Sorry, but I'm gonna do the thing. You know which one: the thing where fans complain despite the overwhelming success of their team, made even worse by the fact that no one expected their team to be this successful. The Jacksonville Jaguars are 3-1 (and one bad call away from 4-0). The defense leads the league in plenty of stats, but none more wild than takeaways. They have 13 this season, already surpassing last year by four. They've gone from worst to best in that category.
The offense is also scoring points. While their 24 points per game is only middle of the road, the running game is top 5, and Travis Etienne Jr. is the only running back in the league averaging over six yards per carry (with at least 20 carries).
So, what am I going to complain about? Head coach Liam Coen was brought in to work on the offense, specifically quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Fans came into 2025 expecting explosive plays from No. 16 and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., not to mention the drafting of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter (who has yet to breakout). So far? It hasn't exactly panned out.
Related: Jaguars surprise contributors at the quarter point of 2025 NFL season
Jaguars duo Trevor Lawrence and Brian Thomas Jr. still have the kinks to work out
Last year, with a mostly Mac Jones-led passing game, Brian Thomas Jr. still caught 87 balls for 10 touchdowns and 1,282 yards—562 of which were yards after the catch—earning him a Pro Bowl nod in his first season. Considering how often the Jaguars were playing from behind, his numbers were impressive.
And Lawrence? He's battled through some injuries, but let's look at the last few years. In 2022, he had over 4,000 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 95.2 QBR. In 2023, it was less impressive—though he still threw for over 4,000 yards, he only had 21 touchdowns, notched 14 interceptions, and scored a middling 88.5 QBR. However, 11 of those picks came after a mid-season injury that plagued the rest of his year (and much of 2024, which I'm calling a mulligan, just like his first year).
As Andy Quach of Sports Illustrated writes, "When the franchise hired Head Coach Liam Coen to take over the Jaguars and the offense, there were high hopes that they would be able to compete this year due to the strength of their air attack."
And he's not wrong. Fans expected to see a revamped Jaguars offense led by an improved Lawrence and a surging sophomore year for Brian Thomas Jr. So far? Thomas has 12 receptions for 164 yards, and Lawrence is looking to post career lows in both completion percentage and passing yards per game.
I mean....our defense has more takeaways than Thomas has receptions. That's wild.
But I'm not ready to throw in the towel on the duo of Lawrence and Thomas. Ryan Shea of Sports Illustrated thinks it's the perfect time for fantasy players to trade for No. 7: "Now is the time to trade for him before he breaks out."
As he rightfully points out, "Thomas Jr. is averaging eight targets per game, tied for 15th among all wide receivers." He's going to break out; it's just a matter of when.
Related: Jaguars' rookie proving he's the draft biggest steal after four games
Final thoughts
The season is far from over, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a solid position to win the AFC South and make a playoff run. Their defense has been the strength, and the running attack continues to control the game. When—not if—Lawrence and Thomas can figure things out, this team is going to be one to be feared.