brain read fifth-year option. That's the danger of West Coast travel and early morning arrivals. You're also correct that the franchise tag could be very expensive if used on Lloyd for the reasons you cite. A long-term deal could be very expensive for Lloyd, as is the case for most long-term deals for remotely productive players – and Lloyd has been far better than "remotely productive" through four games.
Bradley from Kansas City, MO
Several people mentioned culture in the preamble to the season. You especially were prolific with the term. How important has the culture change been to the solid start of the season?
Very, very.
Greg from Atlanta, GA
Did Sunday's game give you the feeling of the 2017 regular season game at Pittsburgh? Do you see a lot of similarities between this team and the 2017 team with a great defense and running game except with much more potential on offense?
Sunday's game indeed had a similar "statement" feel to the 2017 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers you cite, and there are some similarities in the sense of a defense setting an early-season tone for a team finding its identity. There is also a growing belief that feels like 2017. Remember, though: The 2017 Jaguars ranked fifth in the NFL scoring and sixth in total yards. If this Jaguars offense is "much" better than that, look out.
John from Cape May Court House
Why hasn't Adam Schefter reported the Jags have signed Devin Lloyd to a lifetime deal? What are we waiting for? My goodness, he looks special.
Lloyd has looked very good through four games, and he has showed a career-long knack for making plays when around the football. A decision on whether to sign a player to a long-term deal is not one teams should make based on four games. There is time on this front.
Josh from Lakewood
Duuufense?
As my high school basketball coach almost certainly said of me often, "Good effort, bad execution."
Jim from Jagsonville
After Coen's dust-up with Saleh on the side lines, it sounds like you need to have a talk with them about being nice. Go Jaguars!
Here we go.
CT from Section 325
Plus-four turnover margin, a return touchdown, margin of victory: five points. There are two types of quarterbacks, those you can win a Super Bowl with, and those you can't win a Super Bowl with. Trevor is not a QB you can win a Super Bowl with.
The Jaguars are 3-1 through four games and we're leaning heavily into criticizing the quarterback, I see. We also might remember the Jaguars won a road game Sunday against an unbeaten team. I don't know if Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence ever will be elite. Can you win a Super Bowl with him at quarterback? Yes. Must he play better than he has so far this season to be a quarterback who can lift a team and get them consistently to the postseason largely based on his play? Also yes.
Al from Orange Park, FL
How 'bout them Jag-uars?
How 'bout 'em?
Crash from Glen Saint Mary
Obi Wan! Wow! Happy Oktoberfest!
Happy Oktoberfest to all those who celebrate.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
After last season, I decided to withhold judgment on this year until I saw four games. Usually by then, I have a decent idea of what kind of team we have. After the San Francisco game, my conclusion is we are legit. Our defense is playing really well and barring injury we should be dominant. I hope Travon Walker won't be out too long. The offense is a work in progress. We can run the ball and if our passing game ever comes together, lookout NFL. How does this team look to you at the almost quarter mark?
The Jaguars look like a legit 3-1 team that can win a lot of games this season if it continues to do well what it has consistently done well so far.
Bryan from Tampa, FL
OK, Zone, I've been cautiously optimistic but not sold to this point. Sunday seemed different, however. This was a convincing win against a 3-0 opponent, on the road, on the west coast, and we still scored when we had to and turned the ball over multiple times. Am I a fool for starting to believe in our team?
The Jaguars have been a team in which you can believe all season. They're tough, play physically, force turnovers, make big plays at big moments and run well. They also fight, compete and believe in the direction of the organization. I'm not given to calling people fools. Such labels are often applied based on evidence rather than opinion. But it's absolutely OK to believe in this team.
