The day after: "We have to get on a run…"

Nov 07, 2022 at 06:35 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The 2022 season is not over.

That was the Jaguars' approach last week, and it remains the approach. Still, if it was going to be true, they needed to start winning – which is why Sunday mattered. And make no mistake:

To the Jaguars, Sunday – and how it happened – mattered. Quite a bit.

"It's important because we have to get on a run; I think we all know that," wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' 27-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars, after losing five consecutive games – all by a score or less – rallied from a 17-point second-quarter deficit Sunday. They scored on four consecutive possessions in the second through fourth quarters, then shut out the Raiders in the second half.

"Everybody feels better the day after; the whole week is good," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said of the aftereffects of such a victory. "Guys have a little more confidence on the practice field. It's just a matter of in this business of, 'Can you repeat it?' and 'Can you sustain it?'

"That's what we need to do."

Said safety Andrew Wingard, "I think from having all those really close losses, this team finally just said, 'You know what? Screw this, let's go.' You can see it in all the guys. When everyone gets that juice going, the sky is the limit for this team."

The rally marked the second-largest come-from-behind victory in franchise history. The Jaguars trailed the New York Giants 21-0 in a 25-24 December 2014 victory.

"Having that confidence and that ability to overcome that … that's big," Jones said. "It was something we all needed as a team."

The Jaguars with the victory moved to 3-6 and remain in third place in the AFC South behind the Tennessee Titans (5-3) and Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1) with the Houston Texans (1-6-1) in fourth place. The Los Angeles Chargers remain in the AFC's seventh and final playoff spot at 5-3.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Las Vegas Raiders

November 6th, 2022

"We're not out of it," Wingard said. "Tennessee lost last night, we're only two games back, we play them twice. You can never give up in this league."

Wingard and Jones both spoke of players taking the approach of the season's final nine games being a new season, and of the team focusing on that stretch. Wingard said players clarified that approach in a team meeting following a 21-17 Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos in London.

"It was like, 'This is where we want to go,''' Wingard said. "When you identify where you want to go, then you can start doing all the little stuff leading up to that, so you kind of work backwards in a way to say, 'If we were to make the playoffs, what would we do today?' I think that's really what we did this week and got a big win.

"It feels good to win. It really makes you want to dial in more the next week. Just like you say you can't let one team beat you twice, you can't get 'win drunk.' We have to enjoy it today and get back on the horse next week."

NOTABLE I

Pederson said safety Rayshawn Jenkins will be in concussion protocol this week after leaving Sunday's game in the fourth quarter; Wingard played in Jenkins' place following the injury. Pederson said tight end Evan Engram is expected to be day-to-day this week after sustaining a back injury Sunday in the third quarter. "He should be cleared for the game," Pederson said of Engram regarding Sunday's game at the Kansas City Chiefs. Pederson said Jenkins' injury was the team's most significant Sunday. "Everybody else is going to be fine this week," he said.

QUOTABLE I

Pederson: "We don't have time to relish in victories and we don't have time to relish in defeat. It's on to the next one: Onward and upward. That's my task, my job, as head coach – to make sure the guys stay focused and stay centered."

QUOTABLE II

Jones: "We know what type of team we are. We know who we have. We know what we can do. We've shown that. It's a new season. That's how we all put it. We started a new nine games and that's how we're rocking. You have to get one before you get two. We're doing the one-foot-forward approach. We have one. It's time to focus on the next one. That's all we're focused on."

VICTORY MONDAY 🎰 | LV vs. JAX | Week 9

The Jaguars locked down The Bank to secure a Week 9 VICTORY against the Las Vegas Raiders. In addition to the celebrations, the players and fans also honored all the brave men and women in our military throughout the game as part of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative. Scroll through for the top celebration and game day photos. 💥🎉