By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – The last time Doug Pederson was in Philadelphia was 2022.
It was a rainy October afternoon, and the former Eagles’ boss watched his current team put a valiant effort, but the Jags fell short in a 29-21 defeat. The loss left the Jags with a 2-5 record, and they fell to Denver the following week at the Bank to drop to 2-6.
From there, the Jags went on their rapid run to the postseason, winning seven of their next nine and finished 9-8. The following week, the Jags staged their historic playoff comeback from a 27-point deficit against the Chargers. They lost to the Chiefs the following week, but a future foundation supposedly was in place.
Now, two seasons later, Pederson is back in Philly to battle his old team, and the Jags are once again saddled with a 2-6 mark. Since then, they have lost 11 of their last 14 games.
Can they work their magic this time?
Winning at Philly “Linc” Sunday won’t be easy. The once-sputtering Eagles have rediscovered their flight pattern with convincing wins over the Giants and Bengals. Running back Saquon Barkley is running and confident in his banner rookie season, and quarterback back Travis Jalen Hurts also looks like his first-year starter self again.
In their disappointing loss to the Packers at the Bank last week, the Jags had enough injuries to fill a MASH unit.
Guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff, wide receiver Christian Kirk, and rookie defensive tackle Maason Smith are the only ones ruled out, but running backs Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby and receivers Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. are all listed as questionable.
Tackle Cam Robinson was sent to Minnesota, and Scherff was reportedly on the trade block.
Those actions were the initial signs that a rebuild is on the horizon, and Pederson may be fishing instead of coaching soon.
This 2-6 start wasn’t in the cards, and the Jags have a stacked deck against them with the Eagles, Vikings, Lions, a bye, and then the Texans ahead. From there, the road is much lighter, but they can endure the rigors of the next five weeks.
The 2022 march didn’t have that difficult of a ride, but the Jags did down the Raven and Cowboys -in overtime– at home.
Back then, there was a more optimistic feeling. This year’s team let opening games against the Dolphins and Browns slip out of their grasp as well as the Texans’ game. The Bears’ loss in London was atrocious.
There are mixed feelings about Pederson’s security, one theory being that he could be let go by the bye week, and the other having him survive the season if the team can pick up a few more wins. However, Pederson is not a rebuilding type of coach.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has looked solid over the last month, and Bigsby has emerged as the team’s lead back. Thomas Jr. is the real deal.
Their defense bounced back against the Patriots, but the Jags’ ongoing secondary and big plays issues remain.
It comes down to how the Jags execute Sunday. It will also measure the team’s climate of whether or not they have packed it in for this season.
Ironically, it’s back in Philly, where Pederson won a Super Bowl but then was booted for not getting along with his then quarterback Carson Wentz, who is now a backup with the Chiefs.
“For me, the confidence is down there in that locker room and it’s all those players and coaches,” said Perderon earlier this week. “Look, you continue to grind, you continue to put in the time and the effort and the work. What’s the definition of insanity, right? I mean, you’ve just got to keep doing it over and over and over, but in this case, we want different results. I think that’s where my excitement comes from just with those guys and knowing that they’ll get it fixed.”
If they don’t, Pederson likely will be fishing, while some of his players will be looking for homes around new cities.
