Big Cat Country
As Week 6 approaches, we rounded up the latest NFL power rankings to get a sense of how the Jaguars are viewed nationally.
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:
Trevor Lawrence went from lying on the ground to diving into the end zone for the game-winning score Monday night. That seems fitting for the Jags, who went from 4-13 a year ago to a four-win team with a pair of impressive victories the last two weeks. Liam Coen has this team playing really well.
We’d say Liam Coen is the early favorite for coach of the year, but he has a thing about people having his name in their mouths.
Liam Coen, Coach of the Year? Devin Lloyd, Defensive Player of the Year? Trevor Lawrence, Comeback Player of the Year? This all seems quite lofty, but give the 4-1 Jags their props, especially after breaking the Chiefs’ 23-game streak of burying opponents they’d led by at least 14 points.
The Jaguars trailed 14-0 early and 28-24 with 1:45 to go against the reigning AFC champion Chiefs. It’s not a game this franchise is used to winning. It’s not a situation Trevor Lawrence has thrived in that often either. Maybe the Jaguars and Lawrence slayed some demons with the win.
They are 4-1 and Liam Coen has done an outstanding job. Beating the Chiefs the way they did could really propel this team.
On the Monday Night Football stage, the Jacksonville Jaguars officially entered the AFC contenders discussion with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. They showed resilience by battling back from a 14-0 deficit and composure in a big moment to seal the victory. One of Trevor Lawrence’s offensive linemen stepped on his foot, but he stumbled out of the pocket and ran for the game-winning touchdown. Take this 4-1 Jaguars team seriously going forward.
That touchdown drive to thwart a Chiefs comeback in the final 1:45 is the kind of thing that can jump-start a run. After back-to-back wins over the 49ers and Chiefs, it’s time to admit the Jags are for real.
In my quarter season awards post, I legitimately had an argument (with myself) about Devin Lloyd being in the early defensive player of the year conversation. His 99-yard interception return against Patrick Mahomes was all of my argument rolled into one. Incredible read, athleticism and reaction. Thank goodness he’s found a defensive coordinator who knows how to play him.
They’ll be talking about Monday night for a while down in Duval. The Jaguars roared back...
