JACKSONVILLE – 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 Green Bay Packers in a 2024 Week 8 game at EverBank Stadium

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. A chance to have a chance. It remains a bit disingenuous to talk postseason with the Jaguars. But while at 2-5 we're still a ways from such talk, Sunday's game perhaps offers us an opportunity to talk about the next best thing: A chance to have a chance to make something of the second half of the season. The Jaguars Sunday could win for a third time in four weeks, which would give them confidence and would mean they are legitimately playing well over the last month. Beating the contending Packers with their ascending quarterback Jordan Love would represent without question the Jaguars' most impressive victory of the season. Sunday is the first of a difficult stretch against NFC contenders: Packers, at Philadelphia, home against the Minnesota Vikings and at the Detroit Lions. The Jaguars through seven games have done little to make you believe they can string together three or more victories in that stretch. But winning Sunday would make that seem a lot more possible – and would give the Jaguars a chance to at least have a chance to get into contention.
2. Better by the week. While the Jaguars have struggled in too many areas through seven games, they continued to show positive signs in multiple areas. One is the development of young players such as defensive end Travon Walker, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and running back Tank Bigsby. Also significant is an offensive line that continues to perform better than many skeptics believed possible before the season. While the running game remains shaky in short yardage, it has improved dramatically this season – and Bigsby consistently has hit big, momentum-turning runs. The Jaguars also have been good more often than not in pass protection, allowing no sacks in two of the past three games. The outlier in the last four games was a Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears in which the Jaguars – trailing by double digits much of the last three quarters – allowed four sacks. When this line is in "normal" game situations – i.e., not trailing big – it has been more than functional enough for the offense to produce. That's a good step for an area that has been under constant criticism and scrutiny in recent seasons.

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. You better be ready for Jordan Love this week and if you are dialed in you might be in luck. The Packers' quarterback has thrown 13 touchdown passes in four games since returning from a Week 1 knee injury on Dallas. If you've watched him play, you know he has it all: Size, athleticism, poise in the pocket and a really big arm. He's going to push the ball downfield against a secondary that hasn't played well all season. But Love also has thrown eight interceptions this season, so if the secondary is better in its second week with cornerback Tyson Campbell in the lineup, opportunity awaits. The Jaguars missed two interceptions last week against the New England Patriots. To win on Sunday, they had better not miss the chances that Love may provide.
2. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence turned the ball over 21 times in 2023, 14 interceptions and 7 fumbles lost. We've talked so much about the Jaguars' offensive struggles this season that we've barely discussed the fact that he has been dramatically better holding onto the football this season with only three interceptions in seven games and he hasn't lost a fumble yet. That will be tested this week with a Packers defense that has 20 sacks, nine interceptions and eight recovered fumbles. The Packers will make Lawrence uncomfortable in the pocket, or they'll at least try, and if he loses his focus on ball security then Green Bay will take advantage. Lawrence has played well since a Monday Night loss in Buffalo, but if the Jaguars are to make a run this season, it starts this week with a home game against the Packers – and Lawrence must be on guard with the ball.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ..

1. Bonding time pays off for the Jaguars. The Jaguars returned to Jacksonville in the wee hours of Monday morning after spending the previous ten days in the English countryside. While The Grove, the team's United Kingdom hotel, is a beautiful property it garners some of its notoriety because of its isolation. As Bigsby said this week, "We had to sit there and look at each other's faces all day." Apparently that time up close and personal paid off as the Jaguars looked impressive in their victory over the Patriots Sunday. Now, it's time to maintain that closeness within the team back at home.
2. It was always Dewey? The issues in the secondary have been a major issue for the Jaguars this season, but some help is on the way. Safety Andrew Wingard has returned to practice after spending the entire preseason and first seven weeks on injured reserve. Wingard brings experience to a position group that has struggled, but perhaps more importantly he brings high energy. The team has been hampered with injuries and lackluster performances, but it's the younger players who have stepped up that need to set the tone. Bigsby, Thomas and linebacker Ventrell Miller are among the most obvious contributors to the positive energy. I imagine Wingard's determination to rehab his injury and get back on the football field is unmatched. I have no doubt his intensity alone will give the defense a boost.