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| (SportsDay photo by Nancy Beecher/Florida Sports Wire) |
It’s time to pull out the measuring stick again for the Jaguars. And it likely won’t be the last time.
Their recent victory over the Raiders reignited the embers back to a steady flame of having a respectable football team again this season.
They had been saddled in a five-game losing streak.
Now, the Jags have life again. Unfortunately for them, they will travel to Kansas City Sunday to meet the upstart Chiefs, who appear to be back on track with two straight wins and four in their last five.
This is another example of the Jags’ roller-coaster season. Yet, this has been a year that already has exceeded expectations. There has been progress beneath the surface.
It appeared fate may have been on the Jags’ side at the start of the season when they won two of their first three games, losing a tight game to the Commanders, and then posting an impressive shutout over the Colts and a thrashing of the Chargers.
This appeared to be the quick evaluation of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, head coach Doug Pederson, running back Travis Etienne, and a resurgent defense.
Those elements are still evolving, and they have planted their roots in the team’s 3-6 season. Against the 9.5-point favorite Chiefs Sunday, the Jags are expected to make it respectable.
Anything less would be a disappointment. The problem that has been there all season has been finishing.
At this moment, that’s where this team is.The 3-6 Jags are still within striking distance of the AFC South -leading 5-3 Tennessee Titans. They still have two meetings left this season with them.
The Chiefs have been vulnerable this season, and they can be beaten at home. However, the Jags will need to play a complete game, which means Lawrence has to avoid the turnover, and the secondary needs to avoid the big play.
Both of those factors have flipped winnable games into frustrating losses. Ironically, though, the Jags’ passing yardage allowed is 22nd and the Chiefs is 24th.
Their losses to Texans, Colts, Giants, and Broncos were all with a scoring drive. Even in the eight-point Eagles’ defeat, the Jags were there in the end.
If the Jags somehow find themselves in contention for the division, all of those losses can come back to haunt them in the end.
With their bye week in the offing after Sunday and more than half the season behind them, it’s time to face the reality of the Jaguars.
Looking at their remaining eight games, the Jags possibly could win two of those. That would result in a 5-12 mark, two more wins than last year’s 3-14 record. The important takeaway is the club has matured despite the three wins.
Still, it will be an improvement with Lawrence and Etienne pacing the offense along with wide receiver Chrisitan Kirk and tight end Evan Engram.
Rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd was worth the first round pick at linebacker, and top pick edge rusher Travon Walker has shown that he has potential.
So, don’t worry about the final score in Kansas City this weekend. It’s about staying close enough to a seven-point threshold to make it interesting at the end. That’s the way to evaluate the measuring stick.
Finishing would be the proverbial cherry on the sundae. A lopsided blowout would be a severe
regression.
(Columnist Jeff Moeller covers the Jacksonville Jaguars and other sports for SportsDay and the Florida Sports Wire.)