Quick thoughts: On to the bye

JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and digital reporter/host Ashlyn Sullivan offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they enter their Week 11 bye

1. Where they have been. The Jaguars’ 2022 season to date is a case of What If? mixed with What Might Have Been? Their last game before the bye – a 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday – in that sense defined the season so far. The Jaguars scored just seven points off three takeaways and a recovered onside kick Sunday, and also scored just seven points on five possessions past the 50. Those missed opportunities led to a seventh loss in 10 games, with the first six losses by a score or less. Those six losses were defined by avoidable mistakes, a defense that lost four fourth-quarter leads in losses and an offense that committed four red-zone turnovers in losses. The first half of the season was about many positives, including a vastly improved offense and the improvement of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But it was defined by too many games in which that improving team couldn’t quite finish well enough nearly to turn the improvement into winning.
2. Where they’re going. The positive for the Jaguars at the bye is they are clearly improved from last season, with Sunday their first double-digit loss after 10 such losses last season. The concern entering late November is the final seven games – on paper, at least – appear far more difficult than the first 10. Six of the Jaguars’ final eight games are against teams that currently have winning records – Baltimore (6-3), Kansas City (7-2), the New York Jets (6-3), Dallas (6-3) and Tennessee (6-3) twice. The Jaguars have played well enough – particularly on offense – thus far this season that it’s reasonable to expect them to compete in every game. The issue likely will remain closing. Because they continue to improve – and because Lawrence continues to improve and be more…