No team has had an amazing transformation like the Jacksonville Jaguars this season. They matched the franchise record for most wins in a first-year head coach’s inaugural season, finishing an astonishing 9-4. With head coach Doug Coen at the helm, the Jaguars wrapped up their seat atop the division last weekend. They’ve been absolutely phenomenal to come back and win FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES!
During the recent semifinal encounters, the Jaguars impressed on one of college baseball’s biggest stages. This success has propelled them into sole possession of first place in the AFC South, raising expectations for the team’s performance moving forward.
This is why quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been the key variable in this whole Jaguars revolution. During his last game, he passed for 244 yards and two scores. This nine catch, 100 yard performance only added to this reputation as a regular key playmaker. Lawrence’s ability to evade pressure and connect with receivers has been crucial, exemplified by his touchdown pass to Tim Patrick.
Lawrence recognized that the Jaguars have a lot going for them, but expressed his concerns. He believes they are being underappreciated compared to the love their division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are getting. He commented that the debate around the AFC South forgets about Jacksonville, making them the neglected sibling in the talks. My teammate Josh Hines-Allen echoed this as well. With their unexpected success thus far, he noted that the team plays with a chip on their shoulder because they feel disrespected.
Coen said keeping a level head and positive attitude, especially after their Week 10 defeat at the hands of Houston, has been influential in their success. In fact, he said at one point that you can’t win any game without playing for 60 minutes and the team’s attitude has to be based on that knowledge. Perhaps more than anything, he’s committed to making sure his players remain humble. He wants them to pursue respect not by virtue of their record alone. Rather, he pointed to the wealth of examples like Michael Jordan, who infamously invented slights to push his competitive nature.
And after last year’s surge, the Jaguars have their eyes on a double-digit win season. This lofty goal is in stark opposition to last year’s last place, 4-13 finish. With upcoming games against the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans, the team is focused on continuing their winning streak and solidifying their position within the division.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones just joined this list, tearing his Achilles tendon and being declared out for a game. This incident has brought national attention to the league and has refocused attention within the league. Despite the Jags’ lack of success this season so far, Lawrence is still optimistic about Jacksonville’s juxtaposition. He said that they are just a very good team and they don’t believe they’re getting the respect that they earned.
Leave a Reply