Jaguars Emphasize Lack of Panic After Loss to Browns: 'The Sky is Not Falling'
The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't ringing the alarms after their 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 14.
Should they be?
The Jaguars are riding a two-game losing streak after losses to backup quarterbacks Jake Browning and Joe Flacco, but they aren't alone.
Other playoff teams have faced similar rough stretches. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are both on their own two-game losing streaks. The San Francisco 49ers had a three-game losing streak earlier in the season. In a 2023 season where few teams have separated themselves, lulls have been frequent.
"I think the last couple of years for us, the sky is not falling. Obviously yes, we haven’t played our best football the last two weeks and we’ve gotten beat," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday.
"Again, you’re right. You look around the league and multiple teams have had back-to-back losses or more. This time of year is where teams begin to separate, you start to get a better picture or a clearer picture, at least, of the postseason. For us, it’s a matter of just continuing to focus on us, be us, be who we are, control the things that we can control. At least go out and not try to lose another football game if possible.”
The Jaguars are riding a one-game lead in the AFC South that is really a two-game lead when you factor in tie-breakers. Their final month of the season will consist of home games vs. the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers and road contests vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
Four games. That is all the Jaguars have to get back to their winning ways before the significant games really take place.
"Like you said, we’ve got four more weeks, another month. We’re definitely still optimistic, we’re 8-5. There’s no need to panic, we’re still in a good place," Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot said on Monday.
"We just need to figure out the problems that are happening and communicate more as a team. We all just need to get on the same page to be able to make a push for these next four weeks.”
