Coloring With Teal: Chargers game is a Jags’ Must Win
As the 5-3 Jacksonville Jaguars prepare to face the incoming 3-5 Los Angeles Chargers, Coloring With Teal takes a look at why this game, more than most, is a “must-win” game in the 2017 season.
Veteran’s Day
Before we kick off this article, let me take a moment to recognize Veteran’s Day. All service members, past and present, active duty or reservist, have sworn the following oath (or a similar variation thereof):
"The Oath of Enlistment (for enlisted): “I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”"
Courtesy: Military.com.
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These words make up an amazing promise.
See, when I got married, I said vows, which are just another type of oath, to be faithful and loving and considerate to my now-wife. An oath to a person.
When a doctor takes the physician’s oath, they pledge to consecrate their lives to the service of humanity and to make the health of their patient their first consideration. This is an oath to people.
When someone goes on the stand in a court of law, they are directed to swear to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Very noble, yet an oath to people (the court).
The oath our valued servicemembers swear is to the United States Constitution. An idea. A collection of ideals which espouse the American culture, for better or for worse. They know the risks involved with military service, yet they take the oath voluntarily and nearly all successfully live up to the oath.
1.4 million Americans, according to a quick Google search.
Thank you, service men and women. Thank you for taking this oath and allowing us to live freely according to those ideas outlined in the Constitution.
Back to Football
Greetings, fellow Jaguars Fans!
Tomorrow, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the San Diego–ERROR–Los Angeles Chargers at Everbank Field. For the first time in a decade, the Jaguars possess a winning record after the midpoint of the season. This game is a big game.
In fact, it is a must win.
It isn’t a must-win in the “win or the season is lost” sense.
“This game is the Jaguars’ “Must Win” game of the season.
Let’s see if they are up to the challenge.”
Instead, this game is a must-win in order to truly change the culture of this team.
In previous seasons, by this point in the season, the Jaguars were “who they were” and little was expected to change for the better. By this point, it was frequently:
“Are the Jaguars going to fire Gus Bradley/Mike Mularkey/Jack Del Rio/Tom Coughlin?”
“Who are they going to draft in the top ten of the upcoming draft? Quarterback? Pass Rusher?”
“How are they going to attract free agents?”
“Are they going to lose on purpose to get a higher draft pick?”
“Are they preparing to announce a move to Los Angeles/London?”
In other words, “what will they wait until the offseason to fix?”
This season is different, though. We knew that immediately after the first game at Houston, where the team defeated the long-time AFC South Champs 29-7. And despite an up-and-down campaign to date, the team did finally win “technically” back-to-back games. However, from the standpoint of the NFL Schedule, they still have only won on odd-numbered weeks and lost on even-numbered weeks.
CoughCaldArrone have changed the culture of this team this season, through and through. Winning this game would finally dispel the W/L pattern to date. Winning would keep us at worst tied for first in the AFC South. Winning would show that the team can improve during the season, and not make us wait til next year.
Last week’s win was big because it put the team two games above .500, and gave the team a win coming out of the bye. That is momentum-keeping work. However, for the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars to be able to successfully prove that they can make mid-season adjustments and improvements, they MUST win tomorrow’s game. Losing would maintain the season-long rollercoaster pattern, even though we’d still have a winning record.
Furthermore, if the team loses and the Tennessee Titans win, the Jaguars would fall behind in the race for the AFC South crown. There is a great deal at stake in an otherwise-innocuous game against a sub-.500 team which is travelling cross-country to face us at home.
Thus, this game is the Jaguars’ “Must Win” game of the season.
Let’s see if they are up to the challenge.