JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Big Paul from Oviedo, FL
Jags are getting love now from all the snobby media pundits. I guess they can't ignore a 16-5 record since the start of last season anymore. Seems the "small-market team" from Duval can't be ignored anymore. Thoughts?
The Jaguars not only won the AFC South with a 13-4 record last season, they won their last eight regular-season games. They have won 11 of their last 12 regular-season games overall. They have beaten contending teams such as the San Francisco 49ers (on the road), the Denver Broncos (on the road), the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots, the then-playoff-contending Los Angeles Chargers, the playoff-bound Houston Texans, then then-playoff-contending Kansas City Chiefs, the then-playoff-contending Indianapolis Colts, the currently-3-1 Cleveland Browns and a slew of other teams during the span. Their losses in the last calendar year have been to the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. All were really good teams when the Jaguars played then, only the loss to the Rams was by more than a score and they led the games against the Bills and Broncos with a very real chance to win in the fourth quarter. They currently lead the AFC South and it's hard to argue that they're not among the best offenses and best defenses in the NFL with one of the best quarterbacks and one of the best head coaches. It's silly to ignore this team now. If you do, do it at your peril.
Alex from Michigan, Formerly St. Augustine, FL
Can you share any observations on Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen's coaching during critical moments in games so far this season and how it may be a bit different from last year? One thing I am seeing is that Coen is punting more on fourth-and-short situations or opting to go for field goals in the opponent's territory instead of going for a first down. He doesn't feel like so much of a gambler now, he feels more traditional. Maybe he has reflected on some risky decisions from last year or maybe he feels more confident of the special teams and defense in that they can pick up the slack if the offense stalls? Thanks Mr. O.
I think we are four games into the 2026 season, which is a small sample size, and I also think the situation has not called for Coen to decide to go for a first down on fourth-and-short yet this season. I expect Coen to go first downs on fourth-and-short when situations call for it moving forward. I am sure Coen and the Jaguars' analytics officials reflected on decisions made last season and worked those thoughts into their approach this season. I expect Coen will go for first downs in multiple "untraditional" situations moving forward, and I expect fans to criticize those decisions when they fail and forget them when they succeed. Fans fan. It's what they do. And it's always coaching in the NFL.
Ray from Newport News, VA
Crazy stat a quarter into the season, the Jaguars are the only team in the NFL that have not attempted a fourth-down attempt this year.
Stay tuned.
Big Paul from Oviedo, FL
Would you say that T Law has officially arrived as an elite NFL quarterback?
I don't know what makes these things official. I have said and written often since late last season that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is fast approaching elite if he is not already there. He was Top 5 in the MVP voting last season and is the quarterback of a team that has won 11 of its last 12 regular-season games. Maybe that makes him elite. Maybe it doesn't. But he is playing at a high level and the Jaguars are good. If he keeps doing that, the labels will take care of themselves.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. We talk about the lack of respect for the Jags in the media and in general. Interesting to note that if you look at the major sports media outlets power polls for this week, the Jags are ranked anywhere from a low of sixth and a high of second (Sports Illustrated)? While we all know that the polls aren't that big of deal, as the smallest market, it does show that Jacksonville currently is getting some serious consideration in the Media. Am I wrong, or do you think the Jags seem to be currently getting, and steadily gaining, Respect?
Win enough and "they" will notice. It won't matter any more than when "they" didn't notice, but "they" will notice.
Sal from Austin, TX
Who among us doesn't like a good profanity-laced speech? Though maybe it is time for an F-bomb jar for some of the coaches.
Or maybe we just realize that words are words and aren't hurting anyone anyway.
Dean from MacDill AFB via Daytona Beach, FL
Yo, O-Zone!!! T. Hunter is starting to stack consecutive good defensive games. As Hunter continues to stack these defensive performances, do you see Coen and Co. starting to increase his offensive snaps? Will they implement Hunter wrinkles as the opponent allows? Or do they wait till next year to try and improve his offensive prowess? What says you, O-Zone???
I expect the Jaguars will want to do everything to allow wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter to continue playing at a high level at cornerback and be judicious about increasing his offensive snaps.
Joe from Orlando, FL
Looking a few weeks ahead, I assume the Jags will look to add at the trade deadline. What positions do you think they realistically would want to bring in? Is there a chance they trade for one or more new starters?
I expect the Jaguars will explore trade possibilities at the NFL trade deadline. I expect whether they make a move to depend on quality of player available, production in the coming weeks and injuries in the coming weeks. Best possibilities? Interior defensive line if it can get disruption.
JAY from THE BURG, FL
You hear the term next man up all the time in sports. The Jaguars it seems are of a different mindset. It is more you are going to play, not so much you might have to. That is a testament to the speed this team plays with. Quick to move from play to play, player to player and week to week. And to a player, how ready they are for the moment to compete. Next up the Eagles, Anytime Anyplace Go Jags!
The Jaguars certainly have a "next-man-up" mindset in the sense that they – like most professional sports teams – realize that injuries are going to happen and must find a way to succeed when they happen. It is also true that the Jaguars seem to have the idea that all players on the roster are going to contribute – and that players are going to play regardless of draft position or salary – a bit more at the forefront of their identity than most teams. All of that from this view works together to make this team a bit more balanced, consistent and cohesive than might otherwise be the case.
Patrick from York
Having a defense that is first in takeaways, second against the run and points allowed is great, but being close to the bottom in passing yards allowed is concerning. Is it because the Jags have been leading and the opponent needs chucks of yards to score quickly or is it not getting to the quarterback? It seems like this could be an Achilles Heel that opponents could exploit?
It is better to be rank good-to-great against the run, in takeaways and in points allowed than to rank good-to-great against the pass because if you are a good takeaways/run-stopping/scoring defense, it almost always means teams are going to pass a lot against you and that skews the pass defense statistic. Points, takeaways and run defense are three of the most important defensive statistics. That the Jaguars rank highly in all three means they are a good defense.
Payne from New Orleans, LA
Just my humble opinion, but the hate on defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen needs to stop. They get plenty of pressure. Not as many sacks as we would like, but plenty of pressure. And they stop the run like bosses. Look at the Detroit Lions. Aiden Hutchinson and crew have 15 sacks. Cool. They also allow 120 yards rushing per game. I will take our guys any day. Hines-Allen>Hutchinson. Geaux Jags!
It is the nature of fans – and normal people, too – to focus on "what things aren't" more than what they are. The Jaguars are the NFL's second-ranked defense in terms of points scored and are dominant run defense. They are one of the NFL's best defenses creating turnovers and the Jaguars are 3-1. Walker and Hines-Allen are big reasons the Jaguars are good defensively. Perhaps we focus on what the Jaguars are more than what they're not. Perhaps.
