The Jaguars are unbelieved in, but it’s time to start
“Nobody believes in us” has to be the most ridiculous locker room motivating mantra out of all of them, especially when used by teams like the Georgia Bulldogs and Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a cheap way to boost self-motivation and a slap in the face to underdog clubs, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, who nobody really cares about.
The Jaguars receive more dismissals, disregards, and acts of disrespect than any other team among the 32 teams in the NFL. Even in the “Is Pepsi OK?” division of the AFC, which is where they play, they are unable to succeed. They have only had one season with ten or more wins, two postseason trips, and three postseason wins since 2007. The squad that NFL executives sigh over and shove off to a random Thursday in order to fulfill the league’s demand that every player have a national game is the one that gets shipped off to NFL boarding school in Europe the most.
But here’s the thing: The Jaguars have quietly posted a 6-2 record, tying the Chiefs and Dolphins for first place in the AFC, while the rest of the NFL world was going bonkers over Taylor Swift, trash-talking the Patriots, and debating whether the Cowboys are now legitimate. At five games, they currently hold the longest winning streak in the league.
“I think the guys have handled it extremely well, the first half of the season, these first eight games, with all the travel, the Thursday game, in and out of hotels, things like that,” head coach Doug Pederson remarked following Sunday’s victory over Pittsburgh. “Happy for the guys on that.” Very happy with my 6-2 finish in the bye.”
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The statistical evidence of the Jaguars’ offensive progress is there, but you have to look a little bit for it.Trevor Lawrence is among the top 10 in the most of significant passing categories. Among players in the league, Travis Etienne leads in carries (151) and touchdowns (7) scored (7) more than any other player save Raheem Mostert. Despite the fact that the Jaguars haven’t even had their bye week, Etienne’s 583 rushing yards are just six fewer than the league lead.
Beyond that, Jacksonville’s plays aren’t lighting up highlight reels. Christian Kirk, Lawrence, and Etienne are not included in lists such as the NFL Next Gen Stats’ “Improbable Completions” or “Remarkable Rushes.” They simply work hard and do the job, defeating the opponents they are meant to defeat, much like the Jaguars themselves once did.
These days, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars are beaming.
The current Jaguars’ winning streak can be traced back to the hiring of Doug Pederson following the unceremoniously and desperately required firing of Urban Meyer, or to the selection of Lawrence at No. 1 in 2021. However, the pivotal moment for this group—in fact, for the entire franchise—came in the wild-card stage of the previous season, when the Jaguars overcame a 27-0 deficit to defeat
That’s the kind of comeback that inspires hope for greater things in a city, a team, or a franchise. Jacksonville supporters were no longer limited to a procession of teal-and-black, ’90s throwbacks who congregated in the stadium most recognized for hosting the World’s Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Currently, the identification of Jaguars supporters is not based (exclusively) on a stadium with swimming pools. This is fantastic news for the squad because a team that is confident in its ability to win even after trailing by four possessions is a team that is never really out of the game.
After that incredible win, Lawrence declared, “We’re never out of it.” “What you can achieve is amazing when everyone believes in you as well.” This season, he has continued with that approach, and it is resonating in Jacksonville much like vintage Van Halen.
How much of Jacksonville’s flashy 6-2 record is based on sand is the question. The team’s biggest victory of the season thus far is a 25-20 triumph over Buffalo in Week 5, even though the game took place in London and the Bills looked unprepared and fatigued from travel. In addition, the Jags have gained weight and satisfaction from taking advantage of underachievers such as the Colts and Steelers. Moreover, they were fortunate enough to face the even poorer NFC South as their cross-conference rivals.
No offense intended, most teams lose to the Chiefs in Week 2, so Jacksonville’s shocking 37-17 loss to Houston in Week 3 is the sole anomaly. Jacksonville’s defense hasn’t given up more than 24 points in a game aside from that disaster.
George Pickens of Pittsburgh discovered the hard way that Jacksonville was not to be written off. Earlier in the week, he called Jacksonville “kind of a hope defense,” and the Jaguars took that personally. Jacksonville held Pittsburgh without a first down in the first half and allowed them to rush for 78 yards overall as they won 20–10. Pickens had a single 22-yard reception.
“When you give us bulletin board material like that, of course we’re going to come out and really show you how we play this game,” Rayshawn Jenkins, the safety, said. “As a young man, let’s hope he learns not to jump the wrong tree.” So let that serve as a lesson.
With the exception of a few real postseason contenders (San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Baltimore) plus the remaining divisional and NFC South games, Jacksonville’s schedule looks good for the remainder of the season. That is not only doable, but it also presents Jacksonville with a chance to capture just its third division championship of the new millennium (the second came last year).
The Jaguars will still need to demonstrate that they’re prepared to advance to the next level in the postseason since the AFC is loaded this year. However, it would be foolish to underestimate the Lawrence-Pederson Jaguars, as the Chargers attest.
