News Jags Team Notes

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

They’re Not Watching: 11-4 Jags Awarded A Single Pro Bowler

Another day, another way that the Jacksonville Jaguars have been snubbed by the national football machine. On Tuesday, the NFL announced the full 2025 Pro Bowl Games roster, which included a lone starting Jacksonville Jaguars player, long snapper Ross Matiscik. Via the team release:

“Matiscik has played 123 special teams snaps this season and made four tackles, tied for second in the league among long snappers. Since entering the league in 2020, his 22 special teams tackles are tied for the most in the NFL at his position. Matiscik has snapped for P Logan Cooke to achieve a 42.6-yard net punting average in 2025, the sixth best mark in the AFC, and for K Cam Little’s 118 points scored, tied for sixth most in the NFL this season.

In addition to three Pro Bowl nods, Matiscik has been named an Associated Press All-Pro twice in his six-year career (First Team in 2023 and Second Team in 2024).”

Matiscik, a three-time Pro Bowler, is absolutely deserving, as one of the best long snappers in the game and a primary cog in two top ten NFL kicking operations. Additionally, several Jaguars were selected as alternates, including linebacker Devin Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne, returner Parker Washington, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

However, local fans have to wonder how it is possible that no other Jaguar made the cut on an 11-4, No. 3 seed Jacksonville Jaguars team that is actively fighting for the AFC playoff bye week? This may be the case where the simple answer is the correct one. It’s the same way that Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor aren’t already Hall of Famers; the populace outside of Jacksonville simply is not watching the games.

It becomes obvious that they’re not watching, because if we only evaluate the Pro Bowl fan voting segment, Ross Matiscik and Cam Little were the only two Jaguar players to finish in the top 10 for their position. Matiscik landed at 10th with Little fourth following his preseason record-setting field goal, then securing the record officially just a few months later. The associated media likely earned Little a slight bump in notoriety in terms of fan and player votes. But that means Devin Lloyd – and his 4 interceptions before the bye week (before missing games due to injury), Parker Washington and his multiple punt return touchdowns, and Josh Hines-Allen all weren’t top 10 in fan voting despite the numbers and the film stating they should be.

Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto, and Steelers linebacker TJ Watt were selected over Hines-Allen. However, Watt has just seven sacks, 41 quarterback pressures, and a 9.8% pressure rate on the season. Comparatively, Hines-Allen has the same number of sacks, 30 more QB pressures, and a higher pressure rate by over 5%, with more surrounding defensive questions entering the year.

Trevor Lawrence was also passed over for the Pro Bowl starting roster for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. On some level, this snub is one that I at least understand. When Pro Bowl voting kicked off, the Jaguars were just coming off their two most visible games against the Rams and Seahawks. Both games resulted in tough losses for the Jacksonville offense and Lawrence. And while his recent ascension following the bye has been incredible, again, few outside of Duval picked up on it until the Denver game. They’re now playing catch-up, while voting ended a week ago.

The biggest snub on the list is probably the selection of middle linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair (Texans) and Roquan Smith (Ravens) Devin Lloyd. Roquan’s selection, based on his tackle numbers and prior season name value, made that a tall hill to climb for Lloyd. However, Foye Oluokon has frequently been snubbed from the Pro Bowl due to dominating in the tackles category while not making “enough” splash plays elsewhere. Roquan has 124 tackles to Lloyd’s 70, which is no small number. But so is Smith having zero interceptions and zero sacks to boot. Azeez Al-Shaair, who seems to be more known for his questionable, high-profile penalties, has 96 tackles, no sacks, and one interception in one more game played than Lloyd.

Meanwhile, Devin has a sack and a half and is second in the entire NFL with five (5) interceptions – first in the AFC! The wildest part of this snub is that Devin Lloyd would probably have a better argument to be a Pro Bowl selection as a cornerback than as a linebacker. The five interceptions, including a pick-six, create a strong argument there alone.

Trevor Lawrence – second most TDs in the AFC – Pro Bowl Alternate

Travis Etienne – third most TDs among RBs in the AFC – Pro Bowl Alternate

Devin Lloyd – Most INTS in the AFC at any position, second most QB pressures by a LB in the AFC – Pro Bowl Alternate

— Jordan de Lugo (@jordandelugo) December 23, 2025

These snubs should be seen as nothing more than an added page in the ‘Respect Isn’t Coming’ handbook – because the outside fans, the players who don’t have Jacksonville on the roster, the media who speak about Jacksonville ten times more often than they actually watch the games – they’re not paying attention. And when they do watch, many will excuse away the good that they see, because “this can’t be the Jaguars team we saw before the bye week. Obviously, it’s just a down week for Houston…the Chargers…the Broncos… The field goal posts must be moved.

The respect isn’t coming. Just one more reason to go and steal the show, huh?

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/gener...atching-11-4-jags-awarded-a-single-pro-bowler

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars leap up NFL power rankings entering Week 17

Jacksonville is winners of six straight, with its most recent victory coming at the house of the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Not so bad for a small market team.

“We really don’t care about the narrative,” head coach Liam Coen said after the Week 16 win. “I’m sorry to say that, but it’s only helping us, so I want the narrative [of disrespect] to keep coming.”

As Week 17 approaches, we rounded up the latest NFL power rankings to get a sense of how the Jaguars are viewed nationally.

Pro Football Talk: 2 (last week: 6)​

From Mike Florio:

“Smaller markets” have big dreams, too.

CBS Sports: 3 (5)​

From Pete Prisco:

They have ripped off six straight victories as Trevor Lawrence has been as good as any passer in the league the last five weeks. Liam Coen is in the Coach of the Year conversation.

USA Today: 3 (8)​

From Nate Davis:

They’ve won six in a row, but QB Trevor Lawrence has truly been in the zone over his last four games − with a 120.8 passer rating during that stretch while accounting for 14 TDs. The defense has also added another 10 takeaways in those four recent victories. Any number of teams could emerge from a muddled AFC field − but, after a decisive win in Denver, the Jags are certainly playing as well as anyone in the conference right now.

The Ringer: 4 (9)​

From Diante Lee:

With Jacksonville playing against one of the best defenses in the league—and one that looked like a bad matchup for the Jaguars on paper—I was totally prepared them to be humbled in this high-leverage game in Denver.

We saw the exact opposite. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence shook off some early hits and responded by anticipating blitzes, getting the ball out of his hands quickly, and doing his best work on early downs. Jacksonville’s offense has been a machine in the second half of the season, and each week seems to add a new batch of plays that make defenses’ heads spin. I won’t make the mistake of overlooking Jacksonville again.

ESPN: 5 (6)​

From Mike DiRocco:

Rookie of the year: Running back Bhayshul Tuten

With cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter out for the year, the Jaguars’ fourth-round pick has made the biggest contribution in 2025. Tuten has rushed for 284 yards (third on the team) and four touchdowns, while catching 10 passes for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. As the main backup to Travis Etienne Jr., Tuten is also the Jaguars’ leading kick returner (28.4 yards per return on 19 returns). He is likely to miss the rest of the regular season because of a finger injury he suffered in Week 15, but he is expected to return for the playoffs.

NFL.com: 5 (7)​

From Eric Edholm:

What a statement performance from the barnburning Jaguars, who keep one-upping themselves en route to a potentially historic season. First, there was the monumental win (at the time) over the Chiefs. Then the stomping of the Chargers at home. But Sunday’s triumph felt different, with Jacksonville going into Denver’s den and really seizing control of the game. Trevor Lawrence turned in one of his best performances, and he’s been on fire lately with 19 TDs (16 passing, three rushing) in the Jags’ six-game win streak, including a whopping 10 in the past two. The defense also served up a reminder against the Broncos that it’s better than people realize, coming up with some big stops and heating up the pass rush late. Who says Jacksonville can’t make a Super Bowl run in Liam Coen’s first year? The AFC is wide open.

Fox Sports: 5 (9)​

From Ralph Vacchiano:

Hammering the Broncos in Denver is a program-defining win for Liam Coen. It’s also six in a row for a Jags team that could make a lot of noise in the AFC playoffs.

The Athletic: 5 (9)​

From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:

One concern: Their running game

The defense has been great, Trevor Lawrence is on fire and the passing offense has vastly improved since the Jags acquired Jakobi Meyers before the trade deadline, so this is nitpicking. But the offense ranks 26th in rushing success rate since Week 8. Still, Jacksonville has won six straight and clinched a playoff berth with the Colts’ loss.

Bleacher Report: 6 (9)​

From Brent Sobleski:

The Jaguars deserve far more respect after taking control of Sunday’s contest by scoring 17 consecutive second-half points against Denver’s vaunted defense. More importantly, Trevor Lawrence is playing the best ball of his career. His confidence is sky high, and head coach Liam Coen has his quarterback playing fast and loose. Mistakes don’t lead to more mistakes as they have in the past. Instead, certain throws often serve as heat checks, with Lawrence completing more difficult passes than throwing them to the other team. Jacksonville has now won six games in a row. With its latest outcome, no one can still argue the level of competition hasn’t been up to par.

Sports Illustrated: 7 (11)​

From Conor Orr:

Congratulations to the Jaguars for clinching a playoff spot following Indianapolis’s loss to San Francisco. This is a pivotal moment for fans who have to shift from guerilla-style, torture-the-writers-of-power-rankings to act-like-you’ve-been-here-before classy. It’s not an easy transition. Many fan bases fail. Study the good ones.

Yahoo Sports: 8 (10)​

From Frank Schwab:

Maybe we all should have taken a 35-6 win by Jacksonville against the Chargers in Week 11 a little more seriously. The Jaguars haven’t lost since then, and a 34-20 win at Denver on Sunday should make everyone take notice. Trevor Lawrence legitimized his hot streak by doing it against a very good Broncos defense. If the Jaguars win at the Colts in Week 17 (or if the Texans lose at the Chargers), all that would stand between them and an AFC South title would be a home win over the Titans in the finale. Liam Coen might end up stealing NFL Coach of the Year.

The Jaguars’ average rank this week is 5.1! (last week: 8.3).

top five top five top five #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/CMZvcB0FHz

— Duval 22 (@duval22dotcom) December 23, 2025

Where would you rank the team, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...80543/jaguars-nfl-power-rankings-week-17-2025

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars vs Colts key matchups: In-form quarterbacks set for shootout?

The 11-4 Jacksonville Jaguars head to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday to take on the 8-7 Indianapolis Colts. Here are three battles to keep an eye on:

Trevor Lawrence vs Philip Rivers​

QBs with 10+ Total TD and 0 TO in a 2-game span in NFL history

2025 Trevor Lawrence
2024 Josh Allen
2019 Drew Brees
2018 Patrick Mahomes pic.twitter.com/IoIEmiPytm

— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 23, 2025

I don’t often choose Trevor Lawrence for this column – it’s pretty obvious to say that the Jaguars live and die behind the arm of their franchise quarterback. But he’s playing so well of late that it’s only right to highlight just how important his emergence in Liam Coen’s offense has been to the team’s recent success. Lawrence recorded a quarterback rating of 115.4 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday – his fourth 100+ rating in a row. In the eleven games before that, his highest rating was 97.1 (Seattle Seahawks, October 12). Last weekend was an almost faultless performance, and this uptick in form comes at the perfect time with the playoff picture coming into focus.

He’ll be squaring off against one of the true greats of the modern era. It was a cute story when Philip Rivers came out of a four-year retirement to sign for the desperate Colts. 44 years old and a grandad, not much was expected of him, especially on a team in freefall since the injury to Daniel Jones. And yet, despite losing both games he’s started, Rivers has looked pretty good! The first game against the Seahawks was a little ‘dink and dunk’, but we saw against the San Francisco 49ers that Old Man Rivers can still sling it. Despite an interception in each game when chasing the game, the quarterback has not been the issue for Indy – and considering his age and time away from the field, that alone is something Rivers should be proud of.

I expect Lawrence to inflict a third defeat on Rivers on Sunday. But seeing these two on the same field again will be as fun as it is nostalgic.

Montaric Brown vs Alec Pierce​

Alec Pierce this season:

— 43 RECs
— 871 REC YDS (leads Colts)
— 20.3 YDS/REC (leads NFL)
— 67.0 YDS/G (leads Colts)
— 4 TDs

Pay this man. pic.twitter.com/Bh8FP35rcV

— Colts Muse (@ColtsMusee) December 24, 2025

Sunday was a gut-check moment for the Jaguars, and they passed with flying colors. Not many teams have been able to keep this Broncos offense in check, but the Jags did, with a bend but don’t break approach that got stingy as Denver crossed midfield. There were some concerning injuries on the back end, with both Jourdan Lewis and Greg Newsome being taken off the field at various points. Both corners were absent from Wednesday’s practice, meaning we could see more of Buster Brown on Sunday.

Brown looked comfortable in Mile High Stadium, which is a compliment considering the way Bo Nix and co have been shredding defenses recently. If he’s pressed into more snaps this weekend, he’ll have another stern test on his hands; Alec Pierce is the Colts’ go-to big downfield weapon, and he hooked up with Philip Rivers twice for touchdowns against the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. I’m sure Pierce isn’t the only receiver Brown will encounter; Rivers is blessed with an array of weapons to target, including Josh Downs, Michael Pittman and Tyler Warren. But if Buster can lock down one side of the field, that should be enough to keep the Colts in check and allow the offense to win this one for Jacksonville.

Parker Washington vs Cam Bynum​

Players with games of 100+ receiving yards and a TD against the 2025 Broncos:

Parker Washington

That's the list.pic.twitter.com/w7Wvh9aUzd

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) December 22, 2025

One underappreciated bonus of the Jakobi Meyers trade appears to be that it has helped unlock Parker Washington on offense. Already enjoying cult hero status for his proficiency on special teams, Washington’s pace from the slot has been on display the last couple of weeks, likely as a result of defenses paying more attention to outside threats Meyers and Brian Thomas. Sunday was Parker’s breakout game on offense, reeling in six catches for 145 yards and a score.

In the wake of Sauce Gardner’s injury, the Colts’ secondary has seen a couple of names step up and be accounted for. One of them is free safety Cam Bynum, who is proving to be worth every cent of the four-year, $60m deal he signed with Indy in free agency. 45 tackles and four interceptions on the season, Bynum is a playmaker Lawrence will have to be wary of when throwing over the middle. But if he hits Washington in stride, I expect the Jaguars speedster to leave Bynum in the dust on route to another division win.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...atchups-in-form-quarterbacks-set-for-shootout

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Report: Jaguars’ Jourdan Lewis to miss remainder of the year

Coming off of their dominant 34-20 victory over the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos, Jaguar fans were in the midst of celebrating the team’s first playoff birth since 2022, when the unwelcome Christmas news dropped that another injury had befallen the Jacksonville roster.

BREAKING: The Jaguars lose a key piece for the rest of the season.

DB Jourdan Lewis is set to undergo foot surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, per Tom Pelissero. #Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/lazKISLb0e

— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) December 25, 2025

Lewis exited Sunday’s game late in the fourth quarter after having his foot stepped on. Jourdan secured two interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 39 tackles, including five tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery in 12 games played.

The 2025 key addition to the Jacksonville secondary was voted by his peers as a team captain due to his vocal leadership both on the field and in the locker room. He was signed to a three-year, $30 million contract after spending the previous eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

With the early-season trade of Tyson Campbell to the Cleveland Browns and Travis Hunter subsequently placed on injured reserve, the Jacksonville cornerback depth and starting core will be tested, as they head into the postseason. Fans will likely see an increase in snaps for standout CB Jarrian Jones, along with Montaric Brown, Greg Newsome, and Christian Braswell. Jones ended Sunday with a fourth-quarter interception against Denver. The team will likely look to add an additional body to the room for depth purposes, in case of future injury.

#Jaguars in the Top-50 for Coverage EPA

4. Devin Lloyd (-26.9)
17. Antonio Johnson (-14.0)
18. Jarrian Jones (-13.8)
47. Jourdan Lewis (-9.6)

Data: @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/6QydxadCWV

— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 24, 2025

Following the initial report, the team confirmed the injury, placing Lewis on IR and filling the vacant roster spot. Per the team release:

The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed CB Keith Taylor and placed CB Jourdan Lewis on the Reserve/Injured list, the team announced today.

Taylor was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft and has played in 47 games (five starts) for the Panthers (2021-22), Chiefs (2023-24) and Falcons (2025). His career totals include 75 tackles (60 solo), six passes defensed, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss on defense and three tackles (two solo) and two forced fumbles on special teams. Taylor appeared in two games for Atlanta this season and registered six tackles (four solo).

It’s surely not the holiday gift that Duval prefers, but it’s the one under the tree. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...s-jourdan-lewis-to-miss-remainder-of-the-year

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars games as Christmas movies

Happy holidays, Big Cat Country! With the holidays and it being a great time to be a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, I decided to compare the Jaguars’ season thus far to some of my favorite Christmas movies instead of talking about the Colts again. Potential spoilers ahead.

Week 1: Carolina Panthers// W 26-10 – Jingle All the Way

A mid-90’s classic.

Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals// L 27-31 – Gremlins

The instructions were clear, but the Jags metaphorically fed the gremlins after midnight, and at the end, the win wasn’t theirs to keep like the mogwai.

Week 3: Houston Texans// W 17-10 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

The Texans came for a visit that not everyone necessarily wanted, like both sides of Clarke’s and Ellen’s families. The visit was stressful, and at times, sanity was questionable. There were tense moments towards the end, but like Clarke got his Christmas bonus, the Jaguars got the win.

Week 4: San Francisco 49ers// W 26-21 – It’s a Wonderful Life

The odds were stacked against the team, and at a certain point, some of us probably felt like giving up, but in the end, you could see the team in a new light, like George.

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs// W 31-28 – The Santa Clause

Brenton Strange’s injury changed the game plan, like Santa falling off the roof. After some adjustments, the team found a way to work together and surprised everyone on a national scale.

Week 6: Seattle Seahawks// L 12-20 – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Depressing and sad like Charles and his little tree.

Week 7: Los Angeles Rams// L 7-35 – 8-Bit Christmas

The premise of the movie is that a group of children in the 80’s work together to attempt to overcome multiple obstacles to purchase a Nintendo. While the team had the same goal and tried to achieve it, they ultimately fell short in the end, but learned an important lesson, which led to the post-bye week shift.

Week 9: Las Vegas Raiders// W 30-29 – The Christmas Chronicles

The Jaguars were away from home and had a rollercoaster of a journey in their attempt to fly home with a win. The team came together at the end to get the job done right at the buzzer, just like Kate, Teddy, and Santa.

Week 10: Houston Texans// L 29-36 – A Christmas Story

The Jaguars didn’t shoot themselves in the eye, but they did shoot themselves in the foot by blowing that lead.

Week 11: Los Angeles Chargers// W 35-6 – Home Alone

The Chargers came into the Jaguars’ house thinking they were going to get the win. After getting in, they got utterly destroyed and embarrassed, as Kevin did to Harry and Marv, and we all had a good time watching it happen.

Week 12: Arizona Cardinals// W 27-24 – Batman Returns

A hard-fought battle that ultimately ended with a win for the good guys.

Week 13: Tennessee Titans// W 25-3 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas

In a similar fashion to the Grinch going into Whoville to steal all the presents and decorations, the Jaguars went to Nashville and stole all the touchdowns and made the citizens sad.

Week 14: Indianapolis Colts// W 36-19 – The Muppet Christmas Carol

I chose this for no other reason than I enjoy the movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this game.

Week 15: New York Jets// W 48-20 – Home Alone 2

Same sentiment as the Chargers game, except this one was also played at home. Since Kevin got Harry and Marv at his Uncle’s house, it still counts, right?

Week 16: Denver Broncos// W 34-20 – The Holdovers

We laughed, cried, and everything turned out for the best in the end.

Do you have any you want to add to the list? Please share with us in the comments or on social media. Not following us on social media? You can find us on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/general/80736/jaguars-games-as-christmas-movies

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars Winners & Losers from Week 16: Vibes Are Mile High

How about the freaking Jaguars?

Jacksonville traveled out to Denver – a team riding an 11-game win streak and the league’s best red zone defense – and won, 34-20, while converting on four of five trips in the red zone. The win didn’t clinch the playoffs just yet, but it sure as hell put Jacksonville in the driver’s seat with two games to go in the regular season.

This isn’t the Jags of old. This isn’t the Jags of last year or even a few weeks ago. This is a Jags team that’s as hot as any in the league and hasn’t lost in five straight games. With an 11-4 record, Liam Coen’s bunch is humming at the right time with two easily winnable games left on the schedule at Indianapolis and at home against the Titans.

It hasn’t felt like this in a long, long time. And the Jags seemingly are just getting started.

WINNERS

Trevor Lawrence

There is one central theme to this win streak the Jaguars are on. That theme is incredible quarterback play.

The Jaguars are winners of 11 games so far this year because in the last six of them, they have had the best quarterback on the field. In the past two games alone, Lawrence has accounted for 10 total touchdowns. Lawrence hasn’t thrown a pick in four weeks. Up against one of the NFL’s best all-around defenses on the road, Lawrence went ahead and tossed for 279 yards and three touchdowns while running in a score.

Coen has done an incredible job building up Lawrence into the quarterback he’s supposed to be. A ton of the credit goes there. But Coen can only do so much. At the end of the day, it’s up to Lawrence to dive for late first downs and absolutely missile balls into a receiver’s gut in the red zone.

Since Week 13, Lawrence has gone for over 1,000 yards in the air. He has 14 total touchdowns. That’s winning football towards the end of the season and that’s true and utter development from the franchise QB. Lawrence’s first two touchdowns against the Broncos should have sent a shockwave through that stadium that Lawrence was there to play.

There still will be the Richard Shermans of the world who don’t watch the Jags play and don’t care to talk positively about Lawrence because in the past he has never hit this level of consistency. Ask Travon Walker how he feels about those people. For those of us who actually watch and actually are witnessing what Lawrence is doing, it’s a thing of beauty.

That win over Denver showed the Jags are a legitimate playoff team with a legitimate quarterback to lead them. It feels so nice to say that.

Trevor Lawrence: Last 4 Weeks

– 1,194 Yards (298.5 YPG)
– 14 TDs
– 0 INTs
pic.twitter.com/ehZsuDGEFM

— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 22, 2025

Liam Coen

If this guy isn’t in the top two for NFL Coach of the Year, then something is wrong.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are Liam Coen and Liam Coen is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Teams are supposed to embody their coach, which turns out both good and bad. For the Jags, it has been extremely good in totality. The dude is taking pot shots at Sean Payton’s bitchass after the game. How much better can it get? When you watch Coen and the team celebrate after games, how can you not say that this guy hasn’t already left an indelible mark on this franchise and its current team?

Case and point on how good Coen is is through watching Lawrence. There isn’t a better quarterback in football over the past four or so weeks than Lawrence. A huge reason for that is Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.

This guy is incredible and so fun to watch. He has changed what it means to cheer for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has changed what it means to play the Jacksonville Jaguars and he has changed what it means to even talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars. This team has won 11 games and is on track to finish with 13 regular season wins and maybe even the top spot in the entire AFC.

What a hire.

The Jags are a legit threat in the AFC in year one of the Liam Coen era. Won 11 regular season games for the first time since 2007.

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) December 22, 2025

Travis Etienne

It didn’t start out great. It certainly seemed like the Broncos were keying in on Etienne after his three touchdown day a week ago. That all was for naught in the end.

Etienne is playing like a man who knows he is on the precipice of life-changing money this offseason. His stat line of 50 yards rushing and 16 yards receiving isn’t ridiculously impressive but half the time it’s just the way Etienne gets the yards that matters.

He caught yet another touchdown Sunday moving him to six on the year. For the record, he had just one receiving touchdown in his three previous seasons in Duval County.

During Coen’s time in Tampa Bay, he was seen as a guy who could unlock the running back position and make his backs better especially in the passing game. You see that in full effect with Etienne.

It was tough sledding in the run game but he still churned out over three yards a carry. At the midway point in the year, it seemed up in the air on whether or not the Jags would re-sign Etienne. At this point, it seems like a must.

Travis Etienne Jr. leads all NFL running backs in TD receptions with 6⃣ this season

Stream with NFL+pic.twitter.com/xly8AUxHVk

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 21, 2025

Special Teams

It almost feels like a joke to mention special teams sometimes, but this unit really did a great job against the Broncos.

Signing this week, Deejay Dallas had an awesome 35-yard kick return on one of his two returns of the day which set up a touchdown drive. Cam Little made both of his field goals and all four extra points. But the big day was had by none other than Logan Cooke himself.

Cooke stepped in for six punts and put four of them within the 20-yard line. His most impressive of the day was probably his last punt down to the Denver 2-yard line to essentially end the contest.

Special teams truly do matter and the Jags’ collection of special teamers did their part in Denver. Seeing how juiced up Coen was on Cooke’s final punt is all you need to know about how much faith the team and coaches have in this group.

— Logan Cooke (@LoganCooke2) December 22, 2025

Parker “Parker Washington” Washington

This guy does scare me when he returns punts sometimes, but then he has games like Sunday on offense and it makes nothing else matter.

Calling Washington’s day against the Broncos a monster affair would almost not be doing it justice. He led the game in receiving with 145 yards, hauled in a touchdown and took one catch for 63 yards. His 145 receiving yards were, unsurprisingly, a career high. Also unsurprisingly, Washington leads the Jags in receiving through the year with 645.

The signing of Jakobi Meyers has done wonders for this Jags team. Some of those wonders come by way of clearing the game up for guys like Washington. You can only expend so many defenders to cover everyone on offense, and eventually, you’re going to get favorable 1-on-1 matchups like we saw with Washington and Riley Moss. Advantage went to Washington by game’s end.

This hasn’t been a single-game thing either. This has been a whole year of positive development from the former Penn State receiver. I feel like there is a certain former offensive coordinator and a certain quarterback to thank for a ton of that!

The wood was chopped and the water was carried by Washington in Denver. Had Washington not stumbled late in the fourth, this easily could have been a 200-yard game for him.

63-yard gain for Washington

FOX pic.twitter.com/F7KtDZvxWT

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 21, 2025

LOSERS
Injuries

Ok, now that the fun stuff is over, let’s rehash some injuries because there were quite a few.

Offensive linemen Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari both went down. It was obviously an up-and-down day for the offensive line against a great defensive line, even with these two in, but them both getting hurt is a cause for legitimate concern.

Cornerbacks Buster Brown, Greg Newsome and Jourdan Lewis all suffered some form of injury during the game. Newsome was out for a while but all three did come back and play. Can’t speculate, but if there is a group that is equally as banged up and thin as the offensive line, it’s the secondary.

In terms of skill players, Washington was shaken up but seemingly played through whatever was bothering him. Strange looked to be laboring a bit during the game but also played through. LeQuint Allen got evaluated for a concussion; however, he cleared protocol and returned. Lawrence got his ankle taped up after getting knocked around a bit but also didn’t seem to be too hurt. This list also doesn’t include the guys already hurt.

Nothing can be done immediately, but fingers have to be crossed that no one suffered anything too bad on Sunday afternoon. If the Jags are to make the playoff run it looks like they are capable of, it will take everyone to do so, especially up front on offense.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...ksonville-jaguars-winners-losers-week-16-2025

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 17 stats, matchup preview

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 17: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

As the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) in Week 17, we sat down with Chris Shepherd of Stampede Blue to learn more about the opposing side.

Question 1: The Colts have been wildly entertaining but are 0-2 since Philip Rivers took the reins. What’s your take on the 44-year-old’s return to the NFL, and what does it say about the Colts that they’re continuing to play him over rookie Riley Leonard?

Philip Rivers, to my great surprise, has been very good. When the rumor dropped that the Colts were kicking the tires on him, I was worried that Rivers would look very much like an old man and not an NFL quarterback. What we got is a player with a diminished but adequate arm and tremendous mental ability to play the game, and when you combine those two things, you end up with a pretty good quarterback. And it says a few things about the Colts, most notably that everyone in that building is nervous for their jobs, but I think it says more about who and what Rivers is than anything else.

Question 2: What’s something about this team that isn’t being talked about enough due to all of the buzz Philips attracts?

There’s just not much positive news right now for the Colts. This is an entire season of “what if,” and it culminated in a 44-year-old Philip Rivers starting at quarterback. If anyone’s interested, I could talk about how well fourth-round rookie tackle Jalen Travis has been playing for the last three weeks at both right and left tackle, but nobody cares about a backup tackle. Things are looking bleak.

Question 3: Indianapolis has a 1-3% chance to sneak into the playoffs by most projection models. Have the fans given up on the season, and do you have any reason to believe the team will too?

Colts fans (correctly) gave up on the season when Daniel Jones went down. They regained hope when Philip Rivers came back. And now they have (correctly) moved on to having no hope outside of hoping for a new front office and coaching staff. Merry Christmas!

Question 4: Who’s an under-the-radar player or two that Jaguars fans should watch for on Sunday?

I kind of cut myself off at the knees talking about Jalen Travis up there, because otherwise I can’t give you a positive under-the-radar player, but what I can give you is cornerback Jonathan Edwards. He’s not good. If he gets matched up against your favorite player, good news, your favorite player is about to do something exciting! I feel bad for Edwards. It’s not his fault the Colts are paying their top three cornerbacks a combined $60 million annually and both Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner are out and Edwards has to play.

Question 5: Do you expect the Colts to cover as 5.5-point underdogs, and do you like any props bets for the game?

With the way that defense played I don’t expect them to cover, at all. Philip would be wise to re-retire. I would bet the over on Trevor Lawrence passing touchdowns. Don’t know what it is. Don’t care. Take the over. And no, there’s nothing I “like,” but there are a lot of Jags bets I’d probably take if I didn’t have a strict policy of never betting against the Colts.

Thanks to Chris for taking the time to answer our questions!

Jaguars fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...52/jaguars-colts-week-17-2025-matchup-preview

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jacksonville Escapes Indy With Gritty Road Win

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t comfortable. But it’s still a win. Jacksonville fans call them “the Cardiac Cats” for a reason. On Sunday, the Jaguars flirted with danger, gave away multiple scoring opportunities via two red zone turnovers and a turnover on downs inside the 25. But when the team needed a late play, the Jaguars slammed the door shut. With Sunday’s win, the Jaguars control their own destiny, with the ability to clinch the AFC South title in week 18, at home against the Tennessee Titans. Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 17 23-17 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Jaguars HC Liam Coen is now the only first-year head coach in NFL history to win 12-plus games after taking over a team that had four or fewer wins in the prior season. pic.twitter.com/KV4LcLPPJb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2025

Live blog:

Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!

Pregame Notes:

Both teams entered the matchup dealing with injuries in the trenches, missing their starting Center and Right Guard. For Jacksonville, RG Patrick Mekari (back) and C Robert Hainsey (groin) were both ruled out due to injuries, with Walker Little and seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim starting in their respective spots. This was Monheim’s second career start. RB Bhayshul Tuten (finger) was again inactive as he recovers from his finger injury suffered against the New York Jets.

DL Danny Striggow (ankle) was also inactive after missing Week 16. Recently signed CB Keith Taylor joined TE Hunter Long and DT Maason Smith (for consecutive weeks) as healthy scratches.

Indianapolis starting C Tanor Bortolini (concussion) and RG Dalton Tucker (shoulder) were both unable to participate, coming off a short week, with the Colts eliminated from postseason competition. Additionally, All-Pro DT DeForest Buckner was placed on IR this week. CB Sauce Gardner made his return from a three-week absence due to a calf injury.

First Half

Indianapolis kicked off the matchup with an explosive 53-yard kick return, followed by an efficient, eight-play 29-yard drive (converting two first downs) before stalling in the red zone. Anthony Campanile’s defense held the Colts to a 33-yard field goal to begin the scoring. (Jaguars 0, Colts 3)

The Jacksonville opened the day with Lawrence and the passing game going 6 of 6 for 61 yards (with completions to five different receivers), moving into the Colts’ red zone. Jacksonville unsuccessfully attempted a hook and ladder. Travis Etienne lost control of the lateral, with Indianapolis recovering the redzone fumble. The Colts, again, efficiently worked down the field on a 15-play, 83-yard touchdown drive, converting on three out of three third downs. (Jaguars 0, Colts 10)

JT TUDDY

FOX pic.twitter.com/u4og02ay1p

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 28, 2025

The Jaguars offense answered with another double-digit play drive into the Colts’ redzone with Lawrence completing five of his six attempts on the drive for 38 yards, with Lawrence rushing the final play in from four yards. Through two drives, Lawrence was 11/12 for 99 yards and a rushing touchdown. (Jaguars 7, Colts 10)

Trevor Lawrence scrambles into the end zone!

JAXvsIND on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/xl9oYXS3dJ

— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025

The Jacksonville defense hunkered down on the Colts’ third possession, buoyed by two near-interceptions from Cornerback Montaric Brown. Following the Indianapolis punt, the Colts’ defense turned up the heat, hitting Lawrence on multiple dropbacks (their seventh QB hit of the half) before forcing a quick punt with 1:50 remaining in the half. Campanile’s unit continued their recent string of suffocating coverage, forcing a quick three-and-out while salvaging both of the team’s two timeouts. With 52 seconds left in the half, Jacksonville quickly drove to the Colts’ 16-yard line before Jacksonville would again surrender a redzone turnover – this one a late throw to Parker Washington, directly into the chest of Colts Linebacker Jermaine Pratt for the touchback with 15 seconds to go in the half.

Colts pick off Lawrence in the end zone!

JAXvsIND on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/lNDBU4e7AF

— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025

Halftime Stats:

• Score: Jaguars 7, Colts 10
• First downs: Jaguars 11, Colts 10
• Time of possession: Jaguars 14:54, Colts 15:06
• Sacks: Jaguars 0, Colts 2
• Turnovers forced: Jaguars 0, Colts 2
• Rushing yards: Jaguars 52, Colts 50
• Yards per rush: Jaguars 5.2, Colts 3.8
• Passing yards: Jaguars 123, Colts 80
• Passing yards per attempt: Jaguars 6.5, Colts 4.7
• Redzone: Jaguars 1 for 3 (33%), Colts
• Penalties: Jaguars 2 for 15 yards, Colts 2 for 20 yards
• Points off turnovers: Jaguars 0, Colts 7

At the half, Lawrence was 14/17 for 137 yards, a touchdown run, an interception, sacked twice for a loss of 14 yards (75.7 passer rating), and four carries for 22 yards (5.5 YPC). Travis Etienne had five carries for 27 yards (5.4 YPC) and 2 catches for 16 yards. Jonathan Taylor had 12 carries for 51 yards (4.3 YPC) and a touchdown, with 2 receptions for 7 yards.

Second Half

Both offenses kicked off the second half with punts, as Jacksonville went three-and-out. Recent addition DeeJay Dallas provided juice to the offense on the following drive with two early rushes totalling 21 yards, and explosive catches by Brian Thomas Jr and Parker Washington put the team in the redzone.

DeeJay! pic.twitter.com/3cO3u4GAjo

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) December 28, 2025

Trevor Lawrence hits Parker Washington, and Washington keeps rolling after the catch to set up first and goal!

: FOX pic.twitter.com/9kiCZpNjMB

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2025

Lawrence did it with his legs again, as this time Trevor closed out the drive with a designed rush for six yards to secure Jacksonville’s first lead of the game. (Jaguars 14, Colts 10)

Drew up the draw! @trevorlawrence | #JAXvsIND on FOXpic.twitter.com/fd14rPoIAs

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 28, 2025

The Colts’ offense immediately answered, assisted by a questionable Ashton Dulin 18-yard catch that was somehow unsuccessfully challenged by Liam Coen.

They called this a catch, challenged, upheld. pic.twitter.com/GuDOj6sjNm

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) December 28, 2025

An Eric Murray pass interference moved Indianapolis down to the Jacksonville 5-yard line, with Rivers completing the five-play, 39-yard drive with a Mo Allie Cox touchdown pass over Eric Murray to retake the lead. (Jaguars 14, Colts 17)

THE COLTS STRIKE BACK

Philip Rivers drops a TD pass to Mo Alie-Cox to put Indy back on top.

(via @NFLonFOX)
pic.twitter.com/pOLg5qX8A3

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 28, 2025

Jacksonville added a 34-yard field goal to tie the game, following a 10-play, 51-yard, 4:33 drive. (Jaguars 17, Colts 17)

The Jaguars’ pass rush began to ramp up, as Travon Walker sacked Rivers on second down, forcing a third and long (15), followed by a punt by Indy after failing to convert. However, Jacksonville drove into scoring game for the third time on Sunday, while walking away with no points, instead deciding to go for it on fourth and a long one from the Colts’ 24-yard line. Coen dialed up a quarterback sneak, which was unsuccessful. The defense bailed out the questionable decision as Eric Murray deflected Rivers’ third down pass at the line of scrimmage, and Jarrian Jones secured the timely interception.

This time around, Jacksonville didn’t fool, adding the 42-yard Cam Little field goal to secure the fourth quarter lead with 6:58 remaining. (Jaguars 20, Colts 17)

Josh Hines Allen called “game” on the following drive, throwing the Colts’ offensive lineman into Rivers for a third down sack, with the defense forcing a turnover on downs.

Travon Walker easily pushing back RT Jalen Travis pic.twitter.com/3ynJZBw2L5

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) December 28, 2025

The Jaguars, in clock-running mode, declined two penalties (to remain on second and short), then inexcusably committed back-to-back penalties to push themselves back from third-and-one to third-and-10. After picking up a fourth-and-one, Jacksonville added a 53-yard Cam Little field goal to extend the lead with 18 ticks left. (Jaguars 23, Colts 17)

After moving to midfield for one final play, the Colts’ Hail Mary attempt was intercepted in the endzone by Safety Antonion Johnson, with Alec Piece close behind him.

Trevor Lawrence last 5 games:

1,345 passing yards
16 total TDs, 1 INTs pic.twitter.com/TgyBgV5om7

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) December 28, 2025

Best highlight:

Jarrian Jones and Eric Murray’s timely joint defensive plays, in many ways, secured this game for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were struggling to complete the catch on defense in much of this one. They finally got their hands on the ball (twice) in the fourth quarter.

Jarrian Jones picks off Rivers!

JAXvsIND on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/xwEEiJ4BV1

— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025

Biggest play(s) of the game:

According to rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Expected Points Added (EPA) was Jakobi Meyers’ (Travis Etienne’s) redzone fumble in the first quarter (-5.9 EPA).

Trickery backfires for Jacksonville!

The Jaguars lose the ball and the Colts recover the fumble! pic.twitter.com/ySgo9we1OZ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2025

Per rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Win Probability was Jarrian’s fourth quarter interception (-18% win probability).

Key stats (traditional):

• QB Trevor Lawrence: 23/37 for 263 yards (7.1 YPA), 1 interception (72.2 passer rating), 8 carries for 26 yards (3.3 YPC), and 2 TDs

• RB Travis Etienne: 17 carries for 76 yards (4.5 YPC) and 2 catches for 16-yards
• WR Parker Washington: 8 catches for 115 yards (14.4 YPR) on 10 targets
• TE Brenton Strange: 3 catches for 54 yards (18.0 YPR) on 5 targets
• LB Foye Oluokun: 12 tackles (4 solo)
• CB Montaric Brown: 6 tackles (4 solo), 2 passes defensed
• DE Josh Hines-Allen: 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 pass defensed
• DE Travon Walker: 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 3 QB hits
• CB Jarrian Jones and Safety Antonio Johnson both had fourth quarter interceptions

View the full box score here

Game balls:

• Special Teams: Punter Logan Cooke: 2 punts for 127 yards (63.5 average) with one downed inside of the 20 and a long of 66-yards
• Defense: DE Travon Walker: 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 3 QB hits
• Offense: QB Trevor Lawrence: 23/37 for 263 yards (7.1 YPA), 1 interception (72.2 passer rating), 8 carries for 26-yards (3.3 YPC), and 2 TDs

Full highlights:

• You can watch the top plays of the Week 17 matchup on the NFL’s YouTube channel here.

Post-game notables:

1. Situational Masters: Why go for it?

Playing on the road, in a matchup where your team took its first lead in the third quarter, where the offense has struggled with two red zone turnovers, and your passing game has been highly efficient, I simply don’t understand running the ball on third and four or going for it on fourth and a long one from the 24-yard line. That’s a situation where you have to take the points and force Rivers to drive down the field. While Jacksonville was bailed out by Jarrian Jones’ interception, the decision still occurred and was questionable even on the surface.

2. Colts showing a future blueprint?

No doubt about it, the Colts roughed up Lawrence in this one, even without DeForest Buckner available. With multiple hits on the Jacksonville quarterback, success in the passing game was sparse in the second half, with Lawrence starting the game throwing 14 for 16, but ending 9 for 21 with the Colts blitzing and/or pressuring Lawrence on nearly half of his snaps. The pass rush was absolutely felt for Indianapolis, and you’d expect playoff opponents to similarly pressure Jacksonville in the coming weeks.

3. No style points in the NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguars played one of their clunkiest games since possibly week 12 against Arizona. Yet, none of that matters when discussing the final score or the team’s record. The 12-4 AFC-leading Jaguars have again found a way to win a one-possession matchup.

What are your thoughts from tonight’s game, Jaguars fans? Who surprised you most (or disappointed you) with their play tonight? Let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/game-day-threads/80827/jacksonville-escapes-indy-with-gritty-road-win

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars playoff picture: Updated AFC standings after Week 17 win vs. Colts

The regular season is nearing its end and every game matters for the Jacksonville Jaguars right now.

Heading into Week 17 vs. the Colts, with the Texans on Jacksonville’s heels after Houston punched their ticket to the postseason thanks to a win over the Chargers on Saturday, the Jags have to win to hold onto the AFC South lead.

The Colts currently hold a five-game losing streak, which led to their playoff elimination after a very hot start, but they’ve shown a little more fight in their losses since signing 44-year-old grandfather Philip Rivers to take over at quarterback. It was a hard-fought game, but Rivers threw a YOLO end-zone pick to seal the Jaguars’ 23-17 win. The Jags have the Titans, one of the worst teams in the league, on the schedule in in Week 18 — another winnable game, but as you know, it’s any given Sunday in the NFL, especially when it comes to division rivals. Thanks to Sunday’s win over the Colts, though, the Jaguars continue to control their own destiny. With a win next week they should seal the AFC South crown.

Here’s where everything stands heading into Sunday’s games, including the Jags’ matchup with the Colts.

Updated AFC South standings​

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4
2. Houston Texans 11-5
3. Indianapolis Colts 8-8
4. Tennessee Titans 3-12

Updated AFC playoff picture​

1. Denver Broncos 13-3 (clinched playoff berth)
2. New England Patriots 13-3 (clinched playoff berth)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4 (clinched playoff berth)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
5. Buffalo Bills 11-4 (clinched playoff berth)
6. Houston Texans 11-5 (clinched playoff berth)
7. Los Angeles Chargers 11-5 (clinched playoff berth)
8. Indianapolis Colts (eliminated)
9. Baltimore Ravens 7-8

Eliminated from AFC playoff contention​

• Indianapolis Colts
• Miami Dolphins
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Cincinnati Bengals
• New York Jets
• Cleveland Browns
• Tennessee Titans
• Las Vegas Raiders

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...tandings-texans-wild-card-seeding-tiebreakers

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Winners & Losers from Week 17: Jaguars Complete Sweep of Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars just keep winning.

Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts was in no one’s book a pretty or convincing win, but a win nonetheless that moved Jacksonville to 12-4 this season and completed the sweep over the Colts.

Trevor Lawrence rushed in two scores and the defense grabbed two picks – get some Al’s. The win was never in question as the Jags rattled off their seventh consecutive victory to maintain their position atop the AFC South and in striking distance for the AFC’s top overall seed.

There was plenty to like about the victory and also a few things that might have raised concerns, but nothing from Sunday should derail what the Jags have built to this point. Just one more regular season game now stands in the way of this team and its quest for the Super Bowl.

WINNERS

Continuing to Win

It isn’t easy to win in the NFL. Sometimes your day at the office is far tougher than it normally is. The Jags saw that Sunday.

Yes, Philip Rivers is the quarterback for the Colts, and the Colts are not an extremely healthy team currently. But they are still a decent enough team with plenty of good players. The Jags won a tough road game, which should be considered a huge overall victory outside of the scoring being within six points.

Jacksonville has won four road games in a row during its winning streak. That is the type of thing you can carry with you into the playoffs. This squad knows they will have their backs against the wall a lot of times while on the road, but instead of running from that, has embraced it. And it works.

We single out individual players or coaches a lot because it’s easier to pinpoint someone having a 100-yard day or two touchdowns than it is to applaud the franchise as a whole. The Jaguars are doing a great job winning football games as a whole, though. Sometimes they are just uglier than usual.

Buster Brown

The somewhat sudden news drop of Jourdan Lewis going down for the year meant it was going to be time for the Jaguars’ corners to really step up.

As has been the calling card for his entire tenure in Jacksonville, Montaric “Buster” Brown has been the replacement corner when the usual starter gets hurt. He has done that for much of this season and helped keep the secondary afloat Sunday in Lewis’ absence. He got targeted a good bit, but held his own overall.

Brown had two pass breakups, which were really just two dropped picks he could have had. He was credited with a third during the game, but he didn’t actually touch a ball that was dropped. Brown also finished second on the year in total tackles with six.

By game’s end, Brown was the highest-rated Jaguar according to PFF with a noisy 88.2 grade.

Something that also might fly under the radar was a likely touchdown-saving tackle on special teams after a 55-yard kickoff return.

Brown and counterpart Jarrian Jones played well on Sunday. Michael Pittman Jr. had just two catches and tight end Tyler Warren led the Colts in receiving. It was a good day in the office for Brown and the boys.

Buster Brown has got to be the most targeted CB of this game pic.twitter.com/ko30FVncsU

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) December 28, 2025

Parker Washington

Water was carried and wood was chopped yet again for Parker Washington.

For the first time this season, Washington rattled off two consecutive 100-yard games for the Jags after his eight catch, 115-yard day against the Colts.

Washington is WR1 in Jacksonville as the dude is consistently making the extra effort, taking big hits and just all around performing acrobatic feats on the field all the time. He has steadily improved each and every game this season and clearly has the trust of Lawrence plus the coaches. Washington may run around and reverse field a lot, but nine times out of 10, it actually works.

At 760 yards so far this year, Washington could get close to his first-ever 1,000-yard receiving season if the Jags continue to push deeper into the playoffs.

Back to those PFF numbers, Washington was the fourth-highest rated Jag with a 75.6 grade. Washington is making the big plays which in turn has made this offense a whole lot better. It looks to be extremely tough to guard the Jags with the weapons they have at receiver right now.

Trevor Lawrence hits Parker Washington, and Washington keeps rolling after the catch to set up first and goal!

: FOX pic.twitter.com/9kiCZpNjMB

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2025

LOSERS

Play Calling

Yes, it’s tough to win in the NFL. Sometimes that toughness is because of yourself.

I don’t think anyone would say that Sunday’s game was Liam Coen’s best as a playcaller or coach. Some of the play calling seemed either disjointed or forced. A lot of the times the Jags on offense just never seemed smooth.

The big messed-up play people will point to was the hook and ladder – made 10 times worse by the fact it was executed to perfection later in the day during primetime games. That specific play was there, but Travis Etienne couldn’t get to his spot fast enough and the timing might have just been overall disrupted beyond repair.

Some of the late runs seemed a little whacky at times, but if the playcalling is one of the worst aspects of your game in a win, then you have good issues.

Maybe Coen and Grant Udinski just wanted some different plays on tape to keep teams honest before the playoffs. Maybe they were testing stuff out knowing they were never truly in danger.

Either way, some of that play calling made the win feel a little puke-inducing throughout the day.

Trickery backfires for Jacksonville!

The Jaguars lose the ball and the Colts recover the fumble! pic.twitter.com/ySgo9we1OZ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2025

The Philip Rivers Experiment

So that went about the way everyone thought it would, right?

The Colts tried to bring back the ghost of Philip Rivers and it bombed like we all knew it would. That was a weird choice. An understandable choice I suppose, but a weird one all the same. Did you also know that Rivers has lots of children though? Did you know he is a high school football coach? How about that he is 45? Have you seen his family in their box recently?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/gener...-from-week-17-jaguars-complete-sweep-of-colts

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars, Titans Week 18 Kickoff Date/Time Announced

The NFL announced on Sunday night that Jacksonville’s 2025 Week 18 regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans will kick off at 1 p.m. EST. The game’s start time was originally labeled as “TBD” to allow flexibility in late-season scheduling for the league.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Tennessee Titans in their final regular season home game on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m., the NFL announced last night.

— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) December 29, 2025

Following the Jaguars’ 23-17 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Jaguars can claim the AFC South division title, allowing the team to host a home playoff game for the first time since the 2022 season.

Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli released the following statement on Sunday’s matchup:

“We’ve consistently spoken about the importance of meaningful, late-season games, and we have our next test against the Titans on Sunday. Since this game will impact the AFC South, our playoff positioning, and our ability to host games during the upcoming NFL playoffs, I am confident our fans will ‘meet the moment’ and make their collective presence felt, as only they can.”

Via the team:

Fans have the chance to see the Jaguars reach seven home wins, and secure Jacksonville’s first 13-win season since the team went 14-2 in 1999.

Limited seats remain for the regular-season finale, which will be televised locally on FOX 30. Jaguars fans can visit www.jaguars.com/tickets or call the Jaguars ticket office at (904) 633-2000 to reserve their seats.

In this final season of a full-capacity stadium before the 2026 stadium renovations ramp up with a limited capacity, Sunday’s AFC South clinching opportunity (and any additional home postseason games) would be Jacksonville fans’ final opportunity to see a full EverBank Stadium until the 2028 “Stadium of the Future” opening.

Be there or be square, Duval. Let’s lock down The Bank.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...rs-titans-week-18-kickoff-date-time-announced

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars Reacts Survey: Which AFC playoff team scares you most?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jaguars fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Jaguars fans — are you confident the team is headed in the right direction?

And as we look ahead to the 2025-26 postseason, which AFC playoff team would you least want to face?

(The Ravens or Steelers will also make the playoffs, depending on the outcome of their Week 18 matchup, but neither is much of a threat.)

We’ve already seen the Jaguars defeat the Broncos, Texans, and Chargers this season, so the Patriots or the Bills might be the scariest potential matchup just because we haven’t seen them face the Jags.

New England clinched the AFC East last week, and while they certainly haven’t faced a tough schedule this season, the road to the Super Bowl could end up going through Foxborough. And Drake Maye is the betting favorite to win MVP for a reason.

That said, there’s no scarier quarterback in the 2025-26 AFC playoff field than Josh Allen. He’s had a pretty up-and-down season, and Buffalo has actually turned into a run-heavy offense due in part to a lack of receiver talent, but Allen could go supernova in any given game.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...guars-reacts-survey-afc-playoff-matchups-2025

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Parker Washington is the epicenter of the Jaguars’ red-hot passing game

Throughout the 2025 NFL season, SB Nation’s Doug Farrar writes about the game’s Secret Superstars — those players whose performances might slip under the radar for whatever reasons. In this installment, we focus on Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Parker Washington, who has stepped into Liam Coen’s passing game at the perfect time after nearly three years of anonymity. Now, everyone involved knows exactly who he is.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 12-4, they’re currently the AFC’s three-seed, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence has never looked better under first-year head coach Liam Coen. This has been especially true over the last few games — since Week 13, Lawrence has completed 99 of 162 passes for 1,345 yards, 12 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 109.7, which ranks third over that time behind only Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots.

What’s interesting about the Jags’ new and pronounced passing game is that the two guys who were expected to lead it as targets have been missing in action in different ways. Travis Hunter was just starting to get the hang of the Coen offense before he was lost for the rest of the season to a knee injury in late October. And Brian Thomas Jr., one of the most productive rookie receivers in 2024, hasn’t come close to his inaugural numbers in 2025.

The November 4 trade for Jakobi Myers has been a blessing, and the team pounced all over that with a three-year, $60 million contract extension in mid-December. Myers has been the team’s leading receiver since Week 10 — 37 catches on 53 targets for 439 yards and three touchdowns — but the guy who’s closing in on Myers is one Parker Washington, Jacksonville’s sixth-round pick out of Penn State in the 2023 draft. Washington was a blip on the radar at most in his first two NFL seasons, but the connection with Lawrence in Coen’s offense is now clear.

It’s been especially clear over the last two games, and what Washington did to the Denver Broncos’ top-ranked defense in Jacksonville’s 34-20 Week 16 win. Washington caught six passes on 10 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown. 90 of those yards came after the catch, and 77 came after first contact.

.@Jaguars receiver Parker Washington hit Denver's defense from everywhere in the formation, and it was a mismatch very few people expected. pic.twitter.com/qzfgMKO8sl

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 29, 2025

These are important metrics in any Liam Coen offense, because the passing game is set up for such things. The 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Coen as their offensive coordinator, ranked fourth in the NFL with 2,552 yards after the catch, and they ranked first with 1,024 yards after contact. The 2025 Jaguars have been a bit more vertical, with 1,546 yards after the catch and 692 after contact, but you can see why Washington has become a Coen favorite.

“He’s so explosive, and he’s so strong.” Coen said of Washington after the Broncos game. “His lower half is very explosive, he works extremely hard in the offseason to prepare, he works extremely hard during the season to prepare, to get his body right. We weren’t sure who [Broncos CB Pat] Surtain [II] would match, whether it would be ‘B.T.’ [Brian Thomas Jr.], or Jakob, and a lot of things were kind of set up for Parker to have a day and to be one of the number one targets of today, so that didn’t just happen. We prepared that way all week, [we] wanted to get him involved early, and he had a look in his eye from a very early start that he was going to have a big day.”

Washington must have had the same look in his eye before the Jaguars’ 23-17 Sunday win over the Indianapolis Colts. This time around, he bagged eight catches on 10 targets for 115 yards, with 39 of those yards coming after the catch. This time around, Washington was more responsible for catching stuff on angular in-and out-breaking routes against Lou Anarumo’s varied coverages.

Parker Washington showing off his route nuance, speed after catch, and willingness to get grimy after contact and with the contested catch. The Colts didn't have a lot of answers for any of it. pic.twitter.com/DZe4VZWMRG

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 29, 2025

“Yeah, he’s so reliable as a competitor,” Coen said of Washington after this particular series of successes. “You know where he’s going to be. You know what he’s going to do. You know the way he’s going to prepare throughout the week. Trevor trusts him. There’s a trust level there. There’s a continuity there. They’ve been playing together for a number of years now. Third downs, whether it’s running away, zone, he’s just had a – he has a good football feel, and he’s been able to make people miss and have a lot of run after catch, which really helps your offense.”

The Jaguars will have some interesting receiver decisions to make in 2026. Washington will be in the last year of his rookie contract, making the princely sum of $1.145 million. At this rate, the team may work to get him a new deal before he goes and outprices himself. Getting Thomas working as he should in the passing game should be a high priority sooner than later, and there’s a legitimate argument to be made that Hunter’s otherworldly skills would benefit most from a more full-time move to cornerback. Myers, once an unexpected star, will likely be the alpha in the room. But equally out of nowhere, Parker Washington has made it clear that he’s a perfect fit in his new offense, and everybody’s in agreement there.

Not bad for a guy who was barely known outside of Duval and College Station a few weeks ago.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...ington-passing-game-trevor-lawrence-liam-coen

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Are the Jaguars Getting the National Respect They Deserve?

Liam Coen is the only first-time head coach in NFL history to win 12 or more games after taking over a team that had four or fewer wins the previous season. Jacksonville has won seven straight games with the league’s best point differential in that span (+119). They’re a win against the 3-13 Titans away from winning the AFC South and clinching a top-three AFC playoff seed.

For the last time this season, we rounded up the latest NFL power rankings to see if the Jaguars are getting the national respect they deserve.

Pro Football Talk: 3 (last week: 2)​

From Mike Florio:

Hopefully, they didn’t peak too soon.

CBS Sports: 3 (3)​

From Pete Prisco:

They are a real threat in the AFC playoffs. They aren’t great in any one area, but they don’t have weaknesses like some of the teams.

NFL.com: 3 (5)​

From Eric Edholm:

The Jaguars were pretty shaky early against the Colts, fortunate to only be trailing 10-7 at the half. Then the offense got going, the defense clamped down and the better team won — it was the Jags’ seventh straight victory in a breakthrough season few saw coming. What they’ve done since their Week 8 bye has been nothing short of admirable, and they’re as legitimate a contender as just about anyone in the AFC field right now. But there is one area they absolutely can improve in prior to the postseason: the red zone. Their 60% TD rate down there ranks them in the upper half of the league, and their 39 TDs are impressive, but Sunday brought two more RZ turnovers, raising their season total to six. Coughing it up twice in the money zone against Indianapolis is one thing; doing so in a playoff game would be another entirely.

The Athletic: 3 (5)​

From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:

Head coach check-in: Worth the trouble

Remember all the fuss in January when Liam Coen sort of snuck out of Tampa Bay under the cover of night? Nobody in Jacksonville does. The Jaguars matched the franchise’s highest win total since 1999, making Coen the only first-year coach in league history to inherit a four-win team and win 12 or more games the next season. Jacksonville has won seven in a row and hosts Tennessee to end the season.

USA Today: 4 (3)​

From Nate Davis:

Why aren’t they No. 1 … even though they might wind up there in the overall AFC standings? Their seven-game winning streak, most of those victories of the decisive variety, is currently second only to Houston’s. The Jags are committed to the run, take the ball away and can rush the passer. But as well as QB Trevor Lawrence has played since Thanksgiving, he also remains an unproven commodity − at the professional level anyway − when it comes to January football.

The Ringer: 4 (4)​

From Diante Lee:

I abandoned all of my stock in Trevor Lawrence in 2024, so I won’t come crawling all the way back to the bandwagon just because times are good now. But what we’ve seen lately from Lawrence is exactly what I hoped he could do in a competent passing game. Lawrence’s confidence is at an all-time high, he’s moving around better than ever, and his receivers have consistently made plays after the catch.

Because I’ve been down this road before with Lawrence and the Jags, I am preparing myself for heartbreak in the playoffs. Until then, I’m having a hell of a good time watching from afar.

Bleacher Report: 4 (6)​

From Maurice Moton:

As weeks pass, the Jacksonville Jaguars are gaining respect, and yet, they deserve more of it. They’re a win away from claiming the AFC South title after a 4-13 campaign last year.

Offensive-minded head coach Liam Coen has Trevor Lawrence playing his best football. In Week 17, Lawrence threw his first interception in five games, but he led Jacksonville to a victory with two rushing scores.

Also, the Jaguars defense has tightened up over the past month, allowing fewer than 21 points in five consecutive outings.

Fox Sports: 5 (5)​

From Ralph Vacchiano:

I abandoned all of my stock in Trevor Lawrence in 2024, so I won’t come crawling all the way back to the bandwagon just because times are good now. But what we’ve seen lately from Lawrence is exactly what I hoped he could do in a competent passing game. Lawrence’s confidence is at an all-time high, he’s moving around better than ever, and his receivers have consistently made plays after the catch.

Because I’ve been down this road before with Lawrence and the Jags, I am preparing myself for heartbreak in the playoffs. Until then, I’m having a hell of a good time watching from afar.

ESPN: 6 (5)​

From Mike DiRocco:

What we learned this season: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is finally the player the Jaguars thought they were getting with the 2021 No. 1 pick.

Lawrence had played very good football in spurts, but never before at the level that coach Liam Coen has unlocked this season. Since Week 11, Lawrence ranks fourth in QBR (76.8), passing yards (1,754) and yards per attempt (8.2) — and he’s tied for the NFL lead with 16 TD passes. The Jags are 7-0 in that stretch. Blitzing Lawrence used to be the way to go, but over the past three games, he’s completing at least 70% of his passes against the blitz, with eight TDs and only one interception.

Yahoo Sports: 6 (8)​

From Frank Schwab:

The Jaguars weren’t just going to walk to an AFC South title, and they were in trouble when the Colts took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter. But this Jaguars team is ascending for a reason. The defense pitched a fourth-quarter shutout and the Jags came back to win. Now all they need is a home win over the Titans in Week 18 to go 13-4 and clinch a division title. What a first season for head coach Liam Coen. And there’s no reason the Jaguars can’t make a deep playoff run. They’re playing as well as anyone.

Sports Illustrated: 7 (7)​

From Conor Orr:

A fun bit of oddity from Action News Jacksonville [shoutout Daniel Griffis!]: The Jaguars’ quarterback leads the team in rushing touchdowns and its running back leads the team in receiving touchdowns. It’s certainly not the way any of us drew it up, but who is standing in front of this train right now?

The Jaguars’ average rank this week is 4.5 (last week: 5.1).

A final look at #Jaguars 2025 composite power rankings

Are they getting the respect they deserve? pic.twitter.com/HzsyULaN6O

— Duval 22 (@duval22dotcom) December 31, 2025

Where would you rank the team, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...80922/jaguars-nfl-power-rankings-week-18-2025

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars history in the making

We are headed into Week 18, and our Jacksonville Jaguars are officially in the playoffs and currently leading the AFC South. I do not want to taint the vibes by talking about the Tennessee Titans (fuck ’em), so let’s take a look at some of the franchise records that have been accomplished by the 12-4 Jaguars thus far this season.

Regarding the defense, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are now up to ten games in which they have both recorded sacks. They are now tied for fourth place in franchise history for the most by a pass rush duo. The defense’s 103 passes defensed this season has set a new franchise high. Antonio Johnson’s interception not only sealed the win on Sunday, but it also brought the defense to 21 interceptions for the season and tied the franchise record.

Running back Travis Etienne currently has 1075 rushing yards for the 2025 season, marking the third time in his NFL career that he has recorded over 1,000 yards. Etienne ranks second in franchise history; Jaguars legend Fred Taylor leads the pack with seven seasons. In addition to franchise history, Travis Etienne now joins Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, and James Cook III as the fourth AFC running back since 2022 to have three 1,000-yard seasons.

After Sunday’s win against the Colts, Parker Washington joined Brian Thomas Jr. as the only Jaguars to have consecutive 100+ receiving yard games since 2018. Brian Thomas Jr. first achieved this record during weeks 15 and 16 during the 2024 season.

Trevor Lawrence now ranks second in franchise history for touchdowns scored in a single season. Lawrence currently has 26 passing and nine rushing touchdowns so far this season. Liam Coen is the first first-year head coach in NFL history to win 12+ games after taking over a team with four or fewer wins the previous season.

The Jaguars won six out of eight away games (.750) this season, marking their best record on the road since 2005 (6-2, .750). In addition to this, the 2025 season marks the first time since 2005 to achieve 12 wins, and the third overall in team history. The team has scored 433 points so far this season, surpassing the franchise’s previous record of 417 points (2017 season) scored during the first 16 games.

Perhaps after the season ends in February, I’ll make a comprehensive list of all the records and history made during the 2025 season. Please let us know in the comments or on social media how you feel about these broken records. Fuck the Titans. Not following us on social media? You can find us on X/Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacksonville-jaguars-history/80991/jaguars-history-in-the-making

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars vs Titans key matchups: BTJ to get right against injury-hit secondary?

The Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the Tennessee Titans to EverBank Stadium on Sunday in what is their final game of the 2025 regular season. With playoff seedings at stake, here are some key battles to keep an eye out for:

Jonah Monheim vs Jeffery Simmons​

#Titans DI Jeffery Simmons was our highest-graded pass rusher in Week 17 at 92.4 and one of five players who had a pass rush win rate of 30.0% or higher

He’s been elite this year and should be a lock for an All-Pro spot #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/La4BIKb21N

— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) December 30, 2025

Jacksonville has some health concerns heading into Week 18. Center Robert Hainsey, key to the turnaround of the offensive line, was unable to suit up against the Indianapolis Colts, meaning the Jaguars had to turn to seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim for the second time this season. If the Jags had already sealed the division title and the home playoff game that comes with it, I imagine we would have seen any starters with nagging injuries put on ice against the Titans. So deciding whether to roll with Hainsey to seal the deal or keep him fresh for the postseason is a tough decision for Liam Coen.

If Monheim starts, he’s got a hell of a job on his hands. It seems churlish to mention the Jaguars’ injuries compared to those on Tennessee’s defense, who have had to rob every other franchise’s practice squad just to be able to have 53 bodies on their roster. But defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is still there, and the two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler will be intent on signing off 2025 with a big performance. Despite the Titans’ tough year, Simmons has still dominated, racking up 65 tackles, 20 quarterback hits and 10 sacks through 14 games. Monheim has been better than you’d expect for a rookie taken with the 221st pick, but Simmons is a problem even Hainsey would have a tough time dealing with on Sunday.

Brian Thomas Jr. vs Kaiir Elam​

Since returning from injury, Brian Thomas Jr.’s AVG depth of target has gone from 13.0 to 20.0.

BTJ is averaging 20.1 YPR the last 3 weeks.
pic.twitter.com/kOE1uFLzA4

— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 19, 2025

Speaking of the aforementioned injuries on the Titans’ defense; the secondary that Jacksonville will face this weekend looks totally different from the one they faced just five weeks ago. Having already seen three starters depart or sent to IR earlier in the season, the back end of this unit has seen further attrition, with no less than five contributors getting injured in the last month. It’s caused interim head coach Mike McCoy and general manager Mike Borgonzi to be creative, looking for available experience around the league.

Having been waived by the Dallas Cowboys, Kaiir Elam was a convenient body available. Taken in the second round in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Elam has never lived up to expectations. And it’s a damning indictment of Tennessee’s depth that it looks like he’ll be CB1 against the Jags on Sunday, an opportunity for him to audition for a team to give him another shot in a pro career in danger of fading away.

Another man with something to prove is Brian Thomas, although the desperation for the second-year wideout to find his rookie form is far from the situation Elam finds himself in. 658 yards and two touchdowns for the year isn’t catastrophic, but it is a significant step back from the numbers he posted en route to being named to the All-Rookie team and the Pro Bowl. Now would be a timely opportunity for Thomas to find some form as the Jaguars head into the playoffs, and he’ll be relishing taking on Elam and the rest of this patched-up defense.

Devin Lloyd vs Tony Pollard​

Tony Pollard has a lot to play for: pic.twitter.com/gG40zAWp3I

— Sal Bets (@salbets_) December 29, 2025

The Titans might be the whipping boys of the AFC South, but they have begun to click on offense in recent weeks. A lot of that is down to the development of Cam Ward under center and his ability to create off platform. But Tony Pollard has also enjoyed a renaissance, rushing for 450 yards in his past four games. With Tennessee going 2-2 during that stretch and threatening to lose the number one pick in next year’s draft, Jacksonville should be very wary of looking ahead too much – there is a division crown to be won on Sunday.

Despite playing second fiddle to Zeke Elliott for much of his time in Dallas, Pollard has been one of the more consistent running backs in the NFL, hitting 1,000 yards in the last four seasons. He’s a ball carrier that likes to bring it on every play and wear down front sevens with his persistent physicality between the tackles.

That’s where Devin Lloyd comes in, who has enjoyed a strong season under first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Lloyd has thrived as the Mike linebacker, particularly in pass coverage, but has also been sturdy against the run too. 76 tackles is a solid return on the season so far, and he’ll be tasked with keeping Pollard quiet, who can also be effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Stymie Pollard, and you crank up the pressure on Cam Ward – hopefully allowing this potent Jags secondary to feast.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...btj-to-get-right-against-injury-hit-secondary

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars vs Titans: Week 18 opening odds

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 12: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers pressures Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter of the game at EverBank Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) will face the Tennessee Titans (3-13) at 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 4.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Jaguars are 10.5-point favorites and the total is set at 44.5 points.

“We haven’t really talked a ton about goals,” head coach Liam Coen said after Jacksonville’s Week 17 win in Indianapolis. “About the division, playoffs, conference, Super Bowl – like we have not had any of those conversations as a team. Not really on purpose, more so just because you’re really trying to focus on getting better because there’s so much to coach off of every week for us and even through a lot of wins, we’re able to coach off a lot of stuff and keeping the mindset pretty singular on 1-0 each week.”

If the Jaguars do win on Sunday, they’ll capture the AFC South division for the first time since 2022 and just the third time since 1999. Jacksonville currently holds the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture. Meanwhile, Tennessee is projected to land the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

What are your thoughts on the Jaguars’ Week 18 matchup? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...0830/jaguars-titans-week-18-2025-opening-odds

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

REPORT: Jaguars Extend LT Cole Van-Lanen

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly fortified Trevor Lawrence’s blindside for the next three seasons, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Source: Jaguars reached agreement today with OL Cole Van Lanen on a three-year, $51 million extension that includes $32.5 million guaranteed. Deal could be worth up to $55.5 million with incentives. pic.twitter.com/1pvVemY17S

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2026

Left tackle and part-time swiss-army knife, Cole Van Lanen (27) has appeared in 15 games for the 2025 Jaguars, making nine starts across multiple positions along the offensive line. Van Lanen has logged meaningful snaps at both guard and tackle spots this season. Originally acquired in a 2022 trade with Green Bay for a seventh-round pick by then–general manager Trent Baalke.

Without an extension, Van Lanen was set to become an unrestricted free agent this March. Instead, Jacksonville locked him up early, bumping his annual salary from just over $3 million per year to $17 million. That $17 million average annual value places Van Lanen at 28th among all offensive tackles and 16th among left tackles specifically, almost perfectly league average for the position.

As an update, the team has since confirmed the extension via press release, noting the following:

“Van Lanen has played 49 regular season games (12 starts) and appeared in two postseason contests. In over 800 offensive snaps, he has been called for just five penalties and credited with only four sacks.”

Locked in https://t.co/V6ysbrkJ5T pic.twitter.com/3fIumqwSPV

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 3, 2026

Dominance in Limited Action​

On the field, Van Lanen’s production has seemed to justify the investment. Per Pro Football Focus, he has allowed just nine total pressures and zero sacks on 166 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle this season, surrendering pressure on only 5.4% of his reps. PFF currently grades him as the 15th-ranked offensive tackle overall (left or right) with an 81.0 rating, ranking him 20th in pass protection and 18th in run blocking. ESPN Analytics is even higher on his run game impact, placing him 10th among all offensive tackles in run block win rate.

Cole Van Lanen has played LG/RT/RG/LT for the Jaguars all over the last month. Not sure I have ever seen that. Here he is vs. Jeffrey Simmons pic.twitter.com/ypFzuNH2hp

— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) December 1, 2025

As BCC’s Doug Farrar noted in mid-December ago:

Is it a coincidence that Van Lanen’s games at left tackle have aligned with a three-game stretch in which Trevor Lawrence has completed 53 of 89 passes for nine touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 123.0? Well, given that Little had allowed nine sacks and 29 total pressures in 472 pass-blocking reps, and Van Lanen has allowed no sacks and three total pressures in 161 pass-blocking reps at left tackle, it probably helps.

According to ESPN’s Mike DiRocco, the Jaguars reportedly internally discussed using the franchise tag on Van Lanen before ultimately deciding against it, as the projected tag number lands around $27 million per year. Instead, Jacksonville chose to get a long-term deal done ahead of free agency. With extensions now finalized for two players with expiring contracts—wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (three years, $60 million, $40 million guaranteed) and left tackle Cole Van Lanen—the Jaguars have handled key business early. That leaves the franchise tag available for other potential candidates, possibly including running back Travis Etienne. The RB franchise tag is projected at roughly $13.6 million, and considering the team already handed Dyami Brown a one-year, $10 million free-agent deal this offseason, paying a few million more to retain Etienne feels like a relatively easy decision if a long-term agreement can’t be reached.

Was the extension a risk?​

Many fans have, justifiably, questioned whether this extension carries some risk. And depending on your tolerance level, the answer is yes. Three starts in four seasons before 2025 and 12 career starts in five seasons might create some level of uncertainty. Even in 2025, Van Lanen has started just four games at left tackle under this regime before signing the extension, plus five additional starts at other offensive line positions. He’s also faced a relatively limited slate of truly dominant edge rushers, with Denver’s Nik Bonitto standing out as the most notable challenge. That context complicates the evaluation of his body of work. Is Van Lanen excelling because his strengths have matched up well against the opponents he’s faced so far? Or is this performance sustainable against a broader range of elite power rushers? Has he simply not encountered the kind of player who could expose potential weaknesses in his game?

That said, this coaching staff has worked with Van Lanen for an entire offseason and season and clearly believes in him enough to guarantee $32.5 million and keep him under contract through 2026. And while it’s fair to acknowledge the small sample size, teams routinely hand out three and four-year contracts in free agency to players they’ve never coached, practiced with, or evaluated within their own system on tape. Compared to that, this deal may actually be *less* risky than many outside free-agent additions (especially when you remember recent misses like the Dyami Brown signing).

But I do understand those who question the timing of the move. While most fans somewhat expected a Van-Lanen extension soon, some either felt that the contract amount should have been much smaller dor the supporting tape or that the extension should have been completed following the postseason, after the team gathered more games from which to base an evaluation on. However, quality left tackles are rarely available on the market for average money. That is also a major consideration. By signing CVL early, the contract could forever be manageable. Should Van-Lanen’s high level of play continue, the extension would be considered a steal, both now and moving forward.

Average Left Tackle Money​

Financially, the known details of the deal align with the market. Van Lanen’s contract sits at average left tackle money at the time of signing and will naturally slide down the positional rankings as the cap continues to rise. It’s also only a modest increase over Walker Little’s 2024 deal, once accounting for the roughly 8.5 percent salary cap jump in 2025. Put another way: if someone were signed today to Walker Little’s exact 2024 contract, it’d look closer to a three-year, $44 million extension with around $30 million guaranteed.

The Jury Remains Out​

While the verdict of this extension may sit in limbo for some time, let’s remember, just because Van Lanen originally participated on a $3 million salary does not make him a $3 million player. We’ve seen this before. Jordan Lewis outplayed his deal in Dallas and earned market value upon arriving in Jacksonville. Meanwhile, Cowboys fans often cry on social media about how much they should have paid him. Players outperform their contracts all the time, and when they do, teams have to pay up. If Van Lanen is truly the player this staff believes he is, then the risk here is far lower than the four-game audition narrative suggests.

Additionally, there’s the lingering decision of what becomes of now, backup left tackle Walker Little. Little has started at right guard in week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts, with Patrick Mekari nursing a back injury that will also hold him out of week 18. The option to trade Walker away in the offseason or before the 2026 trade deadline is an obvious possibility. In the scenario of an outright release, Little’s dead money reflects $18.2 million prior to June 1st. If designated as a post-June 1st release, the 2026 dead cap is only $13.5 million, with a 2027 dead cap of $4.6 million. If traded, however, Jacksonville would take on a $7.2 million 2026 dead cap (pre-June 1st) and $2.5 million 2026 and $4.6 million dead cap for 2027.

Jacksonville has a few remaining priority free agents, who may jump to the top of the list as the next extension candidates following Van-Lanen’s deal:

• LB Devin Lloyd
• RB Travis Etienne
• LB Dennis Gardeck
• CB Montaric Brown

What are your thoughts on the reported extension, solidifying Lawrence’s blindside, BigCatCountry? Too early or smart timing for a buy-low opportunity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...81039/report-jaguars-extend-lt-cole-van-lanen

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Hang the Banner: Jaguars AFC South Champs Again After Week 18 Win

The Jacksonville Jaguars are officially AFC South Champions again, for the third time in franchise history (2017 and 2022) after securing their 13th win of the 2025 season on Sunday. This was Jacksonville’s first 13-win season since 1999, with the party at The Bank having the feel of a Homecoming game. The team set multiple milestones on the way to a 41-7 domination of the lowly Tennessee Titans.

With next week’s home Wild Card Round game on deck, here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 18 season finale.

pic.twitter.com/uofB9KZsL0

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) January 4, 2026

Live blog:

Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!

Pregame Notes:

Recently signed CB Keith Taylor, TE Hunter Long, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, DT Maason Smith, and TE Patrick Herbert were all healthy scratches for Sunday. OL Patrick Mekari did not practice all week after missing Week 17 with a back injury. OL Walker Little started in his absence for a second consecutive game. For Tennessee, S Amani Hooker, former Jaguar OLB Arden Key, G Drew Moss, G Garrett Dellinger, OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, and TE Gunnar Helm were all held out for the Titans.

The following Jacksonville players left Sunday’s game due to injury:

• WR Brian Thomas Jr (concussion) – cleared and returned to the matchup
• CB Greg Newsome (shoulder)
• LT Cole Van-Lanen (knee)

Game Recap

The Jaguars’ offense started their first series in a rocky way, going backwards on the opening two snaps, with QB Trevor Lawrence taking a first down sack from Justin Simmons (beating Ezra Cleveland and a LeQuint Allen chip).

The Titans sack Trevor Lawrence on the first play of the game
pic.twitter.com/f6wJm8lDA5

— Titans Nation (@TitansNationCP) January 4, 2026

That opening snap was followed up by a 10-yard holding penalty on recently extended LT Cole Van-Lanen on second down. The offense, unable to convert the third-and-long, punted to Tennessee, who immediately drove 58 yards in five plays, with QB Cam Ward going 3 for 3 for 52 yards and a 7-yard touchdown rush on the drive. However, Ward immediately left the game with an injury to his throwing shoulder. (Jaguars 0, Titans 7)

.@Cameron7Ward finds the end zone himself

: #TENvsJAX on @NFLonFOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/UpOVzQHhnI

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 4, 2026

The Jacksonville offense bounced back on the next drive with a 6-play, 67-yard, 4:07 touchdown drive with Lawrence going 5 of 5 for 60 yards on the series. The drive featured explosive plays of 23 and 22 yards by Brian Thomas Jr and Parker Washington, who capped the series with his second contested catch of the drive, with a touchdown to tie the affair. (Jaguars 7, Titans 7)

What's smoother, the TD or the golf swing?@CPW11_ | #TENvsJAX on FOXpic.twitter.com/QashD4JFsb

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 4, 2026

With Cam Ward in the locker room, former Jaguar Brandon Allen took over at quarterback for Tennessee. Both offenses struggled to get anything going, both punting the ball away to wrap up the first quarter. The Jaguars’ offense got going 82 yards on 5 plays courtesy of Brenton Strange pulling in 4 catches for 33 yards on the drive, including a 7-yard touchdown catch. Trevor Lawrence was again 5 for 5, this time for 50 yards and a touchdown. (Jaguars 14, Titans 7)

Brenton Strange is the open man for a Jaguars touchdown

TENvsJAX on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/kXIA2NWIA5

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

The defense didn’t rest, quickly extending the Jacksonville lead as S Antonio Johnson brought in his fifth interception of the season (and his third in the past four games) – this one a 59-yard pick-six! Johnson’s five interceptions are tied with LB Devin Lloyd for second in the NFL – one behind the league leader. (Jaguars 21, Titans 7)

Prowlers and pick sixes >>>@Antonio_johns0n | #TENvsJAX on FOXpic.twitter.com/Ij8Q4MLPEQ

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 4, 2026

Following the interception, the Jaguars’ defense forced a subsequent three-and-out, with the offense immediately shutting the door on any slim dreams of a comeback, driving 86 yards in nine plays with explosive plays from Parker Washington and TE Johnny Mudnt of 29 and 16 yards. (Jaguars 28, Titans 7)

Trevor Lawrence… Where do we even begin?#TENvsJAX on FOXpic.twitter.com/Ujeacixzq8

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 4, 2026

After Tennessee, oddly, unsuccessfully chose to attempt to convert a fourth and eight from the 49-yard line, Cam Little drilled his second kick of the season of 67-plus yards to close out the half. (Jaguars 31, Titans 7)

Halftime Stats:

• Score: Jaguars 31, Titans 7
• First downs: Jaguars 14, Titans 6
• Time of possession: Jaguars 15:20, Titans 14:40
• Sacks (defense): Jaguars 0, Titans 2 for 16 yards
• Turnovers forced: Jaguars 1, Titans 0
• Rushing yards: Jaguars 23, Titans 39
• Yards per rush: Jaguars 3.8, Titans 3.9
• Passing yards: Jaguars 165, Titans 91
• Redzone: Jaguars 2 for 2 (100%), Titans 1 for 1 (100%)
• Penalties: Jaguars 1 for 10 yards, Titans 5 for 52 yards
• Points off turnovers: Jaguars 7, Titans 0

At the half, Lawrence was 16/19 for 181 yards, 3 touchdowns, no turnovers, and a 145.9 passer rating. Travis Etienne’s stat sheet at the half was 5 rushes for 11 yards (2.2 YPC), while Bhayshul Tuten had one carry for 12 yards.

halftime qb update pic.twitter.com/wXw4CL60Qs

— Gus Logue (@gus_logue) January 4, 2026

Up 24 at the half, the team chose to allow the starters to remain in the game, with Lawrence leading Jacksonville on a 10-play, 41-yard drive, capped by a 52-yard Little field goal. (Jaguars 34, Titans 7)

Lawrence remained in the matchup, up 27 points, into the fourth quarter, while Lawrence attempted to achieve the third 4,000-yard season of his five-year career. He reached this milestone on a 23-yard Parker Washington fourth quarter catch and immediately left the field.

Trevor Lawrence has thrown for over 4,000 passing yards this season! pic.twitter.com/9zcZcBdChZ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 4, 2026

QB Nick Mullens finished out the drive and the matchup, with RB Bhayshul Tuten’s 5-yard touchdown rush capping the drive’s scoring. (Jaguars 41, Titans 7)

Tuten for another Jaguars TD

TENvsJAX on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/ilyNaSdims

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

Best highlight:

Here for the field goal, stat for the Cam Little, Dewey Wingard celebration.

Cam Little bends in a 67-yard FG, the 2nd-longest in NFL history!

TENvsJAX on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/QCB5u4u70O

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

Key stats (traditional):

• QB Trevor Lawrence: 22/30 for 255 yards, 3 touchdowns, zero turnovers (131.9 passer rating), and two rushes for 11 yards
• RB Travis Etienne: 14 carries for 32 yards (2.3 YPC)
• WR Parker Washington: 5 catches on 9 targets for 87 yards (17.4 YPR), and 1 TD
• TE Brenton Strange: 6 catches on 6 targets for 52 yards (8.7 YPR), and 1 TD
• S Antonio Johnson: 3 tackles (all solo), 1 pass defensed, 1 interception for a touchdown
• DL Dawaune Smoot: 5 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack, 1 TFL
• Foye Oluokun: 8 tackles (3 solo), 1 pass defensed

View the full box score here

Game balls:

• Special Teams: K Cam Little: 2 for 2 with a long of 67 yards; 5/5 on extra points
• Defense: S Antonio Johnson: 3 tackles (all solo), 1 pass defensed, 1 interception for a touchdown
• Offense: QB Trevor Lawrence: 22/30 for 255 yards, 3 touchdowns, zero turnovers (131.9 passer rating), and two rushes for 11 yards

Post-game notables:

1. Jags start off slow

The Jaguars have struggled to put points on the scoreboard on opening drives since their bye week, with the team punting or turning the ball over on five of their last six games, including Sunday. The only successful opening drive came in week 15 against the New York Jets. On Sunday, Jacksonville again struggled to move the ball on the opening drive, going backward on its first two snaps. Similar to their Week 13 matchup against Tennessee, Jacksonville struggled on the opening drive only to open things up on their second series, never looking back.

2. Turnovers have been their business (and business is good)

In 2024, the Jaguars had a league-low nine defensive turnovers. This season, Anthony Campanile’s unit jumped from 32nd to second with a 344% increase in turnover production. The Jacksonville defense tied for the NFL lead in interceptions, with 22, which is also a franchise single-season record. Additionally, the team is second in the NFL in total turnovers, one behind the Chicago Bears, who have yet to play this week.

3. A milestone day in Duval

Multiple milestones were hit on Sunday by Jacksonville:

• Sunday was the seventh time this season the Jaguars have scored 30 or more points, which is the most in a single season in franchise history, per ESPN Research. The 2017 Jaguars achieved this feat six times.
• A new franchise record for touchdowns scored in a season (53)
• A new franchise record for interceptions secured (22)
• Cam Little hit the second-longest field goal in NFL history – second to the NFL record holder, kicker Cam Little (68 yards). Per ESPN Analytics, Little is now the first player in NFL history with multiple field goals of 65+ yards in a career — both of which have been this season.
• Little also set the franchise record for the most points scored in a season in franchise history with 140, passing K Mike Hollis.
• Trevor Lawrence became the new franchise record holder for the most touchdowns in a single season (38), surpassing Blake Bortles

What are your thoughts from today’s game, Jaguars fans? Who surprised you most with their play tonight? Are you shocked at Jacksonville achieving 13 victories on the year? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/game-day-threads/81093/hang-the-banner-jaguars-afc-south-champs-again

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Winners & Losers from Week 18: Jaguars Decimate the Titans to Earn Sunday Playoff Game

In a year’s time, the Jacksonville Jaguars went from 13 losses to 13 wins and a division title. Even better still, the Jags are just four games away from the team’s first Super Bowl victory.

Sunday’s 41-7 thrashing of the Tennessee Titans was all about Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence etched his name in Jaguars lore, right beside his first-year coach, Liam Coen. The defense showed up yet again, which helped complement the city of Jacksonville, which showed up for their hometown team. Sunday was about Jacksonville. It was always going to be. It was always the Jags.

And with that victory, there’s at least more Sunday of football to be had in Duval County. This time, it will be against the Buffalo Bills. Before all that, however, let’s do as we always do and assess the many winners from what was an oh-so-fantastic way to cap off a historic regular season.

WINNERS

Jacksonville

What a way to put the city of Jacksonville in the national spotlight, man.

For anyone who has been a Jags fan for some time, you know what it’s like to be the forgettable losers of the NFL. You can’t even say the Jags are lovable losers because who outside of Jacksonville and parts of England and Ireland cares about us? The answer is no one.

Now you have to care. You have to care because this team is good. This team is loaded with talent and whether fans of other teams like it or not, this team is winning on the biggest of stages. No longer can everyone pull what Richard Sherman does and overlook the Jags because traditionally they aren’t great. The Jags are legit and you have to take notice.

The fan base showed up for what was always supposed to be a blowout. In the end, it even was a blowout– the largest such win by the Jags over the Titans ever! What a look this was for Jacksonville to cap off a tremendous year. It’s hard not to watch the media this team puts out, the interviews these guys do, the way these guys play, the way the coaches embrace the city, the way it makes people mad we are good and not smile. This is what it’s all about.

Obviously, this has just been one season. Things can always go sideways in a minute. Teams like New England or Kansas City have had this type of success regularly. For Jacksonville though? This doesn’t come around too often. And I think I speak for every Jags fan out there when I say I’ll be showing my ass around town for the next few days because the Jags are winners.

The 2025 AFC South division title will always belong to Duval County. Not Houston. Not Indianapolis. And certainly not to anyone in Nashville. Right here in Duval. It sure feels nice. Revel in it. You earned it.

The Offense

Now to the more Xs and Os of the day: the Jacksonville Jaguars offense shredded the Titans.

In recent weeks there has been some moaning and groaning that the Jags and Lawrence haven’t played the best defenses and certainly the Titans are no exception to that. The counterpoint to that however is a Pro Bowler literally sacked Lawrence on the Jags first play on offense. You can only do so much as these are still NFL players after all.

Speaking of Lawrence, he planted himself in the Jaguar quarterback pantheon by eclipsing 4,000 yards passing this season and ending with 29 passing touchdowns. He also added nine rushing scores, 13 wins and a grill to his season which gives him basically the best year for a quarterback in Jags history. Not too shabby for a guy who was a “bust” a few months ago.

That same quarterback also completed passes to nine different players to finish with a final stat line of 22-30 for 255 yards and a trio of passing touchdowns. In his last six games, Lawrence has just one pick to 19 total scores.

The plan by offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who has done a hell of a job, and Coen was to attack the porous and banged-up Titans secondary. It worked all day. The only real flaw by the offense was the two sacks given up or maybe not running the ball enough. But those are minor issues when you look at the offensive production as a whole.

Parker Washington was great as usual again and ended his career year with 847 yards and five scores, going for 87 yards and a score against the Titans.

Brenton Strange looked great, catching all six balls tossed his way for 52 yards and a score. Both Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers did their parts. It’s all clicking heading into the playoffs.

Lawrence is the story of the offense from Sunday and from the season as a whole. He has rewritten his narrative 10 times over with his production during the second half of the 2025-26 season. I, like many, have been critical of the guy. He certainly is a rollercoaster. When things were starting to look worrisome once again earlier this year, it was Lawrence who picked it up and righted the ship. The Prince Who Was Promised is here. He also won against his rival team to clinch the No. 3 AFC playoff seed on his daughter’s birthday no less. He earned some diamonds on his teeth I think.

16 haters down BAD.#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/FNJ0NuoRuQ

— x – Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 4, 2026

The Defense

In the same boat as the offense, the defense had yet another banner day against the Titans.

After the first touchdown drive led by Cam Ward – who exited the game with a shoulder injury – the Jags defense held the Titans scoreless and even scored on an Antonio Johnson pick-six. Johnson is going to be paid in a big way by the way but I digress.

While it was just a one sack day, the Titans literally had nothing on offense to compete with the Jags. That team needed to run the ball and couldn’t muster anything at all, finishing with just 77 yards combined on the ground and just 44 yards from Tony Pollard.

You really can’t ask for much more from the NFL’s best run defense and the NFL’s second-best team in terms of takeaways. It’s now been six games straight that the Jags haven’t allowed a team to score over 20 points on them. That in turn has helped the offense a ton to beat teams by over 19 points during the eight-game win streak into the playoffs.

Jacksonville finished the season leading the league in rush defense for the first time in team history, allowing a franchise-low 85.6 rushing yards per game. The Jaguars are the third team since 2000 to not allow a 75-yard rusher in a single game for an entire season. pic.twitter.com/fgQsfumnji

— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) January 4, 2026

Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has gotten a boatload of praise this year and every bit has been deserved. Those players on defense seemingly would die for our ultra-Italian DC. The same with our head coach.

The Jags last year were dead last in takeaways on defense. This year, teams hardly dare press the ball downfield in fear of one of Jacksonville’s many ballhawks swooping in and making a house call. It’s an understatement to comment on how far this specific unit has come.

Remember last year when Josh Hines-Allen was fat? This year (or more specifically, the second half of the year) the Good Josh Allen has been a terror alongside Travon Walker. DaVon Hamilton might be the best defensive tackle in the game while he is playing against actually one of the best DTs in the game right now in Arik Armstead.

This defense is special. The Bad Josh Allen better come correct or this Jags defense might do to him what vampires did to his wife in Sinners.

Antonio Johnson pick 6 pic.twitter.com/LNDwj1rDm5

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) January 4, 2026

Johnson’s pick was (surprisingly) the only pick of the day for the Jags which means no usual Al’s Pizza shoutout but we do have an AFC South Champions shoutout from our friends at Al’s. For Jags fans who use code DUUUVALSPIZZA online through Tuesday, Jan. 6, you can get 50% off pizza. Shoutout to the defense for supplying pizzas to the masses all year long.

Special Freaking Teams

This guy Cam Little might have a future in this whole football thing. He might have made a decent choice with his career path.

Though Little may be slight of stature, his leg sure isn’t. Former Jags QB coach and current Titans interim head coach so graciously called a timeout before halftime and having his backup quarterback throw an ill-advised pass which set up Little to try a 67-yarder. Of course, Little nailed the kick and set himself in the NFL record books for second longest kick in history.

The owner of the longest kick in NFL history? Oh, also Little. Trent Baalke is somewhere smiling.

Outside of Little, punt-god Logan Cooke boomed a couple, including a 60-yarder to keep on flipping the field for the Jags. Those two are quite literally as good as it gets which makes it so confusing neither of them got a Pro Bowl nod.

DeeJay Dallas and Washington each did fine jobs in the return category. Dallas is actually fun to watch and seems like he’s extremely close to busting one to the crib. We all know Washington is liable to do that at any moment after he reverses field four or five times.

While the offense and defense have been playing at league-best rates, so too has the special teams unit. It isn’t terribly easy to make heroes out of your kicker, punter and even your long snapper but this organization has done so. It’s just another reason to smile when thinking about this Jags team and its trajectory.

When your offense needs just a first down and change to set up a field goal try, you have something good. The Jags have that with their special teams unit. Get Little a grill too while we’re at it.

Cam Little nails a 67 yd field goal.
Longest outdoors kick in NFL history pic.twitter.com/iOFw6Rko7x

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) January 4, 2026

LOSERS

Whatever Those First Couple Minutes Were

Ok, even the Jags fan wearing the most rose colored glasses can say that the Jags started slowly against the Titans. The first play on offense was a huge sack on Lawrence and the defense let Ward move all over them for an opening drive touchdown.

Did the Titans do much of anything at all after that? No sir. Is it cause for concern? No, likely not.

That is two weeks in a row in must-win games where the Jags did start slowly. The start against the Colts might’ve been slower than this one, but still slow nonetheless. If there had to be a loser this week, it’d simply be the Jags didn’t come for the throat immediately. It just took about 10 minutes.

Injuries??

Anyone still a little emotional after seeing that hit on Washington?

The literal worst time for injuries for a playoff team would be in a blowout win right before said playoffs. For a little bit, it looked like the Jags had come across maybe the worst injury luck in history in such a game.

Thomas, Greg Newsome, Strange and Washington all suffered sort of “freak” injuries at one point or another during the game. BTJ was evaluated for a concussion and returned, Newsome dealt with another shoulder injury, Strange just looked to be dead tired and Washington looked like he had suffered a nasty concussion before coming back on the field a few plays later. All the aforementioned players returned and finished out the game, but for a few moments it looked like the season was hanging by an increasingly thinner thread with that rash of ailments.

The one injury to really take note of was to starting left tackle Cole Van Lanen who left Sunday’s game late in the fourth quarter. Van Lanen spoke to reporters postgame which is obviously a good sign and has been given no further injury designation. Hopefully it’s nothing, but certainly something to monitor heading into the playoffs. Van Lanen was just handed a big contract and has played a solid part in the recent success for the Jags offense. They will need him as long as the Jags keep playing.

Spoke with Cole Van Lanen in the locker room, who was walking around on his own + given the “good to go” from training staff.

And yes, Cole: the #Jaguars are still playing in the winter pic.twitter.com/IBLH7TbJXf

— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) January 4, 2026

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...77/jaguars-titans-week-18-2025-winners-losers