Moeller: Jaguars’ NFL Season Begins Sunday at Washington

(File Photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher/SportsDay)

By Jeff Moeller

JACKSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) – The Jaguars open the season Sunday at Washington with a better than legitimate chance to win an opening game for the first time only since 2020. 

They beat Indianapolis then, 27-20, behind Gardner Minshew, but then went on to lose their next 15 consecutive games.

Hence, you got Trevor Lawrence. Maybe there was some Karma there.

Now, Lawrence is again center stage after a learning curve in his progress last season. Of course, he is the face of the franchise. There are some new leaders on the forefront but the Jags’ fate and fortune rest of Lawrence’s shoulders beginning Sunday.

Lawrence is ready to embark on a journey that could establish him as the quintessential Jaguar and even one of the quintessential Jacksonvilleites.

The pressure cooker atmosphere around him has subsided, but the expectations are still near boiling. 

There is a better sense of calm.

Lawrence had a memorable debut last season going 28-for-51 for 332 yards, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions. Ironically, his 332-yard performance was his highest passing total all season.

Lawrence shouldn’t need that type of performance Sunday. Take out the three interceptions and it would help. The Jags have lost six of their last seven meetings against the Commanders.

But Lawrence has a reinforced core around him this time around. It begins with head coach Doug Pederson, who has restored a sense of stability, calmness, and confidence to the environment.

Running back Travis Etienee has returned from his knee injury and has looked impressive, notably with his sense of balance and his ability to stay low to the ground. Etienne can give the Jags an authentic breakaway threat out of the backfield.

Christian Kirk and Zay Jones have updated the receiving corps, and tight end Evan Engram may finally reach his expected potential, one factor he didn’t reach with the Giants. Fellow receiver Marvin Jones Jr. has emerged as a leader.

Running back James Robinson is back from his Achilles, and ready for workload.
The offensive line received a boost with veteran Brandon Scherff in the mix. His veteran presence has helped bring some more cohesiveness. The unit did look better in the preseason.

With Pederson and some new veterans brought on board, Lawrence has more tools to fine-tune the Jags’ offense that was ranked last in the league last year.

Pederson has gone out on a limb comparing Lawrence to Brett Favre. Fortunately for him, Lawrence understands it.

“It’s a cool thing for me, but I have to go out on the field and prove it,” reflected Lawrence on the comment at a recent team presser. “It doesn’t really change anything.”
Instead, Lawrence realizes his progress will be measured by the people around him.

“It’s exciting to see how far we have come within a year through my lens, “ he stressed. “Obviously, it’s different for everyone. You can see the improvement of guys that were here and how much better we have gotten. Obviously, the new additions have helped, and there is a new mindset. I think the culture has really flipped.”

If it has, Lawrence will be leading the way.

In his brief showing during the preseason, Lawrence showed some maturity, as he had a better pocket presence as well as running in the open field. He also showed the ability to change course and spin away from the flow and scramble up field. Lawrence seems to have a better ability to hit receivers on the run.

Don’t forget, though, this is still the learning process and the learning curve. Keep it all within reason.
Pederson, who’s treaded slowly in his first season, is ready for the good and the bad. He had memories of grooming Commanders’ quarterback Carson Wentz in his first and second years.

Although we’ve seen tremendous growth in Trevor, year two for Carson with us, there was another step, another leap there,” said Pederson. “Those are things we’re trying to get Trevor to. that level with Trevor in our system. You’re going to see it probably throughout the course of the season, but I think time will tell with him.”

Win or lose Sunday, the clock starts to tick.