JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kei from Kitakyushu, Japan

While I'm happy for Lions fans who get to root for a team that good, think about how many years and decades and generations of "We STINK" they had to endure just to get to this point. Is that what's in store for us Jaguars fans for the foreseeable future? After all, we're *merely* 25 years into having little to cheer about, and roughly a dozen years into a period of having annual rock bottoms, with a pair of moonshot outlier runs thrown in.

This is an understandable question considering the overall state of the Jaguars in recent years – and considering what we witnessed in their one-sided loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., this past Sunday. But while it's true that the Lions essentially have gone 70-plus seasons between having teams strong enough to win championships, that doesn't remotely mean that must be the Jaguars' fate. Some teams – such as the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens – have had sustained periods of success. Many teams — such as the Indianapolis Colts of the 2000s and the New England Patriots 2000s and 2010s – have a more specific period of success based on personnel and structure at the time. Just because a few franchises have sunk to the abyss and stayed there for a long time doesn't mean that's the Jaguars' predetermined fate. Sure, they seem to be in the abyss again now. But the Jaguars can rise above. Any team can rise above. They just have to keep working, and make sure they have the right people and structure in place to do it.

ShanghaiStevie from Just regular Duval without the extra "UUU"

Some say a team takes on the personality of its head coach, and that certainly seemed true on Sunday. The Lions, a team that has long been the punchline of the league, now play with confidence, aggression, toughness and zero apologies — just like Head Coach Dan Campbell. Meanwhile, the Jaguars mirrored their head coach as well: weak, passive, and with no answers. Do you think there's anything to the demeanor of a head coach, or will players perform the same regardless of how their leader presents themselves?

I think this is a little more perception than reality. While the Lions are indeed a reflection of Campbell, and while the Jaguars' 2-9 record indicates no one has answers around the Jaguars right now, I don't consider Head Coach Doug Pederson weak or passive. He actually is aggressive as a head coach. Just because someone doesn't pump his fists on the sideline or have mean, glowing eyes doesn't make him passive or weak. The Jaguars are losing. Everything looks weak and passive when that's going on no matter the image of the head coach.

Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, FL

Hi, John. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft is looking more likely each game. The talent level looks so much different when watching other teams on Sunday.

The Jaguars' talent level does look different when they're playing teams on the level of the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't look all that different when they're playing other struggling teams. I don't think the Jaguars will select No. 1 overall next spring.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

While everyone knows big changes are coming and the franchise is hitting reset yet again, there's a false sense of security about Trevor Lawrence. I'm not saying he'll never be a great franchise quarterback, but he is still a question mark. And that's not good for this franchise right now.

How good Lawrence can be certainly is a question. That's true of many quarterbacks who are outside the top six or seven in the NFL. But Lawrence is good and getting better. Is that a false sense of security? I have no idea. I do know that plenty of people in the NFL absolutely believe you can win with Lawrence at quarterback.

P Funk from Murray Hill

We have had the same general manager assemble rosters that two proven winning head coaches could not excel with. Urban Meyer was the wrong hire as head coach. I don't think Doug was, but this roster is not enough to win with. The whole organization from top down has been below expectations and General Manager Trent Baalke is the common denominator. Get rid of that guy. Geeeeez.

One not fer Baalke.

Brian from Round Rock, Texas

I can trace the failure to one person, Doug Pederson. The failures are many and the failure is total.

One not fer Pederson, apparently.

Chuck from Sadsonville

Hey O, while it seems inevitable that Dougie P is not going to be our coach, whether it is now or at the end of the season, it is unfortunate because Doug is a good coach and he is one of only a handful of available coaches who has a ring. I know things have turned sour over the last season plus, but I believe Doug can right the ship. I am not as convinced about Trent and the personnel decisions he has been responsible for. Time will tell what Shad will do, but here is hoping the ax stops at Trent and Doug has a chance to put together a new staff and move the Jaguars forward. The constant change is not good for the team.

One fer Pederson.

Justin from West Des Moines

I know that only Shad and his inner circle know where his head is at when it comes to overseeing the team. But you've covered the NFL for many years - what do you think? Is it odd for us fans to take issue with the apparent "business as usual" approach this week?

It's not odd for fans to take issue with Khan's approach. One thing you learn covering the NFL is there's no such thing as "normal" when it comes to hiring and firing general managers and coaches. Some owners react quickly. Some owners do not. And specific circumstances usually dictate specific situations. This is real life and NFL teams have myriad moving parts. There's no one-size-fits-all template.

William from Savannah

To paraphrase that great American philosopher, Shane Falco - it seems like ever since that Tyreek Hill touchdown run in the first game of the season, the Jags have been stuck in quicksand. I often wonder if Hill had dropped the ball, what would have been the Jags fate this year. I actually do believe that this was a good football team this year that just never recovered from the Miami game.

I see the Jaguars as a team that could have had a slightly better season had it won the season-opener against Miami. But a good football team doesn't have a season go entirely awry because it lost one game. Teams lose disappointing regular-season openers all the time. Get over it and win some games.

Pradeep from Bangalore, India

Hi, John. How much of an impact the decision to back Press Taylor as offensive coordinator and hiring defensive coordinatpr Ryan Nielsen took on Doug? I think Doug is still respected around the league. But too much backing of people with not high ceilings is costing him dearly.

How coaches are viewed and considered tends to vary based on cycles and circumstances. I don't know if Press Taylor and Ryan Nielsen will be the Jaguars' offensive and defensive coordinator, respectively, next season. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them have future opportunities – and succeed. The history of the league suggests that's as likely as not.

Tanya from Jax

When Jim Harbaugh went to the Los Angles Chargers, he said the first focus was the offensive line. They let their wide receivers and running backs go. They are a playoff-contending team in Year One. I get the NFL is way too complicated for my small brain, but it seems like a pretty successful plan is to keep working on both lines until they are good, then fuss with the rest. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knew that both lines were a problem at the end of last year. They are going to be worse next year. What am I missing about team building?

Not all that much.

Tone from Jax

Why isn't Josh playing more snaps?

I'll assume you mean Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. He's playing 71.65 percent of snaps this season, which is a bit low but not extraordinarily low. Defensive linemen rotate in the NFL. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, perhaps the NFL's best edge defender, plays 74.48 percent of snaps. Now, an argument can be made that the Jaguars' rotations in the secondary and at linebacker are a bit "unique," but their defensive line approach is fairly normal.

Jason from Jacksonville

Things feel pretty hopeless right now in Jags land. How long do you think it's going to take to get this thing turned back around and have this team winning more than losing?

It doesn't have to take very long.