JACKSONVILLE – Look-ahead Wednesday.
Let's get to it …
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
Such a big-time result to handle the Titans that way. My question is can this team overcome the penalties and injuries when it matters most?
We're looking ahead in this Wednesday O-Zone, which means we've largely shifted focus from the Jaguars' one-sided victory over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday to Sunday's Week 14 game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium. It's by any definition one of the biggest regular-season home games in franchise history. First place in the AFC South is at stake with five games remaining, which means we're absolutely to the time "when it matters most." Can the Jaguars do what's necessary – i.e., play through injuries to play clean football against the Colts and the final four teams on the schedule? We're going to learn the answer soon enough. I expect the Jaguars to continue playing well and playing hard – and continue to do so with toughness, clutch play and resolve. I don't know if that will mean beating the Colts on Sunday because the Colts are a good team and you don't always beat good teams in December. But I expect the Jaguars to play well and have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. We'll see what result that brings.
Daniel from Quezon City (now DUUUVAL County)
Not to be complacent, but do you think the Jags have turned the corner and ready for more consistency in this final 6-game stretch? Also: Are we seeing anything specific/different that Jakobi does that made him instantly click so well with the quarterback just 3 weeks in? It's just amazing to see given the "they-have-yet-to-develop-chemistry" reasons given to wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter earlier this year and wide receiver Dyami Brown being benched. He is here not even a full 3 weeks! Imagine what a full offseason brings if the chemistry thing is indeed real!
Consistency, while an understandable desire for fans, is an elusive goal in the NFL – elusive enough that it is almost always impossible. This is a hard league of well-paid, high-level athletes – all of whom want very much to win. No matter how good your team is, you're not going to win every NFL game by double digits. I expect the Jaguars to play well and to play hard – and be competitive – in the rest of their games. I expect they will win at least a few of those games. I don't expect them to win many – if any – of those games by 22 points. As for Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers … he's a precise, reliable route-runner with exceptional hands. He also has nearly seven years NFL experience whereas the other receivers you mention have a combined less than that. Meyers is a savvy, experience, quality professional – and that's why he has fit in so well and gained quarterback Trevor Lawrence's trust so quickly.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
O, I remember a Jags team not so long ago that was 8-3 when the wheels fell off the bus. What do you think are the chances of that happening this year? Please say a lot less likely ...
A lot less likely, particularly if Lawrence stays healthy.
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
My Colts buddy says their Taylor at 28 is better than ours. Help me, O. I know this is wrong but what's the best way to convince the Colts dummy?
I doubt you and your buddy will ever agree here. Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is among the great NFL players at his position ever. Most people arguing another runner is as good or better than Fred Taylor are wrong. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor belongs in the discussion.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
O, I think the Jags may be trending towards a very special season — beyond just making the playoffs. Are you getting the same vibe?
Perhaps.
Craig from Auburn, IN
So, I sent you a question recently about you being wrong that the Jags threw the ball, or attempted to throw the ball, on the first drive of the second half. Pretty sure that isn't right. I went to YouTube and at the 14:05 mark of the third quarter the Titans had the ball and the score was still 18-3. It was the second drive, Lawrence got sacked on third down, then on fourth down the Titans roughed the kicker. The Jags took advantage of that penalty and scored to make it 25-3. Did you get a chance to go back and look at that?
An O-Zone questioner wrote following Sunday's game that the Jaguars' first series in the second half of that was "atrocious" and that the Jaguars took less than 20 seconds off the clock. The questioner ended his email with, "Tell me I'm wrong." That series ended in a touchdown and took more than six minutes off the clock. I then fulfilled the questioner's request.
The real JT from Plano, TX
It's fun watching your reaction to fans just "fanning." Sometimes complimentary, sometimes not. I think all these fan comments, the soft and the hard, demonstrate the pride of what being a fan is all about – even if only the fans read them. And while mostly insufferable, your charming sanctimony is still pretty entertaining, so I'll keep reading and appreciating the high ground you routinely visit and the daily blend of objectivity, criticality, humor and support for our favorite team.
That's one reader, I suppose.
Armand from Jacksonville
IF the season ended and the draft was tomorrow, what would you consider our biggest need?
I would hope against hope that the Jaguars didn't have "need" at the top of the list when figuring out who to draft.
Scott from Riverton, UT
What are the chances of re-signing Devin Lloyd?
If the Jaguars want to re-sign linebacker Devin Lloyd following this season, I expect they will be able to do so.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Trevor looks like he's improving. One thing that is different is that his feet are calm. He just looks totally relaxed in the picture pocket. I think he's about to make a leap. What's his ceiling? Is all of the hopes and dreams from 5 years ago still possible? If so, watch out!
Ceilings, hopes and dreams are a bit too "out there" for me to discuss with much intelligence. I can tell you that Lawrence is playing more confidently in recent weeks, which might be attributed at least in part to increased comfort in Head Coach Liam Coen's scheme and also at least in part to increasing trust in a receiving corps that now includes a reliability factor in wide receivers Parker Washington, Meyers and tight end Brenton Strange. Will Lawrence ever satisfy fans' hopes and dreams? Who knows? Can he be a winning quarterback in the NFL? Absolutely. He has shown that before, and he appears to be showing that again.
Marty from Jacksonville
Hi, John. In regard to Trevor's completion percentage, I consulted my AI oracle (Gemini) and it told me the Jaguars have dropped 25 passes this season so far. Trevor's completion percentage is 60% (59.7 to be more exact) but if those passes had been caught, his completion percentage would be 66%. I know every quarterback deals with dropped passes, but I thought it was worth figuring out what his completion percentage would be without the dropped passes.
Sounds 'bout right.
John from Cape May Court House
I'm no Trevor apologist, but we're complaining about completion percentage? This team leads the league in drops and wonders why his is under 60%? Get real. That is all, as you were.
Fair.
William from Jacksonville
How is Parker?
Washington sustained a hip injury against the Titans and my gut feeling is that I would be surprised if he practices Wednesday. My not-so-trusty gut also tells me this could be a gametime decision – or very close. This is a key storyline. The Jaguars are much better offensively and on special teams with Washington than without in recent months.
John from Jax
Hi KOAGF - Is it me or have we only had 1 or 2 fumbles this season? Even when Trevor scrambles and runs, he secures the ball better and my heart beats normal. The running backs are doing a remarkable job with ball security.
The Jaguars have lost three fumbles this season. Lawrence lost one against the Arizona Cardinals, one on the final play of a loss to the Houston Texans and one against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been better in this area this season than in some previous seasons.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
Would you trade the Jaguars Week 3 win against the Texans, which would leave the Texans and Colts at 8-4 and the Jags at 7-5 for Travis Hunter coming back this week completely healthy?
Winning in the NFL is hard. Victories are very valuable. Give them away at your peril.
