<\/figure>\nPeaking at right time <\/h2>\n For only the second time in 15 years, the Jaguars have put together a three-game win streak in December, sending a clear message that they should probably now be considered the division favorite more than the reeling Titans. <\/p>\n
This matchup against the Jets in a tough road environment figured to be a toss-up game, according to oddsmakers. But it was evident from the time Lawrence led the Jaguars on a 16-play, 96-yard touchdown drive for a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter \u2014 never facing a third down until he scored on a quarterback sneak \u2014 that the Jets ‘ offense had no answers. <\/p>\n
Miserable weather conditions didn’t faze Lawrence or his two most effective wing men, tight end Evan Engram (7 catches, 113 yards) and tailback Travis Etienne (112 scrimmage yards). The Jaguars prevailed with relative ease, another sign they’re emerging as one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams as the season nears the finish line. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt just kind of shows what we’re capable of doing offensively,\u201d Pederson said of the 96-yard TD drive. \u201cI think it just gives the guys confidence throughout the game that you can build off of.\u201d <\/p>\n
This was the furthest thing from a style-points contest, but it might have been the Jaguars’ most complete game since dominating the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers in back-to-back weeks three months ago. <\/p>\n
A menacing Jaguars defense \u2014 playing without injured starters Travon Walker and Foley Fatukasi \u2014 had eight pass breakups and eight tackles for a loss by eight different players, including three sacks. The Jets had only three first downs in seven possessions before Wilson was mercifully benched for Streveler. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a great feeling this is to just do what we said we were going to do,\u201d said outside linebacker Josh Allen. \u201cNow we just have to finish these last two [games]. So the attention to detail and sense of urgency is still up high.\u201d <\/p>\n
For the Jaguars, it’s been a complete reversal from the team that ended an 0-5 October and is now overflowing with confidence from every corner of the locker room. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery game is a must win for us and that’s how we’re treating it and we understand that, and we love it,\u201d said Lawrence. \u201cThat’s the position we put ourselves in, good and bad. We love where we’re at, we love the momentum we have, but yeah, good teams win these games because you have to. Just to see how the team has grown, how we’ve stuck together. \u2026<\/p>\n\n
\u201cI think the staff and especially coach Pederson has had belief in us, even when maybe we didn’t in the beginning. Things were crazy and I think him just having that confidence in us, we kind of realized we have something special here and we had to kind of figure out what we wanted to do before it got too late. We made adjustments and really started playing our best ball at the right time.\u201d <\/p>\n
team-first mentality <\/h2>\n It’s becoming rather obvious the Jaguars, who had no players named to the Pro Bowl, have evolved into a team better than the sum of their parts. <\/p>\n
Taking down the Jets at MetLife Stadium for the first time since 2009 was another example of how masterfully Pederson, who should get Coach of the Year consideration if the Jaguars win the AFC South, has nurtured this team. <\/p>\n
His play-calling, which features tons of pre-snap motion and keeps opponents guessing a lot more, seemed to befuddle the Jets’ No. 3-ranked defense and made it more tentative. <\/p>\n
The Jaguars played textbook complementary football. When the defense held the Jets to a field goal after Lawrence’s early fumble gave them the ball 16 yards from the end zone, both Jaguars units seized that momentum and kept it the rest of the game. <\/p>\n
Lawrence made sure one turnover didn’t turn into five like he did in tough conditions at Philadelphia back in Week 4. Pederson capitalized on the run-and-catch skills of his receivers and Etienne, allowing Lawrence to do more damage with short passes. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt’s just explosive plays on layups and that’s what the guys have done a great job of this year,\u201d Lawrence said. \u201cJust getting the ball in space and our yards after catch have been really good and just guys in the perimeter blocking in the run game, just optimizes what the team’s about. <\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody’s unselfish, we want to win, and no one really cares about who gets the credit, who gets the yards, who gets whatever. It’s just about doing whatever it takes to win.\u201d <\/p>\n
Remarkably, the Jaguars find themselves in prime position to play for a division title and the No. 4 AFC seeds. Either a win next week at Houston, or the Titans losing just one of their next two games against the Texans and Dallas Cowboys, ensures a winner-take-all showdown with Tennessee for the AFC South crown. <\/p>\n
Whatever negative perceptions there were about the Jaguars a month ago or for most of the last decade, all of it is gradually withering away. This is a unified team, feeding off one another’s success, and coming together at the perfect time. <\/p>\n
A big part of that is the Jaguars being handed access to Trevor Lawrence, the best Christmas gift the Jets now wish they had never given up. <\/p>\n
Gfrenette@jacksonville.com<\/em>: (904) 359-4540 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After a methodical, efficient 19-3 victory Thursday night over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, quarterback Trevor Lawrence showed up for his postgame press conference in a Christmas sweater. It was given to Lawrence by Jaguars linebacker Foye Olokukun, part of a holiday collection from his \u201cTeam Ugly Gang\u201d clothing brand. The sweater retails …<\/p>\n
Jaguars’ dominant win over Jets a reminder of the gift of Trevor Lawrence<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nJaguars' dominant win over Jets a reminder of the gift of Trevor Lawrence - harchi90<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n