WATFORD, United Kingdom – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the New England Patriots in a 2024 Week 7 game at Wembley Stadium in London Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. On the brink. Call this a big week for the Jaguars – for a lot of wrong reasons. That's because it's a week in which they must prove they can still play together and play with passion, with many observers doubting those abilities following a 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London this past week. Safety Andre Cisco following that game said he saw quit in the team at times – and while Cisco likely was talking more about the team playing together and "as one" than a lack of effort, "quit" has understandably become the week's theme. The Jaguars at 1-5 have played poorly enough that postseason talk is silly. This week is about getting a victory and simply playing well. It's also about showing observers and the rest of the football world that the team still cares and can play as one. Fairly or unfairly, rightly or wrongly, that's this week's storyline. That's what they must prove against the Patriots Sunday.
2. Credit where it's due. The biggest Jaguars news of the week came not from Jacksonville or London, but from Atlanta, Ga. And while the NFL Owners’ vote to unanimously approve the lease agreement between the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville for the Stadium of the Future seemed by this week a given, don't overlook this occasion's importance. The vote was the final step ensuring that the stadium in downtown Jacksonville indeed will be renovated. It therefore ensures the franchise's future in Jacksonville for decades to come. This was not a given in the early part of the 2010s when owner Shad Khan purchased the team. And Khan deserves massive credit for this. He said from the moment he purchased the Jaguars that he was committed to Jacksonville. And he absolutely was committed, with no intention ever of moving the franchise. He said through the last decade that actions speak louder than words, saying it repeatedly as national observers and fans stubbornly and ignorantly remained convinced the team would relocate. Tuesday's vote might be seen as the final proof that he meant what he said all along. And anyone who loves the Jaguars in Jacksonville shouldn't overlook what Khan's integrity and commitment on that front mean to this organization and city. Credit where it's due? Absolutely.

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. One last gasp. For me, not the Jaguars. They have 11 more games over the next three months. However, if they can't beat the Patriots Sunday at Wembley, it will most likely become a long march through the end of a tough season. But ... if they can play the kind of football most of us thought they were capable of this season ... then maybe they can pull the reverse of last season. In case you don't remember, they started 2023 8-3, then ended 1-5. They've started 2024 1-5, so perhaps they can snap out of it, get hot and at least make it interesting the rest of the way. It's almost too much to hope for, but I'll give it an optimistic spin one more time and see what comes out of Wembley Sunday.
2. Keep your eyes on Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. The Bayou Brothers, kind of catchy, are both showing signs of improvement in the middle of the defensive line. We saw Smith in training camp; at times, it didn't seem anyone could block him. He was inactive in Week 2 – and since then has steadily climbed in terms of playing time and results. Last Sunday at Tottenham, it was Jefferson who made a few "wow" plays where the fourth-round draft pick physically dominated the man across from him; you couldn't miss his power and movement in the middle of the defensive line. The trade of Roy Robertson-Harris Monday was more about getting these two rookies from Louisiana State on the field than grabbing an extra late-round pick in 2026 or clearing cap room from Harris' contract. They're talented guys with a ton of upside. The sooner the rookies become contributors the better.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ..

1. So emotional. Cisco’s “quit” comments were addressed on Wednesday by Head Coach Doug Pederson, who said he didn't feel the need to speak to Cisco about his comments because he believes Cisco was just speaking with emotion after a tough loss. That is obviously a situation Pederson can relate to considering some of his postgame press conferences recently. I choose to look at these responses from Jaguars players and staff as a positive during this rough patch. Emotion, any kind of emotion, shows me that this team still cares and wants to win. It's when apathy kicks in that we should be very concerned.
2. Playmakers must make plays. The Jaguars' defensive rotations have been a bit baffling to me so far this season. Reminiscent of a hockey shift, the Jags have been rotating defensive players frequently. It's time now to play your starters like true starters. The Jags traded away Robertson-Harris earlier this week to Seattle and Arik Armstead was listed on the injury report as dealing with a shoulder injury. Now is the time to keep defensive end Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen on the field as much as possible. We can't continue to see those two on the sidelines again during critical times in the game. It's time to let your playmakers make plays when it matters.