The Jaguars have maneuvered themselves into that position in recent weeks, and their Sunday night matchup at Raymond James Stadium against the Tampa Bay Bucs now feels like an absolute must-win.
That wasn’t the case the previous few weeks, but the Jaguars could need to win on Sunday to maintain their top spot in the AFC South after suffering losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens—all excellent teams from a strong AFC North that is currently playing quite well.
The Jaguars (8-6), the reigning South champions, are level at the top of the division going into Week 16 with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. Due to tiebreaker advantages—their division record superior to the Texans and their head-to-head sweep over the Colts—the Jaguars are still in first place with three regular-season games left.
Both the Colts and the Texans triumphed last week; on Sunday, the Colts will travel to see the Atlanta Falcons (6-8) while the Texans will host the Browns (9-5).
The Jaguars are still in charge of their postseason course. Regardless of how the Colts and Texans perform, if they win their remaining three games, they will win the South. However, in contrast to previous weeks, they have virtually little margin for mistake. A loss does not eliminate them from anything, but it may seize control of their destiny.
The Jaguars must begin to succeed. They also have to begin on Sunday.
Here are 10 things they must do to do that:
1.Play quarterback cleanly.Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback, practiced on Friday for the first time this week, but as of Friday afternoon, he was still in concussion protocol. Head coach Doug Pederson declared that he would not go to Tampa if he does not clear protocol on Saturday. In his place, C.J. Beathard might get the start. Regardless of the starter, there is just one priority at quarterback: Play neatly. Sunday’s loss to the Ravens cost Lawrence two fumbles. At the conclusion of the first half, he also botched a chance to score inside the Ravens five-yard line. The quarterback for the Jaguars needs to stop allowing points to be scored.
2.Keep the quarterback safe.The Jaguars have performed admirably in this area lately, at least up until they were compelled to make clear passes in the closing minutes of games. This is where they need to stay strong regardless of the quarterback.
3. Limit errors.Beyond only the quarterback, the Jaguars’ self-inflicted errors have been a major factor in the team’s current three-game losing skid. The Jaguars need to quit beating themselves up if they want to continue Pederson’s seemingly weekly mantra.
4. Hurry.Recently, the Jaguars haven’t done this with enough effectiveness. To expect them to do so out of the blue may be asking for too much. They still have to complete it. When running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been able to score touchdowns on the ground, they have looked their best offensively.
5. Put Mayfield under pressure.Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for the Buccaneers, is performing maybe at his best level throughout his NFL career. In a victory over the Green Bay Packers on the road on Sunday, he had a perfect passer rating. Pressure from the Jaguars pass rush, which has shown promise in recent weeks, is necessary to force him out of that kind of game.
6. Hold Mayfield in check.Lamar Jackson of the Ravens was given 97 running yards against the Jaguars defense on Sunday. Since Jackson is the only NFL quarterback who is comparable to Mayfield in terms of running threat, the two are not the same. However, Mayfield does perform well enough to matter.
7 .Hold Evans.In Sunday’s game, there is only one lock for the Hall of Fame. Mike Evans is a wide receiver with the Buccaneers. He’s skilled enough to play well and yet be useful. Refusing to let him take the game over and make the winning play at the crucial moment is the struggle.
8. Put an end to the run.The Jaguars need to reclaim their true identity. That has meant halting the run to put opponents in challenging down-and-distance situations for the majority of the season. In part, the Buccaneers’ recent three-game winning streak can be attributed to their strong running.
9. compel changes of direction.Regaining the Jaguars’ identity is another aspect of this. They continue to be among the top defenders in the NFL in stopping takeaways. Given the uncertainty surrounding Lawrence’s health and the absence of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, two wide receivers, the offense may face difficulties. Short fields and opportunities brought about by defensive takeaways are essential for a struggling offense.
10. Simply triumph.In order to force themselves to win the game, the Jaguars have needed someone to stand up and make big plays when it matters in recent weeks. That has not taken place. The Jaguars need to qualify for the postseason as quickly as possible.
