JACKSONVILLE – He saw what he expected to see, and that was good.
Head Coach Doug Pederson expected the Jaguars to play hard with continued focus in the final weeks of the 2024 regular season, so he wasn't surprised with what happened Sunday.
It was still good to see – and it still bodes well for the future.
"Our guys, they fight to the end," Pederson said.
Pederson spoke to the media Monday a day after the Jaguars’ 10-6 road victory over the Tennessee Titans snapped a five-game losing streak. The Jaguars rallied from a 6-0 fourth-quarter deficit, with running back Tank Bigsby's eight-yard run midway through the fourth quarter giving them a second victory in Nashville in the last three seasons.
Bigsby's touchdown gave the Jaguars their first lead with 6:46 remaining, and they stopped the Titans twice on downs after that.
"The defense stepped up huge," Pederson said.
The Jaguars, who were eliminated from the postseason the previous week, won their second game of the season decided by five points or less. They have lost seven games this season by five points or less, with all seven games decided in the final two minutes.
"We were able to make the plays right at the end of the game," Pederson said. "I was excited about that. You get asked a lot about your team and where we are and our record and this and that. They don't quit, they battle.
"We were able to finish that and finish the game, and that was really good to see. I think it gave the guys a lot of confidence. It will give them a lot of confidence moving forward."
Pederson also on Monday praised quarterback Mac Jones, who on Sunday won as a starter for the first time with the Jaguars, for continuing to improve.
Jones, acquired in an offseason traded with the New England Patriots, has started three of the past four games and is expected to start the rest of the regular season with starter Trevor Lawrence having been placed on injured reserve last week.
"As Mac settles into a game – and Trevor's kind of the same way – when he can get into a no-huddle rhythm with more quick throws and the ball's out fast and he knows where he's going with the football, that's when he's the best," Pederson said. "He continues to improve within the system, within the offense.
"You would love to get him going early in the game. That's something with Mac, just continuing to find those rhythm throws where he can find those easy completions early in the game to get him going."
Jacksonville in Nashville 🎤 Swipe through game action photos from the 2024 Week 14 AFC South game. 🏈
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
DT Tyler Lacy (93) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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TE Evan Engram (17)
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TE Brenton Strange (85)
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S Daniel Thomas (20)
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S Andre Cisco (5)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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WR Joshua Cephus (80)
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TE Josiah Deguara (81)
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HC Doug Pederson
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OL Mitch Morse (65)
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HC Doug Pederson
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TE Evan Engram (17)
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WR Parker Washington (11)
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LB Ventrell Miller (51)
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S Daniel Thomas
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S Andre Cisco (5)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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DE Travon Walker (44)
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DT Maason Smith (94)
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QB Mac Jones (10)
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CB Tyson Campbell (3)
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DT Tyler Lacy (93)
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LB Devin Lloyd (33)
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S Daniel Thomas (20)
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HC Doug Pederson
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RB Tank Bigsby (4)
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QB Mac Jones (10)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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QB Mac Jones (10)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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DT Maason Smith (94) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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TE Evan Engram (17)
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RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
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TE Evan Engram (17)
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RB Tank Bigsby (4)
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TE Evan Engram (17)
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WR Parker Washington (11)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22) and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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QB Mac Jones (10)
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S Andrew Wingard (42)
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S Darnell Savage (6)
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S Andre Cisco (5)
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CB Ronald Darby (25)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22) and LB Devin Lloyd (33)
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DE Travon Walker (44)
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LB Chad Muma (48), LB Ventrell Miller (51), and LB Devin Lloyd (33)
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TE Luke Farrell (89) and RB Tank Bigsby (4)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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TE Josiah Deguara (81)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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TE Evan Engram (17), QB C.J. Beathard (19) and QB Mac Jones (10)
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K Cam Little (39)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
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RB Tank Bigsby (4)
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DT Maason Smith (94)
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CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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DE Josh Hines-Allen (41) and CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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OL Cole Van Lanen (70)
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QB Mac Jones (10)
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WR Brian Thomas Jr.
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WR Parker Washington (11)
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S Andre Cisco (5)
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OL Walker Little (72)
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LB Caleb Johnson (57)
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OL Ezra Cleveland (76)
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RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
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S Andre Cisco (5)
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S Andre Cisco (5) and LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
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WR Joshua Cephus (80)
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CB De'Antre Prince (24)
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RB Keilan Robinson (31)
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LB Chad Muma
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CB Tyson Campbell (3)
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S Andre Cisco (5) and CB Jarrian Jones (22)
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HC Doug Pederson
NOTABLE
- Two Jaguars players, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., continued to near franchise records Sunday. Hines-Allen registered his 52nd career sack – his seventh of the season – to move to within three of former Jaguars defensive end Tony Brackens' franchise-record 55 career sacks. Thomas caught eight passes for 86 yards Sunday and now has 54 receptions for 851 yards and six touchdowns this season. Former Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (2012) holds the franchise record for receptions and yards in a season with 64 and 865, respectively. Thomas is tied with former Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (2014) for the touchdown receptions (six) by a rookie in franchise history. "With the way our season has been, those are a couple of bright spots to look at," Pederson said. "Give those guys credit for what they got."
NOTABLE
- Punter Logan Cooke sustained no setbacks playing through a left-knee issue that had him questionable entering Sunday's game, Pederson said. Cooke punted four times for a 48.0-yard net average against the Titans. "He did a good job; we'll see how he goes this week," Pederson said, adding that right tackle Anton Harrisonwas feeling better after missing Sunday’s loss with an illness. "He woke up in not too-good shape," Pederson said. "He couldn't make it." Pedersonalso said safety Darnell Savage was fine after leaving Sunday's game briefly to be checked for a concussion, and that tight end Evan Engram sustained a minor shoulder issue Sunday.
