JACKSONVILLE – Confidence, cohesion and camaraderie remain high.

If that's important, it's also very real as the Jaguars prepare for what by any measure is a critical prime-time game in Western New York.

The Jaguars need to win, and they remain sure they will.

"We have a great group of guys here, and we want to go out and show the world who we really are," running back Travis Etienne Jr. said.

"This is a great opportunity to go out and show that."

What the Jaguars have been through two games is a team that loses close games to good, contending teams. They have a chance to change that Monday night against the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills (2-0) – the four-time defending division champions.

"The recipe's there," Jaguars linebacker and captain Foyesade Oluokun said. "We just have to keep executing all through the game."

The Jaguars (0-2) lost 20-17, to the Miami Dolphins at Miami on a 53-yard field goal on the game's final play in Week 1. They lost to the Cleveland Browns, 18-13, at EverBank Stadium in Week 2 when quarterback Trevor Lawrence's 33-yard desperation pass to tight end Brenton Strange fell incomplete.

The idea now is to push through an early-season losing streak with an eye on the long-term – and with urgency.

"We have to focus on ourselves and the inside," Oluokun said. "Obviously, there's a lot of noise going on out there, but they don't know what goes on in the locker room, on the practice field. We know what we're capable of. We have to go out and prove it every week.

"There are a lot of games left, but it's a race in itself and I like to win races. So let's win the next game. We know we have all the talent in the locker room to go out and win games."

The Jaguars' next two games are on the road against unbeaten teams – at Buffalo Monday and at the Houston Texans (2-0) six days later. It's the second half of a season-opening stretch against four 2023 postseason teams.

"We have to face adversity," Etienne said. "The only way we're going to get better is by locking with each other and understanding the reality of the situation. There's no panic in here. We're 0-2. We have the rest of the season ahead of us and we're excited about the future.

"Whenever our backs are against the wall, we just lock in and be together. It's us out there versus everybody. We're going to have that same feeling Monday. I feel like the guys are going to lock in and we're all going to respond the right way."

NOTABLE

• The Jaguars held the Browns to 18 points, 16 on offense and a safety by the defense. But Oluokun on Tuesday focused on a first half in which the defense allowed the Browns three extended drives that produced 13 points – a touchdown and two field goals. The Browns held possession for 20:06 in the first half and took a 10-point lead they never fully relinquished. "They didn't score that much, but there were a lot of opportunities for us to be off the field earlier and get the ball back to the offense in better field position," Oluokun said, also noting that the defense hasn't produced a turnover in two games. "Obviously, we still want that takeaway. We have to keep being opportunistic, drilling things and executing the right way."

QUOTABLE

• Oluokun on playing 83.2 percent of defensive snaps through two games after playing 98.82 percent (2023) and 98.45 percent (2022) of defensive snaps his first two seasons with the Jaguars: "There's no adjustment. I have all the faith in the linebackers. I came in this league not playing every snap. I've been blessed to be able to play every snap from my third year all the way to my seventh year … whatever the coach needs. The goal here is to win games down the road. Let's get to winning the games now, and you'll see it pay off down the road. Don't worry about the snap counts. Let's worry about wins."

NOTABLE

• The Jaguars through two games have scored three touchdowns in seven possessions inside their opponents' 20-yard line. They scored one touchdown in four red-zone possessions against the Browns, with Etienne fumbling into the end zone for a touchback on one of three red-zone possessions against the Dolphins. "We just have to be efficient in the red zone," Etienne said. "I feel like if we're efficient in the red zone we wouldn't be having these conversations. We're a poor red zone right now, leaving with three instead of six. That's the difference in these games we've been having."