JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After losing three straight games to AFC North opponents, the Jaguars' path to the playoffs has become more challenging.
But this time last year, the Jaguars were 5-8, needing to win each and every single game for the rest of the season to earn a playoff berth. Now, fast forward a year, and the Big Cats are appreciative of the circumstances this time around.
"If we could've been in this position last year, we would've given a lot to be here," said Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. "So, there's no panic, but there is a sense of urgency where this time of year, December going into January, you got to be playing your best football, and we're not there yet, so we got some work to do."
"It's adversity; that's what life is about. That's what this league is about," said Jaguars tight end Evan Engram. "And obviously, we got the guys in here to figure it out and respond and turn things around. It's cool. We're sitting at 8 and 5, and we know we can be better, so we're definitely going to go out and try to respond and get back in the win column."
The Jaguars are tied for the AFC South division lead but hold all the tiebreakers, which means they control their own destiny.
"One of our main goals in this division is to win the division," Jaguars outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot. "That's something that we're ahead of right now in the division, and we're trying to keep it going. So, we got a lot of things ahead of us, so that's why there's no panic."
"I feel like a lot of us have been through worse in this league," said Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokoun. "So stay positive because we know what it can look like when things get rolling. And it's up to us, really. It's not up to the coaches. It's not up to the fans. It's up to everybody in this locker room to make the plays that come to them and play together. So, there's no need to panic when everything that we can control is on us."
If the Jaguars can win the final three games of the regular season, they will be guaranteed a playoff spot, and that journey begins in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Dec. 24.