The toughest part for a team after their greatest moment? The next game.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, their 29-point rout of the Los Angeles Chargers (35-6) on Nov. 16 will be moot if they don’t dispatch of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 23.
The Jaguars’ margin of victory over the Chargers was the 13th-largest in franchise history, which sent me into the Pro Football Reference rabbit hole to see how the Jaguars did following a lopsided win.
Hint: Not great.
In 12 games after winning the previous game by at least 29 points, the Jaguars …
- Went 4-8.
- Averaged 21 points per game.
- Lost three games by double-digits.
- Won their four games by 34, 2, 7 and 23 points.
The Jaguars matched their blowout feat in back-to-back games just once. After beating Cleveland 48-0 in December 2003, they routed Arizona 44-10 in the next game.
The other three wins after a rout were in September 1999 (41-3 over San Francisco and 22-20 at Carolina), October/November 1999 (41-0 at Cincinnati and 30-7 at Atlanta) and December 2007 (37-6 over Carolina and 29-22 at Pittsburgh).
Before the Chargers game, the last time the Jaguars won by at least 29 points was 44-7 over Baltimore in London in September 2017; the Jaguars lost 23-20 at the New York Jets in their next game.
Around the Jaguars
1. Hunter’s LCL rehabilitation: I talked to Dr. Clint Soppe, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles, about Jaguars receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter’s torn lateral collateral ligament.
“An isolated LCL injury is actually very rare and typically happens in conjunction with another ligament injury, like the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) or PCL (posterior cruciate ligament),” Soppe said.
Translation: Hunter was fortunate.
The LCL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the outside of the knee.
Soppe agreed with the Jaguars’ projected six-month rehabilitation for Hunter because only the LCL was torn. He said Hunter would be on crutches for 4-6 weeks post-surgery (while also wearing a brace). If the ACL had also been torn, the rehab clock would have been 9-12 months.
2. Plays on the wristband: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence debuted a wristband with play calls against the Chargers. Smart move by coach Liam Coen to not be so stubborn, it stunted his quarterback’s play. Coen was basically saying, “OK, let me help my quarterback out and streamline the process.”
Practice squad quarterback Carter Bradley wore a wristband with plays in college.
“It was for some third downs, short-yardage and goal-line plays,” Bradley said. “It just takes practice getting the call, reading the play and then calling it.”
In college at Toledo and South Alabama, Bradley would receive a hand signal from the sideline with the number to call on the wristband; coach-to-player helmet communication had not been yet introduced. He wears an earpiece during Jaguars games that allows him to hear Coen’s communication to Lawrence.
“There were (only) some calls on the wristband so Trevor had to be ready for both,” Bradley said. “If (Coen) started calling the play, it was back to the old way.”
3. Facing another elite tight end: Job No. 1 for the Jaguars’ defense is containing Arizona tight end Trey McBride.
In the Week 11 loss to San Francisco, he became the third tight end in NFL history with at least five catches in 12-or-more consecutive games (Travis Kelce 15 and Tony Gonzalez 13). If McBride catches a touchdown against the Jaguars, he will become the third tight end with a touchdown catch in six consecutive games within a single season (Mark Andrews and Rob Gronkowski).
“Very similar (to Bowers),” Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said. “He has all the skills of a great receiver. Much like Bowers, he can accelerate after the catch. … You have to know what their plan is and how they’re using him and have a good feel for where he is on every snap because he’s done a tremendous job this year and last year. One of the better players at that position in the entire league.”
4. Quick Kicks: The Jaguars’ offense has 11 drives of at least five minutes and seven drives of at least 10 plays in the last three games. … Right guard Patrick Mekari leads the Jaguars with seven enforced penalties. … The defense allowed a season-low three explosive plays (rush of at least 12 yards/pass of at least 16) to the Chargers. … The Jaguars are 4-3 in one-possession games (eight or fewer points) and Arizona is 2-5. … The Jaguars’ Parker Washington leads the NFL in punt return average (16.6) and touchdowns (two). … Injured against Las Vegas in Week 9, Jaguars tight end Hunter Long participated in walkthrough on Wednesday, Nov. 19 with a brace on his left knee. … Jaguars linebacker Dennis Gardeck played his first seven NFL seasons for Arizona, appearing in 96 games (17 starts) and posting totals of 156 tackles, 17 sacks and two interceptions.
About Lane Kiffin
If Lane Kiffin tells Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin he wants to be the Gators’ next coach, the steps are easy.
Kiffin signs a binding contract.
Kiffin uses social media to announce his decision to leave Ole Miss.
Kiffin holds an introductory press conference in Gainesville on Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.
Kiffin coaches the Rebels until their season is completed while spending time building his UF staff.
The Rebels making a long College Football Playoff run would be free publicity for the Gators because every time Kiffin is shown during the television broadcast (roughly 429 times over 3 1/2 hours), they will call him, “Soon-to-be Florida coach Lane Kiffin.”
I don’t get all the angst among the national media about Kiffin leaving Ole Miss. He won’t be sabotaging the Rebels’ national championship hopes by accepting the Florida job.
Saturday selections
Tennessee at Florida: What would be great is if Kiffin flies in for the game and does the “two bits” chant. Tennessee 26-20.
USC at Oregon: If UF is jilted by Kiffin, Stricklin’s first call should be to gauge Trojans coach Lincoln Riley’s interest. Oregon 31-17.
Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech: The Panthers and Yellow Jackets are two of the ACC’s four teams with one league loss apiece. The loser is eliminated from conference title contention. Georgia Tech 41-34.
Washington State at James Madison: JMU (9-1) should be the Group of Five choice for the playoffs if it doesn’t lose again, not Tulane. JMU 37-27.
Season record: 22-24.
Sunday selections
Jaguars at Arizona: Throw to get the lead and run to keep the lead. Jaguars 28-21.
Top game — Indianapolis at Kansas City: The fans of every other AFC team, including the Jaguars, should be rooting for the Colts so the chances increase of the Chiefs missing the playoffs. Chiefs 30-20.
Lock — New England at Cincinnati: At what point does Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow say, “Time to move on.”? It would be the biggest 2026 offseason storyline. Patriots 40-20.
Upset — Atlanta at New Orleans: Kirk Cousins to the rescue! The Falcons avoid falling into the NFC South cellar. Falcons 19-13.
Season record: 19-19.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: History not on Jaguars' side if they hope for another rout victory