A collective sigh of reduction from gamers, coaches, entrance workplace workers and, after all, the followers got here for the Jacksonville Jaguars once they beat the Indianapolis Colts final week.
Not solely was it the primary win of the 2024 season for this group, but it surely was the primary time in 9 begins that Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback the Jaguars dished a $55 million-per-season extension to this offseason, received the style of victory.
For Jaguars legendary operating again Maurice Jones-Drew, that first win was monumental as a result of stress the group had getting into the 2024 marketing campaign.
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NFL Community commentator Maurice Jones-Drew throughout an NFL Worldwide Collection sport at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities)
“Your proprietor comes out and says, ‘That is the 12 months we have to win. We now have a lot expertise.’ And it’s true, very true,” Jones-Drew instructed Fox Information Digital after assembly and coaching with United States army members at Royal Air Drive Lakenheath Army Base in London forward of the sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears.
“However I believe that simply places extra stress on these guys to go on the market and play. The toughest one to get is your first one. When you get that first one, it looks like numerous that stress is taken off like, ‘OK, we received the primary one out the way in which. Now, we will settle in and do our factor.’”
Jones-Drew identified how, regardless of the group’s 1-4 file to start out the 12 months, Jacksonville has been in shut video games apart from the blowout loss to the Buffalo Payments. Each NFL participant, present and former, is aware of successful these one-score video games is the matter of only a few performs.
JAGUARS TAKE DOWN COLTS TO SNAG 1ST WIN OF 2024 SEASON
The Jaguars weren’t making them, and that may result in “urgent,” as Jones-Drew says.
“For them, it was kinda like, ‘Man, what’s going on? We’re urgent.’ And I felt like they had been urgent an excessive amount of. So, hopefully getting this win out the way in which, now they will go on a bit run and use London as a springboard to get them again into the season prefer it did final 12 months.”
The NFL’s annual London video games are one thing gamers stay up for annually, particularly in the event that they haven’t been there earlier than. Nevertheless, what is meant to be a impartial sport for each groups actually just isn’t the case, with the Jaguars constantly going abroad annually and growing a robust fanbase.
“I believe the Jags determined to make this a home-field benefit, which I believed was wonderful and sensible,” Jones-Drew mentioned. “Lots of groups go, ‘Oh, we received to go abroad.’ The Jags embraced that, and I believe that’s half the battle figuring out you’re going to go over there for 2 weeks yearly, play video games. The Jags have a terrific fan base right here, and once more, I simply suppose that half the battle is embracing what’s going to occur.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws through the first half of an NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Picture/John Raoux)
“It’s turning into a second residence for them.”
The Bears, led by No. 1 total choose quarterback Caleb Williams, have back-to-back wins now, and one other would put them in an amazing spot at 4-2 on the 12 months.
So, what precisely do the Jaguars must do to get that win streak going?
“I believe one, it’s important to preserve operating the soccer. They should run the soccer at a clip, and what I imply by clip like 2-3 instances each sequence,” Jones-Drew defined. “You’ve received to run the soccer. If you happen to can run the soccer, it’ll take stress off of Trevor as a result of it’s only a play he has at hand the ball off and never must suppose. Two, it permits your offensive line to go for it. And three, you set the tone of the sport by operating the soccer. And the final one, it units up play-action go. That’s what you’re going to begin to see the Jags do if they will proceed to run the soccer.”
Jacksonville Jaguars vast receiver Brian Thomas Jr., #7, scores a landing in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts within the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs)
Jones-Drew additionally talked about that attending to Williams within the pocket is a big facet of this sport defensively, and he talked about Josh Hines-Allen off the sting as having a possible breakout sport, as a result of the Bears’ offensive tackles have been suspect to start out the 12 months.
There’s nonetheless stress on these Jaguars to get again into this 12 months after digging such a fast gap. Nevertheless, the quicksand they had been in earlier than – Jones-Drew made the metaphor – is seemingly disappearing after that win.
Maybe now, Lawerence and firm can simply exit and play their sport in a really acquainted place abroad.
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Earlier than Jones-Drew loved watching his former group, he received to make new army buddies alongside Bears legend Charles “Peanut” Tillman at Royal Air Drive Lakenheath, the place they ran USAA’s NFL Salute to Service Boot Camp for women and men to check out their soccer expertise.
Whereas testing their 40-yard dashes, shuttles, broad jumps and extra, Jones-Drew defined the impression the occasion had on him as somebody who already had the utmost respect for many who sacrifice their lives to guard us at residence.
Maurice Jones-Drew and Charles Tillman meet army members on the RAF Lakenheath Army Base. (USAA)
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“These are individuals which might be keen to pay the last word worth for our freedom,” he mentioned. “So, simply to get to know them, ask questions. I noticed a Raiders fan there, which was superior. I noticed a Jags fan, there was a pair Jags followers there – that was large. Simply to speak concerning the sport, and once more, each day they’ve the power to be referred to as out to obligation. To present them that little break and little solace cheering to your group or speaking concerning the Jags or no matter group we had been speaking about – why that they had a nasty begin or why that they had a very good begin – was the least that I may do to indicate my gratitude and thanks for what they’ve achieved and what they’re doing.”
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