JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
JT from Palm Coast, FL
The Packers are a good team. This game feels slightly more important than some may think. We are at the point in the season where the cream rises to the top. Jags win, we can start to get excited that we may have turned the corner. If the Jags lose, this feels like another lost season. This is a "turning point game." Do you see it similarly?
The Jaguars (2-5) play host to the Green Bay Packers (5-2) at EverBank Stadium Sunday, and it indeed could be a very important game for the Jaguars. We can't with a straight face talk about the postseason with this team yet. The Jaguars still need to win a lot more than they lose to have that conversation. But the Jaguars on Sunday have a chance to give themselves a chance entering the second half of the season. If they win, it's important. If not, it's just another disappointing loss.
Robert from Weaverville
O-Man! How in the world did the Jags get their Sunday night game flexed and we've got to watch Steelers-Giants on MNF???
The Jaguars-Philadelphia Eagles game that was flexed out of Sunday Night Football is a Week 9 game, with the league being able to "flex" two games out of SNF between Weeks 5-10. This week's Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Giants Monday Night Football game is a Week 8 game, with the league only able to flex MNF games Weeks 12-17.
Rich from Dacula, GA
I'm calling on all Jag fans, coaches and players to button it up for a great performance this week. My brothers are Packers fans forever and all I hear about is playoffs, championships, great quarterback play, etc. I'm sick of it and am consistently embarrassed during family events. Please just once, John, jump on board and you help get me this one. I'm in my late 70s and before we play them again, I need some help for bragging rights. Can you call upon your special powers to get this point across to all?
I'll make a call.
James from Socorro, NM
Since Jaguars Owner Shad Khan bought the team, the Jaguars have been flexed out of Sunday Night Football more times than they've played Sunday Night Football.
The Jaguars have been flexed out of Sunday Night Football twice since Khan purchased the team – a 2018 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a November 3 game this season against the Eagles. They lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football last season. James evidently is good at math. Goody for James.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John - The Jags have some life after a nice win, albeit against the now 1-6 New England Patriots. Best hope is that they go on a bit of a run and get back to .500. Then Jax may be in a position to play some meaningful games in December. Can it be?
The Jaguars play four difficult games in the next four weeks: home against the Packers (5-2), at the Eagles (4-2), home against the Minnesota Vikings (5-1) and at the Detroit Lions (5-1). They likely need to go at least 3-1 in those games to play meaningful games in December. That's a tall order. The Jaguars are playing better, but they lost their way into a difficult situation and now the schedule is very difficult. Stay tuned.
Paul from Lake City, FL
The offensive line has done better the last three weeks, at times even moving defenders off the line of scrimmage when we've needed to. I know the answer is "we shall see", or something along those lines, but how much of the change has been improved play versus not facing the kind of pass rush we've faced with some of the more physical teams we've played in the previous games?
We shall see.
Jason from Jacksonville
How many games is Tashaun Gipson suspended for? I thought it was six, yet I see he has yet to be reinstated.
Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson originally was scheduled to serve a six-game suspension to start the 2024 regular season. He could have been cleared to return last week but was not. There is little more information than that because the league doesn't share information or speak with teams in these situations. The Jaguars are essentially waiting to hear from the NFL. When they hear, they will hear. And then we will know more.
Dan from Ormond Beach, FL
Clearly you get a lot of emails about Pederson going for it on fourth down too often. I think by nature many fans like the idea of being aggressive on fourth down with the caveat that "as long as it's working." I think my problem is perhaps they are just not good enough, hot enough, confident enough to be going for it when you aren't playing well. I think the philosophy is relatively sound as long as you have the horses. If I am managing a baseball team, I am not calling for a squeeze play if my guy at the plate can't bunt. As a coach I am not risking field position until my team is playing well. Perhaps you could make the argument that a successful fourth-down attempt may bring confidence, however this is the NFL. I am not sure it works that way here nearly as often. Does this make any sense?
The Jaguars have converted 7 of 16 fourth down attempts this season. They are one fourth down conversion from being 16th in the NFL in this category. I don't expect Head Coach Doug Pederson to change his approach in this area.
Blaine from Jacksonville
Dear Mr. O, I have been holding my comments on this subject for many months, but I want to say something before the trade deadline passes. First, I want to compliment Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke on what I thought was a brilliant move trading down in the first round in this year's draft while still getting wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and – more importantly – getting third- and fourth-round draft picks in the 2025 NFL draft. However, I have not been thrilled with his last two drafts' second-round picks. Tight end Brenton Strange instead of safety Brian Branch and defensive linema Maason Smith instead of center/guard Zach Frasier. Both of which I was "pounding the table for" when on the clock. That being said (which I had to get off my chest) my comment today concerns Cam Robinson. If Baalke believes he will not re-sign Cam, giving him $25-30 million per year, he has a fiduciary duty to trade him. Robinson leaving as a free agent resulting in a "comp" third-round pick in 2026 is not what the Jaguars need. A starting left tackle like Robinson should bring (from a left tackle needy team) a second-round pick in 2025. Anton Harrison moves to left tackle. With the cap savings from Robinson, re-sign Walker Little and move him to right tackle. Please make it so, Mighty O.
When you were pounding the table, was anyone around? Were they concerned? Did anyone call the authorities?
Rob from the duuuuuuuu
Hey, Zone. As a follow-up on my question about getting Parker Washington more snaps, why would it be difficult to have two short, fast wide receivers on the field at the same time? Was it a problem for the Patriots when they had Welker and Edelman? Was it a problem for the St. Louis Rams when they had Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt? They are hard to cover. And why would it be hard to reduce the snaps of an underperforming player? Don't the coaches constantly talk about competition and putting the best 11 on the field?
Julian Edelman and Wes Welker played together four seasons with the New England Patriots – 2009-2012. Welker caught 449 passes during that span, but the most Edelman caught in a season during that time was 37, so they didn't really play together all that much. Bruce and Holt weren't slot receivers. It's difficult to have Christian Kirk and Parker Washington on the field at the same time because they're both primarily slot receivers. They're not exclusively slot receivers, so it can happen sometimes. It's just difficult in this offense right now to have them both playing extensive roles at the same time.
Bill from Ponte Vedra, FL
Seems to me we are still underutilizing Christian Kirk. Do you agree?
Kirk, after being targeted seven times in Weeks 1-2, was targeted 32 times in Weeks 3-6. He was targeted just three times this past Sunday in a Week 7 victory over the Patriots, but the Jaguars ran on 39 of 59 offensive plays in that game. It's tough to target a receiver a lot if you ain't throwing a lot.
Alex from St. Augustine / currently Michigan
Enjoyed the read on center Mitch Morse. Am curious if when it comes to offensive lines, is it about the sum of the parts or is it about talent on the individual positions?
Mostly A and little B.
