By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wires
JACKSONVILLE – Are the Jaguars playing in the wrong city?
Well, it’s not about their fan support in Jacksonville, or anything to do with their usual London trips. Instead, it’s about their low profile in Jacksonville.
If the Jags were playing in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or possibly even Miami, they would be further recognized as the current AFC contender for the Super Bowl.
Jacksonville is a small, quiet market, and the Jags aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.
At the usually recognized halfway point of the season, the Jags are sitting at 6-2 with two impressive thumping’s of Indianapolis and Baltimore.
The national media hasn’t put too much stock in their routs of the Colts and Ravens – especially with the Ravens’ quarterback situation, but the Jags got the job done quickly and put both teams away.
They limited Derrick Henry to 57 yards and made it a miserable rainy night for rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano.
Trevor Lawrence had another game in which he looked like the AFC’s top quarterback if not among the top three in the league. Lawrence got the job done in the first half when he completed nine of 15 for 197 yards with a score, one a 52-yard flip to rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher, whose stock is on the rise. He ended the night in Baltimore with 16 of 26 with 242 and the touchdown.
That’s not a spectacular night, but Lawrence has found a consistent niche. In his last five games, he has thrown for 1,316 yards with 11 scores and two picks, and he has 1,932 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Lawrence is on track to better his 2025 number of 4,007 yards with 29 TDs and 12 interceptions and 12 INTs. He also should pass his career season in 2012 when he threw for 4,113 yards with 25 touchdowns.
The sixth-year signal caller arguably has his deepest receiving corps with Boerkircher, Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr. Brenton Strange, Tanner Koziol, Josh Cameron, and Travis Hunter.
Thomas Jr. didn’t have a catch against Baltimore , and his future in Jacksonville is still up in the air, notably with the trade deadline Tuesday.
Bhayshul Tuten had a good first half against Baltimore, but he finished with 29 yards. He and Chris Rodriguez have formed a steady tandem, but the Jags do need to turn up their running game a bit.
The Jags reportedly are still in the running for the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, and Henry stated that he wants out of Baltimore. Tennessee’s Tony Pollard is also for sale.
Jags’ GM James Gladstone has hit a homerun ball before with Hunter, but he supposedly is shopping for defensive help. Philly defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo are in his sights, but Gladstone could easily swing a deal for Taylor.
A move for Taylor would certainly put them over the top.
Anthony Campanile’s defensive unit has gained the respect of their opponents, as it continues to have the league’s top rush defense. The Jags are second in the league in points allowed (121) to Minnesota (93).
With the Jags playing at a high level on both sides of the ball, they should be at the top of the AFC list.
Head coach Liam Coen continues to show why he is among the brightest NFL offensive minds and solid coaches. He has certainly quieted his critics since his memorable introductory press conference and his version of “D-U-V-A-L.”
Buffalo (6-1) is still viewed as the league’s top team, basically based on their past and Josh Allen. However, the comparison between them and the Jags is something worth looking at.
Jacksonville has scored 229 points and allowed 121, while Buffalo has scored 233 and allowed 189.
Does Kansas City (5-2), Pittsburgh (6-2), or Denver (6-2) scare you? Patrick Mahomes always poses a major threat, and you have to wonder if Aaron Rodgers can continue his pace. The Jags have proven that they can deal with Denver, and Bo Nix still has some questions. Joe Burrow and the Bengals (5-2) pose an outside threat. The Jags have a Monday Night showdown with Pittsburgh on the horizon.
Football America has to realize the Jags are for real despite their small market status.
For the Jags, unfortunately, they have to keep winning to prove their point.
