JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: Not to be a Debbie Downer, but what makes this Jags team different from our one-and-done Jags? Not one and done in the playoffs, but one year in the playoffs and they are done and not making the playoffs for a number of years?
This is a fair point – and while the Jaguars' sole focus this week is Sunday's AFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium, it's understandable for fans to have at least a sliiiiiiight thought on the past and future. And the Jaguars indeed have not made consecutive postseason appearances since making the playoffs each season from 1996-1999. There are no guarantees in the NFL, which is very much a week-to-week league and quite often also a year-to-year league. But one factor that often allows teams to maintain consistency over the course of several seasons or longer is elite quarterback play – and the Jaguars absolutely seem likely to get that from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. What he is doing in the second half of this season seems very sustainable. I would be stunned at this point if he's not very good for a long time – if not at the MVP level of the last two months, at least at a consistently winning level. Stability at head coach and in offensive scheme also matters, and the Jaguars will have that with Head Coach Liam Coen. The culture here feels right. The infrastructure feels right. It all seems sustainable. Stay tuned.
Chris from Mandarin
The Jaguars have not been running the ball very well for the last few games. Should this be a cause for alarm going into the postseason, or do you think Lawrence is playing so well that it will mask deficiencies in other areas?
The Jaguars want to run better than they have in recent games. It's not necessarily cause for alarm, but they want to run better. Lawrence playing well can mask deficiencies, but the Jaguars still want to run better.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Is the team allowed to wear the Prowlers during the postseason? What are the rules?
No, the Jaguars cannot wear the Prowler Throwback uniforms during the postseason. NFL teams cannot wear alternate uniforms in the playoffs.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even with the Jaguars in the playoffs, you still suck.
Good eye.
Fred from the Willie Browne Trail
Quick shoutout to the Old Bank pub in York for tuning in the Jags/Tennessee Titans on Sky Sports. I wish Pedal Bin could have made it up. Back to the national disrespect. One writer said if we made the Super Bowl along with the Panthers it would be the "Kitty Litter Bowl." But the most annoying is the incessant refrain that Josh Allen "now has a clear path to the Super Bowl." Nothing against him, but I hope our small market magicians can show him a Duval "no path"!
The Bills do not have a "clear path the Super Bowl." Bills quarterback Josh Allen does not have "a clear path to the Super Bowl." I expect the five playoff teams the Jaguars beat this season do not believe the Bills have a "clear path to the Super Bowl." I expect Bills coaches this week do not believe the Bills have a "clear path to the Super Bowl." One fer the Old Bank pub. And one fer Pedal Bin.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
I know we're looking ahead, but in the Tennessee game – right before halftime – if I were the coach I would have taken a penalty backed it up a little further and let Cam try for another even longer record kick. We didn't need the points, time was going to expire. Perfect scenario to try further cement Little in the record books.
The NFL record for largest comeback is 33 points. The Jaguars led 28-3 when kicker Cam Little kicked a 67-yard field goal late in the first half of a victory over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. The Jaguars lost a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in a loss to the Houston Texans earlier this season. You always need the points.
Nick from Palm Coast, FL
Why has Maason Smith been unavailable each game? Now is the time we need a strong defense.
Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith has been inactive in recent weeks because Jaguars coaches believe the active defensive tackles give them a better chance to win. The Jaguars are the NFL's No. 1 defense against the run.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: Has anyone asked to squat you at Strings?
No. I have been asked to leave Strings on more than one occasion, often with very good reason, but I don't think this is the same as someone asking if they can squat you.
JK from NY (not Buffalo) & Fernandina Beach, FL
John, running back James Cook is a potent weapon for the Bills. Combined with Josh Allen's running threat, stopping the run is an important key to victory. I will be keeping my eyes on the Bills' running attack early in the game to see what Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has dialed up. Lucky for the Jags, we have some of the best linebackers in the league who will definitely step up and shut them down. I am looking for huge games from Jaguars linebackers Devin Lloyd and Foye Oluokun. If safety Andrew Wingard is making a lot tackles of Cook and Allen early, that will not be a good sign. Go Jags!
Stopping the run will be a team effort for the Jaguars Sunday, as has been the case all season. The Jaguars are the NFL's No. 1 run defense – and while the Jaguars do have good tackling linebackers, it's not necessarily bad if the Jaguars' secondary is making tackles. How good or bad this is depends on where the tackles are being made.
Dick from Beaver, PA
Why are the Jaguars a 1.5-underdog at home to the Bills if they are playing so well?
Because the oddsmakers who set the line determined that setting the line with the Bills favored by a point and a half would draw the most bets on both sides of the line.
Jordan from Mandarin
Good teams are going to lose this weekend. I guess I say that because this hasn't been a fluke. This team is good and I expect them to win the AFC, but if they don't, it's not because they were just lucky down the stretch.
Of course the Jaguars' 2025 season hasn't been a fluke. You don't fluke your way to a 13-4 record and victories over five playoff teams. If the Jaguars lose Sunday, it will be to another good team. If the Bills lose Sunday, it will be to another good team. The playoffs are hard. All the teams there are good.
Brad from The Avenues
Pro Bowl Shmo Bowl. We're going to be busy that week anyway.
The Pro Bowl has been broken and meaningless for so long that I rarely think about it except when asked about it here in the O-Zone. How I long for others to see it through the same lens.
Chris from Mandarin
I must admit, I have a touch of worry going into the playoffs about Brian Thomas Jr. dropping a critical pass and the moment being a little too big for him.
This is a fair concern. I consider Thomas critically important to the Jaguars' postseason hopes. The Jaguars' already very good offense can be incredibly dangerous and difficult to stop if he's effective on intermediate and deep routes. He can strain a defense and make the biggest of plays at the biggest of moments.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: I think you misunderstood the fans calling Trevor a bust. They were calling for Trevor's bust – a.k.a., a Hall of Fame bust. Shame on you for gaslighting us thinking fans fan when we were behind Trevor Lawrence from the start.
My bad.
Adam from Sevierville, TN
O, this has to be the most exciting Jaguars season that I can recall, dating back at least 15 years. And even during some of the one-off winning seasons of the past, I don't remember ever feeling as confident or excited for the next game (or season for that matter) as I do now. All that to say, the biggest caveat to all this success is having to wait an excruciatingly long week for the next game. What help? The Jags media team. We must have the best media team in the league. And if this week's Sounds of the Game doesn't get you pumped, I don't know what will! Hell, I'm gonna go watch it again.
The Jaguars Media team, which like to call themselves my "supporting cast," has done a great job. They're well-deserving of accolades and respect, whatever their names are.
Aaron from White Hall, AR
This Sunday's game against the Bills is the most important game in franchise history.
Yep.
