JACKSONVILLE – Experience matters, and it's good.
The Jaguars are London-bound for a multiple-week stay – again. As Head Coach Doug Pederson sees it, this is something the Jaguars know how to handle – and handle well.
Routine may not guarantee anything, but it helps.
"It's familiar to the guys who have been there," Pederson said.
The Jaguars (1-4) in the coming weeks will play back-to-back London games for a second consecutive season – a road game against the Chicago Bears (3-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday and a home game against the New England Patriots (1-4) at Wembley Stadium the following Sunday.
This is the fourth consecutive season the Jaguars have played in London, their 11th season in the last 12 playing at least one game there.
"I'm definitely comfortable," quarterback Trevor Lawrence said.
Lawrence said while there are "some uncomfortable things" about the trip, particularly traveling across time zones, the key is proper rest and "getting your body on track."
"That time change can get you if you're not careful," he said.
The games will mark the Jaguars' 12th and 13th games in London. They have played there every year since 2013 except for the 2020 COVID-19 season.
The Jaguars are 6-5 all-time in London, with last season being their first time playing back-to-back games there. They beat the Atlanta Falcons as the home team at Wembley last season, 23-17, then beat the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham as the road team, 25-20.
"I don't think you ever get used to the travel, but once you get there it is what it is," Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen said. "At the end, we have a game to win, and that's really our main focus."
Added Pederson. "We still have to get over there and get acclimated quickly. The travel, all of that, is familiar to us. That does give you a peace of mind traveling over there. The bottom line is when you get there, you still have to get acclimated, keep the guys rolling Friday and Saturday, and get ready for the game on Sunday."
Lawrence said with the Jaguars scheduled to leave Jacksonville Thursday and arrive in London Friday morning, most players try to not sleep Friday during the day with the idea of sleeping that evening and returning to a comparatively normal sleep schedule.
"Just having the experience of going over there, you kind of know what to expect, how you're going to feel," he said. "You're going to feel a little sluggish once you get over there, but you settle in quick.
"A big part of it, too, is getting a lot of your prep done while you're here. There are a few things to do over there to make sure we're ready to roll, but try to do as much as you can here so that you can really just focus on your body and your sleep and get ready to play Sunday."
The team currently is scheduled to leave Jacksonville Thursday afternoon, with Hurricane Milton scheduled to make landfall on Florida's West Coast Wednesday evening.
"When we find out we're playing in London, we put the ball in motion months in advance of this week, so a lot of things were already in place as far as travel and whatnot," Pederson said. "It looks promising anyway for our window to get out of here sort of on time with not too many delays or hiccups in the next 24 hours or so."
Whereas the Jaguars changed hotels following their first London game in 2023, they are expected to be housed at the Grove outside London throughout this year's trip.
"It's nice," Pederson said. "You just come right back to the same place. You don't have to load up like we did last year after a couple of days in one spot and go to another hotel, another spot. You unload your bag, and you make that home for the next week and a half.
"It will be great after the game to come back right back there. It's your room and your stuff and you get ready for the next week."
The London trip last season helped change the Jaguars' early momentum. They entered the trip 1-2, winning their next five games en route to an 8-3 start.
"It's great," Pederson said. "It's positive that we're in the same hotel, that we're around each other all the time – the meals and dinners and things like that. I do give them time after the game Sunday and Monday to go into the city and experience London and do it with their teammates. Those are all galvanizing moments. Those bring you closer, and the fact that too, you get to bring your practice squad.
"It's good for our organization, good for our team, and we've had positive experiences doing it. So, it's definitely a plus to do this."
