JACKSONVILLE – The task is as big as the opportunity.
Doug Pederson spoke to the media Friday as the Jaguars finished preparing for one of their toughest opponents of the season, speaking with respect of the Kansas City Chiefs and All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
He spoke, too, of the importance of Sunday to the franchise.
"I think you can learn a lot," Pederson said as the Jaguars (3-6) prepared to play the AFC West-leading Chiefs (6-2) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Jaguars, who started the season 2-1, this past Sunday snapped a five-game losing streak by rallying from a 17-point deficit for a 27-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at TIAA Bank Field. To build on that momentum entering a Week 11 bye, the Jaguars must win in one of the NFL's toughest venues for road teams – and do so against a team that has played in the last four AFC Championship Games.
The Chiefs are 28-9 at Arrowhead since Mahomes became the starter in 2018 and they're 3-1 there this season.
"You can learn about the character of your team," Pederson said. "You're on the road, hostile, crowd noise, all that. We can learn, too, how we respond after a win last weekend and building off that. This is a great opportunity for our guys to go in there and play a really good football team, a well-coached team, a disciplined football team.
"It will be a nice benchmark game for us to see where they're at."
Pederson on Friday also discussed what has been a major topic around the Jaguars this week – the ability of Mahomes, the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2018 and the Super Bowl MVP the following season, to create big plays by ad-libbing outside the pocket.
"That's the hardest thing," Pederson said of Mahomes, who lead the NFL in passing yards (2,605) and passing touchdowns (21) this season. "That's what makes him special as a quarterback, the ability to do that. I know every defense that faces Mahomes probably preaches the same thing. You just have to continue to finish. You have to play to the whistle and do what you can to try to get to him.
"Those are all the things that make him great. You just try to minimize as many of those plays as possible."
NOTABLE
- Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was listed as practicing full on the Friday injury report with a back injury after being listed as limited Wednesday and Thursday; he is expected to play Sunday. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins remains in the concussion protocol after leaving Sunday's game with the injury; he practiced limited for a second consecutive day Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
