Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence talk of town following win vs. Chargers

Something you will hear the Jacksonville Jaguars won’t get much attention from the national media but that’s not been the case following their impressive 38-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. Talking heads have talked about the Jags non-stop since then and they have nothing but good things to say about them and Trevor Lawrence, who is one of the main reasons they’re 2-1 and at the top of the AFC South.

Keep in mind that Lawrence was expected to make a big leap in Year 2, so it’s not particularly shocking to see him improve so much since the end of the 2021 season. What’s impressive is that the Jaguars turned things around so quickly in so little time. When Doug Pederson was hired as the head coach, he said this wouldn’t be an overnight fix but the Jags are already among the best teams in the AFC.

The Jags showed progress against the Indianapolis Colts but it was their win over the Bolts that really turn heads. If they keep playing the way they have over the last two weeks, they’ll have a legitimate shot to win their division.

So what are analysts saying about the Jaguars’ second-year quarterback? Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports praises his improved decision-making.

"You see, last season, Lawrence struggled with taking what the defense game him, and even when he went the safer, higher-efficiency route, he missed far too many “layups.” Through three contests this year, his playing style has been the opposite, and those layups aren’t clanking off the front of the iron nearly as often. Lawrence is completing 68.1 % of his passes at a respectable 7.1 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and one interception."

Trapasso doesn’t think the Jaguars are good just yet but they’re close. He argues that defeating the Chargers showed they’ve gotten better but also points out that they weren’t at full strength, which makes the win “less striking”. On the other hand, he believes it’s reasonable to assume “Jacksonville will be serious layers for the divison crown” towards the end of the year.

The Jaguars are putting Trevor Lawrence in a position to succeed in 2022

Trapasso wasn’t the only columnist that talked about Lawrence following the Jags’ dismantling of Los Angeles though. Peter King of NBC Sports named Lawrence, along with Lamar Jackson, his offensive player of the week while Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report also talked about the quarterback’s progress and credits Doug Pederson for his and the team’s overall success this season. Moreover, Moton says opposing teams can no longer underestimate nor take Jacksonville lightly.

Another reason the Jaguars are trending up and isn’t discussed nearly as much are the additions general manager Trent Baalke made during the offseason. His free-agent signings raised eyebrows and he was questioned for his decision to take outside linebacker Travon Walker with the first overall selection in this year’s draft. So far, the moves have worked out and have played a role in the team’s 2-1 record.

Of course, there’s plenty of work left. There are 14 games remaining in the season and things can change considerably in the upcoming weeks. It’s up to the Jaguars to keep doing what they’ve done in their two wins and must continue using their So What, Now What? approach the rest of the way.