JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Woody from Dunlap

KOAF: There has been much attention being paid by sports media representatives about the fact that wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is not playing more for the Jaguars. Given how well the Jaguars did last season when Travis was not available at all, I am much less concerned about his lack of playing time than I am with the lack of success our offensive line had in pass protection against the Denver Broncos last Sunday. Right now, the Patriots have one of the top-ranked defenses in the NFL. How do you compare/contrast the Patriots' defense with the Broncos' defense, especially the defensive lines?

Astute O-Zone readers – and I assume they know who they are because they are … well, astute – may know that from this view the Jaguars' game Sunday against the New England Patriots will be a difficult one. Your question is at the heart of the reason for that difficulty, because the Patriots indeed are very strong defensively overall – very much including along the defensive line. While the Patriots' front doesn't get quite as much outside attention as the Broncos, the Patriots' front is a persistent, physical group that seems to play in waves with a relentlessness that is a trademark of their Head Coach, Mike Vrabel. The Patriots' secondary is also very good, and the defense overall gets consistent pressure while allowing few explosive plays. That makes it likely that Sunday will be a grind-it-out, whoever-makes-a-big-play/big-mistake-in-the-final-seven-minutes game. The Patriots went 14-3 with a Super Bowl appearance last season, which means they're really good playing in those games. The Jaguars, particularly their lines, must show they are just as good. From this view, that's Sunday's main storyline.

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

I always break the season into quarters, but thinking the Jags were built for the road, I had the Patriots circled as the toughest game of the first four. This seems like a heavyweight fight. The Trevor Lawrence/Drake Maye comparison is intriguing, as they seem similar. Will this be a classic quarterback battle?

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye are both exciting, quality players. I expect Sunday to be about which team's lines outplay the other team's lines. The Jaguars' lines therefore must be better Sunday than they were in Denver.

Rusty from New Iberia, LA

The same people complaining about Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter not playing enough this year are probably the same ones that complained he played too much last year and that is why he got hurt.

Irony can be pretty ironic.

Bryan from Tampa, FL

What is going with Meyers? Is it just me or does he look a bit slower and not getting very open? Doesn't look like the same player that bailed out our wide receiver corps from leading the league in drops last season. I know he scored a touchdown in Week 1, but he only has three total targets through two games.

Two games are a relatively small sample size, and passes in the NFL don't always go to the "No. 1 option on a play. Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has three targets this season. Tight end Brenton Strange has four. I expect those numbers to rise organically as the season continues. Check back on this one in two or three weeks.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

You might have to change this venue to CryBabies Zone. The Jaguars have beaten all the current "elite" quarterbacks.

OK.

Jason from North Pole, AK

The goal-line stand against the best offensive line in football on Sunday was really impressive. That moment is being overlooked because of the loss, but it was one of the more eye-opening things this team has done in a while. This run defense is no joke.

The Jaguars finished No. 1 in the NFL in run defense last season and they appear very strong in that area again. Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are high-end run defenders, and they are not alone in that regard along the Jaguars' front seven. This seems to be a foundation piece on which this team absolutely can rely. That is important because if you can't stop the run, it is hard to do anything well defensively. The Jaguars must rush the passer better on Sunday than they did against Denver. But if you do not stop the run, it usually doesn't matter how well you rush the passer because you have no chance to the opponent.

Chris from Mandarin

After seeing the Jaguars' offensive and defensive lines get moll-whopped by the Broncos, I think we can assume that the Browns are still the Browns. Yes, I will concede that the Browns playing poorly does not mean the Jaguars did not meet their assignments throughout the game. However, playing a crappy, unprepared and young team in Week 1 certainly takes some of the shine off of what the Jaguars were able to do in Week 1, particularly when they were so thoroughly outclassed in the second half of Week 2's outing.

You are right. The NFL is a week-to-week league. The Jaguars have played two 1-1 teams. They are 1-1 against those teams. We will have a good idea in Week 4 or 5 what teams really are this season. Right now, we're just whacking through the early-season thicket with a machete trying to figure out what is what. Or something like that.

Paul from Saint Augustine, FL

In response to Scott's quote about a "week-to-week league" and your description of the original voice of said quote, I have to conclude it must have been the recently departed J.P. Shadrick.

Good eye.

B from Yulee

I know I rag on JHA a lot in here, but is he worth the money to go invisible for stretches throughout games/season??

Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen didn't have his best game against the Broncos last Sunday. He had a game or two last season in which he didn't have his best game. He was not invisible for long stretches last season and in fact played at a very high level far, far more often than not.

DuvalJag95 from J-ville

Brian Thomas is soft. He looked timid and scared at the same time. Did you notice this or am I just crazy?

There are times when it appears Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. does not aggressively attack the ball in situations in which attacking the ball more aggressively would be appropriate.

John from Merritt Island

Fans fan. It's what they do!!! C'mon people. Travis Hunter has not even played a season's worth of games. Came from college from a mediocre team to a complex offense and defense on a playoff, possible Super Bowl-contending team and we are trying to roast everyone involved in bringing him here? At the end of the 2028 season, we will know if he is a success, which this fan – fanning because it's what we do – predicts he will be a MVP candidate type of player. So, everybody sit back, relax and watch the show. Cheers!!!!

One fer Hunter and one fer relaxin'.

Boxcutter Bill from Mass

I am surrounded by Patriots fans. I love when these two teams meet. I will say this. For the first time in a long time Patriot fans and even the sports media respect how good the Jaguars can be. I know they went to the Super Bowl last year, but we are further along in the process. We have them shaking in their boots and it feels good. I will be coaching my youth football team in a Nor'easter at the same time as the game. How do I not get any information about the game so I can watch the replay like it is live?

Throw your phone in a large body of water and tell your friends and family not to talk to you. I tell my friends and family this from time to time and am struck by how receptive they are to the idea.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I think your approach is very wise with regards to not making any good assessment of a team until several games into the season (you might have mentioned six games, but I could be wrong). The point I am trying to make is, that after two games, we really do not have a good idea what kind of team we have and we may not know enough even after this Sunday (win or lose). If we win, I will not be convinced yet we are really good. And if we lose, I will not be convinced yet that we are really not that good. Are you wise a lot of times or only sparingly? I can't tell because this approach is very wise but your taste in music does not seem so ... but that's OK.

If Beliebing is wrong, I don't want to be right.