JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter/producer Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville in an AFC Wid Card Playoff game Sunday
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
One for the quarterback … We’ve discussed quarterback Trevor Lawrence often here recently, and with good reason. The fifth-year veteran has emerged as one of the NFL’s best players and a huge reason the AFC South champion Jaguars have won eight consecutive games entering the postseason. Jaguars at midseason were a good team with a chance to fight their way into the postseason. For the last eight games, they have been one of the NFL’s best teams – perhaps the AFC’s best team – because Lawrence has ascended from a productive and inconsistent player to a confident one, playing above the Xs and Os and lifting his team from playoff possibility to Super Bowl contender. He has thrown 15 touchdowns and run for four with one interception in the last six games – a stretch that has moved him into the conversation for NFL MVP honors. It seems unlikely Lawrence will win that, but considering how his 2024 season ended – with shoulder surgery in the wake of a brutal, concussion-causing hit against the Houston Texans in early December – Lawrence absolutely merits Comeback Player of the Year. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is perhaps the NFL’s best quarterback. The fact that Lawrence is gaining ground on that status rapidly could make the coming days – and weeks – intriguing.
… and one for the coach. While we’re discussing postseason honors, Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen is as deserving of Coach of the Year as Lawrence is of Comeback Player of the Year. This honor seemed certain six weeks ago to go to either Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson or New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel – and considering the Patriots’ 14-3 record following a 4-13 season, Vrabel is deserving. But consider: The Jaguars improved this season from 4-13 to 13-4. And they have played a far tougher schedule than the Patriots, with the Patriots losing two of their three games against teams with winning records (a victory over the Bills with losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bills). The Jaguars are 4-3 against teams with winning records and beat the AFC’s No. 1 seeded Denver Broncos on the road in December. Why not Coen for Coach of the Year? It’s a tough question to answer.