JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Hopkins
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO THAT'S MY QB1!!!!!!!!
Wooos and exclamation points!!!! aside, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence played very well Sunday in a 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium. It was by any measure a big-time game statistically and by the eye test. Lawrence perhaps most notably hit on several important deep passes – including an 85-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and a 61-yard pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk – that gave the Jaguars points, confidence and momentum. He also threw accurately with good decisions throughout the game, both of which are necessary when playing against a Gus Bradley defense that forces quarterbacks to be patient longer than usual. Lawrence also played with poise and confidence late, directing the game-winning drive that led to kicker Cam Little's 49-yard field goal with :17 remaining. Considering the criticism Lawrence was receiving from observers and media all week, this was an impressive performance when he and the team needed it. It was encouraging. And important.
Jim from Jagsonville
In his induction speech, Tom started by thanking his late wife, Judy. He also called out his favorite memory, being greeted by 35,000 fans after winning in Denver in 1996. I was there! Thank you, Mr. Coughlin. Let's Go Jaguars!
Former Jaguars Head Coach Tom Coughlin was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars at halftime Sunday, a well-deserved honor. Having covered Coughlin when he was the head coach of the expansion Jaguars, it was cool to be there to witness it Sunday. The Pride of the Jaguars was incomplete without him. His speech – as anyone who has been around Coughlin would expect – was on point, memorable and moving. And anyone who met Judy knows Coughlin absolutely was correct in beginning the speech with her. I would have expected no different. Kudos and congratulations to Coughlin. A good, good day.
Jim from Jagsonville
One for the Godfather! Jaguars Win!!
One fer Coughlin. And fer Judy.
JT from Palm Coast, FL
Finally answered the call in the fourth quarter. That is how you close out a game! Good job, Mr. Lawrence!!
The Jaguars hadn't made big plays in key situations in a long time. Too long. They did Sunday. It's why they won.
Micah from Chicago, IL
I really wish we'd signed Flacco last offseason.
Quarterback Joe Flacco had a nice game for the Colts Sunday. I never particularly thought about any connection with the Jaguars until reading this email. He would be for the Jaguars what he is for the Colts – a very capable backup.
Bryan from Petersburg, NJ
It's the uniforms! It's always been the uniforms!
The Jaguars on Sunday won in their Prowler Throwbacks. Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – know I'm not a huge uniform guy, but it was cool to see the 1995 uniforms Sunday. It brought back some memories and they looked as good or better than any other Jaguars uniform. And fans who have waited to see them again darned sure deserved to see a victory when it happened. Cool stuff.
Dave from LA
Maybe I'm just a washed boomer but the throwback aesthetic is far superior to the modern stuff.
The Prowler Throwbacks were cool. Fans like them.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
The prowlers looked great. The should be the permanent jersey design as soon as possible. Do you think it will happen?
This was the first game for the Prowler Throwbacks. I don't have a sense whether there is any sentiment within the organization to making them permanent. I would be fine with it. The people who make these decisions don't care if I'm fine with it or not. Nor should they.
Jerry from Italia, FL
Zone, I bet I'm not the first and probably won't be the last to say this, but can we keep these uniforms and field markings? This looks like what the Jags are to me.
Another fer the Prowlers.
Adam from Cocoa
Make them primary.
I sense a trend.
Mark from KC via OP
Fire the defensive coordinator. This defense is worse than last year with supposedly better players.
We're five games into Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's attack style of defense. The unit has been good enough to win in three games this season. It was good enough to win Sunday in the sense that the Jaguars won. It was not a good day for the secondary. It's always coaching in the NFL.
Michael from Middleburg
FIRE THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR!!!
IT'S ALWAYS COACHING IN THE NFL!!!
- Keith (you doesn't just have to call me, Keith) from Saint Augustine
We've been trying hard and for a long time to find a number 1 wide receiver after Jimmy Smith. I think we finally found him. What do you think of Brian Thomas, Jr.?
I think Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has a good chance to develop into a No. 1 wide receiver. I also think he has shown game-changing traits remarkably consistently for an NFL rookie. He has a chance to be special.
David from Eau Claire
That was a wild ride in the fourth. At long last a win. Is that allowed to happen again?
Yes.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Your assessment of Travon?
I think Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker is good and I've always thought he has been good. I also think he has 18.5 career sacks, including 15 in the last 22 games, and that he's really good and consistent – particularly against the run. I don't know if fans and observers will ever think he's good. I don't care all that much what fans and observers think.
Matt from BRADFORD, England
Far closer than it should have been but to come through and make the plays to win when it really mattered will hopefully do wonders for confidence. Onwards and upwards DUUUVVVAAALLL
One fer winnin'.
James from Titusville, NJ
Don't care what's going around the league or how we got there. Just glad my favorite team won!
And another fer winnin'.
Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL
FINALLY!
And another fer winnin'.
Colt from Pittsburgh
HAPPY FOR THE WIN. Now. Having said that let's rain on this picnic a little. I'm increasingly concerned about the direction this team is headed. First, it's becoming hard to overlook the front office's recent free agent acquisitions, namely Gabe Davis, cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive end Arik Armstead. These players were brought in to fill critical roles, yet their impact has been minimal at best and completely detrimental at worst. Davis hasn't lived up to expectations in the passing game, Darby's been one of the worst defensive backs in the league thus far and Armstead's presence on the defensive line has been largely unnoticed. At what point does the front office get held accountable for the roster they've built, especially when these moves haven't paid off? Everyone wants Press Taylor's head. Baalke should shoulder some of it. Your thoughts?
I don't know what accountability means in this case. No one's getting fired five games into the season, particularly not Baalke. Are you going to blame Baalke for the 2023 draft class that includes running back Tank Bigsby, Miller, tight end Brenton Strange and right tackle Anton Harrison? Are you going to blame him for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.? And Walker? I'm not saying, nor have I ever said, that Baalke's a perfect general manager. And I was always a little worried this past offseason about signing a slew of aging veterans in the offseason. But the day after a victory in which a slew of young draft selections played well and showed high-level promise is an odd time to rain on this particular picnic.
Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville
It's amazing how the play calling improves when the players execute the called plays. Go Jags!
No. It's always coaching in the NFL.
Mike from Cartersville (AKAisTrevorGoodorBadTown), GA
Sincere question, why does Trevor look like Dan Marino in some games and look like Ryan Leaf for stretches? I've watched this league every week since the 49ers beat the Broncos 55-10 in the Super Bowl in the 80s. I've never seen this. If you don't have accuracy, you will not develop it. There have been a few quarterbacks that had inaccuracy, went to those mechanics camps in the summer for a couple years and fixed it. Aside from that, I just can't remember anyone being so hot and cold. What is this?
Quarterbacks are often inconsistent in the NFL and I don't that your statement about accuracy is as accurate as it is bold. Why does Lawrence look good in some games and bad in others? Because he's still growing and still developing. This answer frustrates some that believe Lawrence should be a finished product. I can't control that that's frustrating. I can tell you that there's no reason to think Lawrence is a finished product.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
No complaints. Just win baby.
You go, girl.
