JACKSONVILLE – Sunday at the 'Bank hurt.
Feeling the feeling again in six days would be worse, and that's what Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson said must be avoided.
"We understand the magnitude of losing streaks," Gipson said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' first loss of the 2018 season – 9-6 to the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field.
The Jaguars (2-1) will play host to the New York Jets (1-2) at TIAA Bank Field Sunday.
A loss in that game would mean the Jaguars' second two-game losing streak since Doug Marrone took over as interim head coach late in the 2016 season, but it would be their first losing streak that mattered.
The first two-game losing streak came in the final two games of the 2017 regular season, back-to-back losses at San Francisco and Tennessee that came after the Jaguars had clinched the AFC South title and their playoff positioning.
That made those games essentially meaningless, and the ability to avoid losing streaks has been key to a 15-9 overall record in Marrone's tenure.
"You understand what's important and you reboot," defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. "We took it in stride last year and we understood it was part of the learning process and we fixed whatever the issue was. I know we'll do that this year. I don't plan on losing two in a row this year."
The Jaguars in the wake of Sunday's loss emphasized the need to finish the first quarter of the season with a winning record. Marrone emphasizes the need to finish each quarter at least 3-1, a goal that if accomplished will assure a team of finishing at least 12-4.
Players reiterated that importance Monday.
"It's very important for us," Gipson said. "We're in the early part of the season. Our second quarter is going to be challenging. You've got the [Kansas City] Chiefs, the [Dallas] Cowboys, the [Houston] Texans and the [Philadelphia] Eagles, so that part of our schedule is definitely going to intensify. So we have to make sure we close out this quarter the right way."
Also:
*Jackson on Monday discussed the lowering-the-head-to-initiate-contact penalty he drew in the first quarter that negated what would have been the Jaguars' lone takeaway of Sunday's game. Jackson on the play appeared to lower his head and hit the side of Titans and former Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert's helmet with the crown his helmet. The penalty negated a fumble by Gabbert that Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. returned to the Titans 34. The Titans instead drove for a field goal and a 3-0 lead. Jackson was asked if he could have done anything differently on the play. "I really don't think so, to be honest with you – except maybe not chase him, and then I would have had the coaches on me," Jackson said, adding that as of late Monday morning he hadn't had a chance to re-watch the play. Jackson said while he expects a letter from the NFL office he hopes to avoid a fine. "I hope once I kind of talk to them about it they see what I see," Jackson said. "If they can't tell me what to do better or different, then I don't think I should be fined. … Nobody's dirty on this team. Nobody's going out to try to hurt people or get people out of the game. This is a way we provide for our families. We don't want to lose a job to injury. Nobody's dirty out here."
