JACKSONVILLE – It's Look-ahead Wednesday.

Because it's a short week with only one O-Zone between the Jaguars' Week 3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football and this Wednesday O-Zone, we'll look back just a little today. But just a little. Hopefully. We'll see. Whatever.

Let's get to it …

Rob from Middleburg, FL

On a distant Monday night, December 4 of last year, our Jaguars took the field against the Cincinnati Bengals as one of the best teams in the NFL. They had just won a tough game in Houston the week before to take control of the division. John, what in the world has happened to that team?

This is a fair question, and I confess I am somewhat flummoxed while searching for the answer. The Jaguars early last December indeed were 8-3 and in firm control of the AFC South. I saw them at the time as a mentally tough team that – while flawed – was a gutty team that knew how to win close games. To say it has been different team since that December loss to the Bengals is the definition of an understatement. The Jaguars have lost eight of their last nine games. They have lost their first three games this season – including an embarrassing, 47-10, prime-time loss to the Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday. While I never thought this past offseason that the 2024 Jaguars would be great, I didn't think they would play as poorly as they have the last two weeks. And I never envisioned the fiasco that was Monday. They have turned from a gritty team that wins close games into a team that lacks the ability to make big plays in big moments – and making big plays in big moments is what it takes to be a good NFL team. On Monday, they seemingly lacked the ability to make any plays in any moment. What happened? The answers are many. It doesn't take much for an NFL team to turn. The slightest dip in belief. A mistake here or there that leads to another here are there. A lot of times it's small stuff. But you can't look at this team and say it's anything but sliding. Head Coach Doug Pederson spoke of changes Monday night after the game. Stay tuned.

Thomas from Williamsburg

So who hired Pederson and Baalke? I think that guy should be held accountable.

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan hired Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke. Khan holds himself accountable for these decisions. He's responsible. That's how ownership works.

Andy from Halifax

Is this acceptable? If not, why is it happening so much?

Of course it's not acceptable. Why is it happening? Because the NFL is hard – and when things aren't right even just a little it can sometimes look very, very wrong.

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

True franchise quarterbacks don't lose eight straight games.

OK.

Sascha from Cologne

Hey, John. It seems something within the team or coaching staff really is wrong. Or are they just not good enough?

Monday was awful. When a team plays that awfully, it's tempting to try to draw overarching conclusions that a specific coach or player or position group is What Is Really Wrong. History tells us it's usually a combination of things and sometimes isn't a trend. A lot is going wrong with the Jaguars right now. Even with that being true, they probably should have beaten the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 and could have beaten the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. Those two teams are not among the best in the NFL. They had no chance against the Bills. The Bills are among the best teams in the NFL. And that's where the Jaguars are right now. If they play well and make plays, they can beat a lot of teams. They don't appear like they can beat the best teams in the NFL. They need to start making plays and beating someone, though. What's going on right now isn't good.

Hassan from Celina, TX

Legit question here. Is this team a bottom 5 team?

It sure is right now.

Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville, FL

Wow. Trading jerseys, hugging like bros, high fiving after this historical beat down on national television. This really is bad optics for the Jaguars. I want players angry, pissed off and certainly not buddying up to the BILLS. You just got humiliated by these guys. Not sure about that sense of urgency but this is looking more and more like a bunch of guys who got paid undeservingly.

You're referencing the aftermath of the Jaguars' loss to the Bills – and yeah, players were fraternizing after the loss. But this is hardly exclusive to the Jaguars. It's how it is these days. I wouldn't love it as a fan, either, but I also don't think it's going to change.

Al from Orange Park

The vaunted Nielsen defense. Let me say that so far, I'm not impressed. Or, is it just the injuries?

Injuries are a part of it, particularly in the secondary. The Jaguars also aren't as dominant up front defensively as I expected them to be – or as they need to be. If the defensive front – particularly defensive ends Travon Walker, Arik Armstead and Josh Hines-Allen and tackle DaVon Hamilton – isn't elite, then this defense is just OK. The front wasn't elite Monday. The defense was less than OK.

Chief from Biloxi, MS

It was so bad we didn't get the "late o-zone".

There's never an O-Zone Late Night after a prime-time game. The regular O-Zone runs early in the morning and an O-Zone Late Night after a prime-time game would also run early in the same morning.

Steve from Hilton Head, SC

John, we've been fans since season No. 1. I was cleaning up and found a picture of Wayne Weaver signing an autograph for me in Winter Park - in about 1998. It has been a long trip, two owners, more head coaches than starting quarterbacks, one good season per decade. Monday night was not fun, turned the game off at half time, waking up to see the Bills outscored the Jags, 10-7 in the second half. My wife walked past the game, watched a few plays and then said, "boy do they suck." How does one live like this?

By having perspective?

Bo from Winter Springs, FL

Did anybody play well?

For the Jaguars? Against the Bills?

Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL

We are literally the worst team in the league again?

The Jaguars are 0-3 and one of three winless teams in the NFL through three games of the 2024 regular season. This means they are one of the league's worst teams. This doesn't mean they have to remain one of the worst teams. It does mean they are at least in the conversation right now.

Jim from Jagsonville

We aren't eliminated from the playoffs ... yet! Go Jaguars!!

You go, girl.

Dan from Eureka, MT

I've followed the Jaguars for the better part of two decades. During this time, I've seen a lot of bad football. Judging by the play of the last two games, it appears a lot of bad football is what we can expect this season. This team is in desperate need of a reset. Does this happen next offseason, or do you think this team is capable of changing the narrative this season?

I don't expect a reset in the coming days or weeks. The Jaguars are capable of changing the narrative this season. The team in the last two weeks has not played close to well enough to change the narrative. It must play better.

Sue from Nebraska

Was Shad serious when he said we need to win now?

Khan indeed was serious this past offseason when he said the Jaguars need to win now. Why wouldn't he have been? This wasn't a rebuild. This wasn't a case where patience was needed or warranted.

A-aron from Duval

Jaguars + Football = Dysfunctional

This is a fair, accurate formula when applied to the last two games. I don't know how else to describe what happened in a Week 2 loss to the Browns or a Week 3 loss to the Bills but to call it dysfunction. Dysfunction doesn't have to remain dysfunction. The Jaguars must find a way to function. Now, not later.

Dan from Eureka, MT

What will it take to reset this team? I hope it's not a coaching change, but I haven't ever seen a team look this defeated. How does this team change the tone and become more competitive?

By getting better, winning more matchups, making more plays and beating the Houston Texans Sunday.

Michael from Fountain

I want this fixed as much as the next fan, but help is not on the way. Realistically, what can be done to fix a team this bad, after the season starts?

By getting better, winning more matchups, making more plays and beating the Texans Sunday.