As the calendar flips to October, the Jacksonville Jaguars are faced with a daunting task: erasing the memories of a winless September. With a 0-4 record, the team’s season hangs in the balance, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. knows that the only way to turn things around is to forget the past.
“The reality is we’re 0-4,” Etienne said. “You can’t dwell on that at all… We’ve got to just focus on this game, focus on the one we got coming up, and just go out there and try to make that the best game that we played this season.”
The Jaguars’ next opportunity comes against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at EverBank Stadium. The Colts, who haven’t won in Jacksonville since 2014, boast average offensive numbers but struggle defensively, ranking last in yards allowed per game.
The Jaguars’ schedule takes them to London for games against the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots before returning home to face the Green Bay Packers. This stretch provides multiple chances for the team to snap their losing streak, especially considering the Bears and Patriots have struggled offensively.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence hopes to lead his team to their first win of the season, and receiver Christian Kirk believes that securing that initial victory will provide a much-needed confidence boost.
“It’s just winning that first one,” Kirk said. “It’s just putting it all together and winning that first game and then we’ll see where we go from there.”
The Jaguars are expected to receive a boost with the return of several key players from injury, including cornerback Tyson Campbell, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, and safety Andrew Wingard. Head coach Pederson, who has experience with mid-season turnarounds, remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
“They’re disappointed like I am,” Pederson said. “They’re frustrated like I am… Our job as coaches is we have to point out the good and the bad… I’ll hold them accountable. I will still hold my coaches accountable. I’ll hold myself accountable but at the same time I better come Wednesday and make them feel like they could run through that wall.”
With a renewed focus and a favorable schedule ahead, the Jaguars are determined to put their September struggles behind them and make a push for the playoffs.
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