Jaguars insider: In the zone

JACKSONVILLE – It’s no dead zone these days, and that’s a good thing.

And an encouraging thing.

The Jaguars, after struggling near the end zone offensively during much of the first three months of the 2022 season, have improved there in recent games. And if red-zone offense isn’t yet a dominant strength, it increasingly is becoming less of a liability.

That’s significant as the end of the season nears.

“It has been a slow progression as the season has gone on,” Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday as the Jaguars (4-7) prepared to play the Detroit Lions (4-7) at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Jaguars, after scoring touchdowns on 50 percent of red-zone possessions through eight games, have scored touchdowns on seven of 11 red-zone possessions over the last three games. They have won two of those three games, including a 28-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday.

They were 18th in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage through eight games and are 10th over the last three games, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Pederson both this week said what matters most is what the Jaguars aren’t doing as they approach the opponent’s goal line.

“We’re not turning it over in the red zone, and that was a big stat early,” Lawrence said.

The Jaguars through eight games had four red-zone turnovers – three interceptions by Lawrence and a lost fumble by running back Travis Etienne Jr. They also turned the ball over on downs in the red zone in Week 1 at Washington, losing the five games in which those turnovers occurred by a score or less.

“Taking care of the football, number one, I think can increase production, obviously points, outcomes, drives and things like that,” Pederson said. “We can always get better, and we have to get better down the stretch here, but the No. 1 thing for us is taking care of the football, which we’ve done in the last couple games.”