JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Matthew from Townsville, Tropical Australia

Hi, O. Seems many of the backups are playing as well as they can, but many of the stars are not. Is Jacksonville where players come to get a big payday, then take it easy?

The Jaguars' core players must play better than they have to date this season. That they have not played to expectations is a major reason they are 0-2 entering a Week 3 Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday. They need more from players such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence, tight end Evan Engram, wide receiver Christian Kirk, left tackle Cam Robinson, right tackle Anton Harrison, running back Travis Etienne Jr., defensive end Josh Allen, defensive end Arik Armstead and defensive end Travon Walker. There are more players who are important to this team, but that's a good list. Still, the idea that they are taking it easy is a bit silly and short-sighted. Many of the players who need to play better have played at a high level for this team in the past. It just hasn't happened yet this season.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John - Monday night is a legitimate "must win" for the Jags against the Bills. The primary objective of every regular season is to win a division championship. If a team starts 0-3, that is highly likely not going to happen. Jax will be relegated to chasing a feel-good and statistically improbable wild card in a very competitive AFC. The Jags are essentially a good team that played poorly against two very good teams and still almost won both games. They can beat the Bills and Houston Texans, and the division race will be wide open. My Scooby (not Scobee) sense tells me the offense will break out and the Jags are not done yet.

The Jaguars indeed are not done yet – and if Monday isn't a must-win game, it's about as close as you get three weeks into the season. As far as the Jaguars being essentially a good team … I suppose we'll see. They absolutely have the potential to be a good team. They have time remaining this season to be a good team. But they have not yet been a good team and still must prove they are a good team. Stay tuned.

Rob from Jax

"Brendan from The Moral High Ground KOAF! The assertion that the players win the games over play-calling is wrong"... I have an idea. Brendan and his 52 closest friends with whomever he would like calling the plays (Andy Reid? Kyle Shanahan?) versus any NFL team. Let's put this theory to the test. I'd watch.

I wouldn't necessarily bet against Brendan and his friends. They're sneaky fast and play with grit.

Alan from Jacksonville

Nick "The Greek" Dandolos once said, "The next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing." And I think some fans are missing the point. After a long wait, we have football again! And come game day morning, to me, it feels a little like Christmas morning. Granted, sometimes your present is a lump of coal, like the last couple of weeks, but it's exciting as hell and like the Hokey Pokey, isn't that what it's all about?

John "the teenager" Oehser once said, "The next best thing to dancing with the girl is sitting in a chair scared to ask the girl to dance." But I can't say fans are missing the point if they aren't happy just because it's football season again. But whatever … one fer the hokey pokey, I suppose.

Brian from ROUND ROCK

When a team loses seven of eight, doesn't that make them bad?

It sure doesn't make them good.

Brandon from Louisville

Early in camp, it was said that the Jags defense was ahead of the offense, but that the offense would catch up. So far, would you say that statement is still true?

Sure.

Troy from Dover, PA

Is the Cam Robinson knee injury new or are they just giving him day's off from previous injuries to them?

NFL players in their eighth season often deal with "stuff" on a weekly basis. Many work full some weeks and work limited in others, and they know from experience how to be as ready as possible however much they practiced. Robinson was on the injury report three days with a knee issue last week and played against the Cleveland Browns. He was on the injury report twice this week with a knee issue this week and will play against the Bills. He's an eight-year guy who's dealing with some stuff.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

I want Lawrence to be amazing as much as anyone, but I think we have to admit that it's possible, based on what we see on the field, that his best football is behind him? Thoughts?

I suppose anything is possible. I do not believe Lawrence's best football is behind him.

Nick from Annapolis, MD

Do you have a thought on what holding teammates accountable actually looks like in terms of actions? Is it just telling that person they made a mistake and asking them nicely to stop doing it?

Accountability can take many forms in the NFL. For professionals, it should take the form of holding oneself accountable and knowing if you don't play well – and prepare at a high level – you're going to significantly shorten your NFL career. It also can take the form of knowing you're not going to play in the short-term.

Dave from Jacksonville

I agree that any decision on a potential franchise QB (or, indeed, any player) comes with some amount of risk. My point is that forcing that decision two years earlier than is necessary greatly increases the risk without significantly increasing the benefit. If you extend the wrong player, then you will be in quarterback purgatory much longer than you would have been otherwise.

I'm not sure how else to explain this. The Jaguars extended quarterback Trevor Lawrence's contract this past offseason because he was entering his fourth NFL offseason and they believed he is the franchise foundation moving forward. They believed extending him, establishing that foundation and allowing him to develop was a better move than not extending him, leaving the future uncertain and potentially reentering the quarterback "lottery" that is the NFL Draft. This is the decision teams must make in this era must make with quarterbacks who don't quickly establish themselves beyond reasonable doubt as elite in their first three seasons. The Jaguars made their decision. They committed to Lawrence for these reasons. We'll see how it plays out.

John from Jax

Hi KOAGF - I think if the team just plays loose and gets out of their own way, a victory is coming Monday night. They played three strong quarters against a very good Miami team and even when the offense was taking a nap through a good part of the Cleveland game, they almost won. We can easily be looking at a matchup between two teams 2-0. We have the talent to win. Just go out there and do it.

OK.

Jerry from Italia, FL

Zone, I know this might seem like a minor issue to bring up, but here goes. I've noticed in a couple game day pictures when the defense huddles up, they stand in two lines with everyone facing linebacker Foye Oluokun. Now the offense seems to stand around Lawrence with some facing him and some apparently looking at someone in the stands. Wouldn't it be better and the guys more likely be on the same page if they all made sure they knew exactly what the quarterback was saying?

It wouldn't hurt.

Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX

Do you think it sets a good example of accountability with the team, when the coach doesn't reveal who's calling the plays?

I think one has nothing to do with the other.

Hooks from Orange Park

I remember winning on the road way more than at home last year and the years before. Why do you think this is?

The Jaguars went 5-3 on the road in 2023, which was their first winning record in the road since 2007. They went 3-5 in Jacksonville in 2023, but were 5-3 in 2022 – and won five consecutive games at the end of that season, including the postseason. They were bad on the road for a long time before that, but remember: They were bad for a long time everywhere. Where the game was played had little to do with it.

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

If the Jags lose to Buffalo, they will be 0-3, all against AFC opponents and at a minimum 2 games back in the division. That's a tough mountain to climb. Hard to call any game in the 1st month of the season "must win" but this game feels very close to it.

Yes, it does.