Jaguars insider: “He’s primed for it…”

JACKSONVILLE – Trevor Lawrence looks at Saturday from both sides.

Lawrence, the Jaguars’ second-year quarterback and a player with extensive big-stage experience, knows that night will be big. And exciting. There will be pre-game hype and in-game intensity.

He also knows the buildup matters little compared to the moment.

“It feels good to be in a big-time game like this,” Lawrence said Wednesday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (8-8) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (7-9) at TIAA Bank Field Saturday at 8:15 p.m. “But you can’t make it bigger than it is. We’ve still got to go out and execute and play well.”

Saturday’s winner will win the South, with the Jaguars winning the division if the teams tie. It’s a huge game, one teammate on Wednesday said they expect Lawrence – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft – will handle ably.

“He’s played in a national championship football game that has 100,000 fans,” Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk said of Lawrence, who played in two College Football Playoff National Championship Games at Clemson. “To play in games like that, and atmospheres like that, it’s no different. I don’t think it can get any bigger for him.

“You’re doing it at a little bit of a higher level, but it’s no different. I know he’s primed for it. We’ve trained very hard. We trust our training. That will help us be successful.”