JACKSONVILLE – One more day until Look-ahead Wednesday. That could be cool.

Let's get to it …

Anita from Springfield

This felt like a team that hasn't grown from an 8-3 collapse. Just like we could have claimed the No. 1 seed, we could have claimed a commanding lead. But the problem isn't not getting ETN's touchdown, or not getting the No. 1 seed to the Cincinnati Bengals. It's collapsing afterwards. Has this team actually grown? I know it's Week 1, but it doesn't feel like it and I'm now worried about a very long season ...

This is an understandable concern in the wake of the Jaguars' 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday in the 2024 regular-season opener, and fans understandably see the loss against the backdrop of five losses in the last six games to miss the playoffs last season. Six losses in seven games feels like a trend – and it is a trend IF you believe the Jaguars are the same team that finished last season. Jaguars players do not believe they're the same team as the one that finished last season. It doesn't feel from this perspective that they're the same team that finished last season. The Jaguars must now prove they're not the same team that finished last season. Otherwise they're going to be the same team that finished last season.

Eric from Gulf Breeze, FL

Thirty-seven yards passing in the second half from a $55M-a-year quarterback isn't good enough! Are Doug and Press splitting play calling again? It seems it was two completely different halves.

Two thoughts. One, 37 yards passing from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence wasn't good enough Sunday – except that had running back Travis Etienne Jr. scored late in the third quarter instead of fumbling, it would have been plenty good enough. Two, we may never know exactly who is calling plays for the Jaguars this season. It's probably best to think of it as a collaborative effort between Head Coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Why is it best to think of it this way? Because that's basically what it is.

Daniel from Johnston IA

Tell me what you saw, O. I watched the game and thought generally the offensive line played well until the final two drives. I thought the defense played well except for the big mistake on the 80-yard touchdown. I was really surprised the Jags scored no points after halftime.

It sounds as if we watched the same game.

Jesse from Texas

Should ETN be held accountable for the lost fumble that cost the Jaguars the game? Perhaps be sat for a quarter or the first half of the game next week. Coaches need to make sure the players understand that careless mistakes will not be tolerated.

This is an understandable question. I know this because I usually get some version of it whenever a Jaguars player makes a costly error. You don't bench good players for one mistake in the NFL. Etienne had a costly fumble Sunday, fumbling into the end zone after a 10-yard run to the Dolphins 3-yard line. Dolphins safety Jevon Holland recovered, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's 80-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the ensuing play pulled the Dolphins to within 17-14. They never lost momentum and the Jaguars never scored again. It was so costly a mistake that it essentially cost the Jaguars the game. Etienne knows it was a mistake. He knows not to fumble. He knows this so well that he didn't do it at all last season. If it was a mental error? Maybe. If it was a trend? Maybe. But not for one mistake.

Big on Blake from Philly

Zone, I'm not happy about the loss. I must say I'm so glad I didn't waste three hours of my life watching that on TV just for them to lose. I learned my lesson from last season. Sunday = project day.

You be you, I suppose.

Gerry from Jacksonville

Can't win if your star players look like they don't care to be there. Wide receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram had opportunities to impact the game in a positive way and did not perform. Etienne blew it. Hope they do better moving forward. Go Jags!

You named three of the Jaguars' core players. All have had better days than they had Sunday. The positive for the Jaguars? All three have proven over the course of their careers that they are good players. It's far more likely than not that good days are ahead for all three.

Trevor from Jacksonville

First, why not ride the hot hand with Tank Bigsby more? Also in the second half, why did they get away from throwing downfield? BTJ looked fantastic and I think we would have won if we gave him and Trevor more opportunities.

First, running back Tank Bigsby and Etienne are both good players with potential for game-breaking plays. In what essentially is a one-back system, determining who has the "hot hand" versus wanting to make sure two good players have opportunity to be difference-makers likely will be a season-long challenge. The Jaguars got away from throwing downfield in the second half because they were running effectively and felt that that was the best way to keep moving effectively. It worked well until it didn't.

Kathy from Palm Coast, FL

I must agree with others that the fumble in the end zone killed the team. Why would one play change the team from playing to win to playing not to lose? That playing in fear of a loss never works. I think Pederson was scared and went super-conservative, so I actually blame him. Convince me I'm wrong.

I've been writing the O-Zone for more than 13 years, which is ample time for me to know I'm probably not going to convince people of something when they believe otherwise. Head Coach Doug Pederson on Monday said the Jaguars weren't conservative in the second half and that they were actually aggressive. He said this could be seen in going for a first down on fourth-and-1 from their own 32 on the first play of the fourth quarter. He said this could be seen with a 94-yard drive in the third quarter. I don't know if that convinces you. But that's what Pederson said.

Robert from Orange Park

The most concerning thing to me was not the fumble or the 80-yard pass, it was the three-and-out (2 sacks) when having a chance to drive down the field and take the lead. You?

The Jaguars had three possessions after Hill's touchdown. They had ample opportunity to score and clinch the game. The fumble was the critical, defining play in the game. But yes … it is a concern that the Jaguars produced just one first down after Hill's touchdown.

James from Socorro, NM

Why pay Trevor all that money but only attempt one pass (an incompletion) after the Etienne fumble?

The Jaguars called multiple passes after Etienne's fumble. One was negated by penalty and Lawrence was sacked twice on the final series. The Jaguars also only had 11 plays after the fumble. They only had 50 for the game. When you don't run many plays, it's difficult to run a lot or pass a lot.

TC from Kingsland Ga and Sec. 38

I would not have called a fumble on the 3-yard line if I was head coach. I would have called a run up the middle. See, it is always coaching in the NFL.

Good eye.

Nick from Palm Coast

What is the status on Tyson Campbell? seems there was a lot of confusion on defense when he went out.

Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell sustained a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter Sunday. Pederson said he will miss time but didn't specify how long.

Joe from Jacksonville

Correct me if I'm wrong. The Jaguars have many problems, but here's the two most glaring in my untrained eyes. Third down on both sides of the ball. Secondly, the lack of ability to overcome adversity and take back momentum. Don't care what anyone says, momentum is huge in football. Every single Jags fan knew once Etienne fumbled, it was game over. Your thoughts, and how to correct this?

Play better in big moments and have more resilience.

Dan from Birmingham, AL

All those players brought in from "winning organizations" didn't seem to help once adversity hit.

The Jaguars indeed signed multiple free agents this past offseason from winning organizations: defensive end Arik Armstead (San Francisco 49ers), wide receiver Gabe Davis and center Mitch Morse (Buffalo Bills), cornerback Darnell Savage (Green Bay Packers) and wide receiver/returner Devin Duvernay and cornerback Ronald Darby (Baltimore Ravens). It's not correct to blame any individual in that group for the loss. It is correct to say that group needs to help the Jaguars have the resiliency needed to win a critical game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday.