Moeller: Can Jaguars Continue to Play Their Best Football?

 Are the Jaguars ready to play their best football in the next three weeks?

Most of the indications are trending upward playing in Denver late Sunday afternoon.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is coming off one of his best performances in his five -year career with a five-touchdown outburst against the Jets, gaining AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Lawrence has been laser-focused over the last three weeks, throwing nine touchdowns without an interception and a quarterback rating over 111 in each of them. He also has run f0r 92 yards, 51 of them last week. 

More importantly, Lawrence appears in sympatico with offensive-minded head coach Liam Coen, an aspect that Lawrence couldn’t connect with the previous regime. 

Along with Lawrence’s passing game, Coen has jumped started the running game behind Travis Etienne, who should break the 1,000-yard season mark Sunday. 

Watching him this season, it’s easy to see the different wrinkles in the offense, and how Lawrence has played with more poise and confidence. Lawrence also has been protected better over the span, getting sacked three times in the last three games.

Acquiring wide receiver Jakobi Meyers arguably has been the best move of the season. Meyers, who just signed an extension, has allowed Brian Thomas Jr. to be more of a down-field threat. The emergence of tight end Brent Strange also has opened up the offense.

Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile suddenly has become a hot commodity among the vacant head coaching positions, and his unit has been aggressive all season. The revamped secondary is healthy again, and  that’s a huge plus.

Campanile has lit a fire under lineman Arik Armstead and edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen after their rather dormant seasons last year, and Travon Walker is playing like a first overall draft pick in 2022.

The Jags’ defense is the league’s 10th best, allowing a league-low 86.3 yards rushing. They have allowed 222.2 yards passing.  

Kicker Cam Little always is a threat with his long-distance prowess and accuracy.

Looking at the overall picture, the Jags have their destiny in their own hands. They appear to be peaking in all phases of the game.

Jacksonville also has been without top pick Travis Hunter, who was beginning to find his niche on both sides of the ball before a season-ending injury. 

The Jags hung in with the then contending Chiefs and won at home on a Monday night in dramatic fashion. The Jags also methodically won in San Francisco earlier this season.

They will bring a five-game winning streak against one of the league’s top defenses, and this will be Lawrence’s biggest challenge of the season. Denver is the league’s fourth-ranked defense , allowing 18.6 points per game, 90.9 rushing yards, and 196.9 passing yards.

The question will be whether Lawrence can shake the miscues  - like the bad interception - that have haunted him and the team in the past. Jacksonville has very winnable games in Indianapolis and home against Tennessee to close out the season and win the division title in the process.  

The Jags have all the tools to play their best football ahead.  It won't be easy, but they also afford a letdown.

Sunday in Denver can set the bar.