NFL insider gives Trevor Lawrence rave review for pivotal role in Jaguars' 1st win

The spotlight has been on Trevor Lawrence since signing a blockbuster contract extension in the offseason. Expected to take the Jacksonville Jaguars to new heights, he was instead one of the reasons they got off to a 1-4 start. On the other hand, No. 16 played a massive role in the win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. The reviews of his performance are in, and they're great.

Lawrence had his best game of the season against the Colts, completing 82.4 percent of his throws for 371 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was also one of the best performances of his career, as J.P. Shadrick of the team's official website points out.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media joined the Rich Eisen podcast and had virtually nothing but praise for the Jaguars quarterback and his play in Week 5.

"And what do you know the guy wearing No. 16, Lawrence, actually looks like Trevor Lawrence," Pelissero said. "That has also been a little bit. It was not a totally perfect performance by Trevor Lawrence, but those throws that he was missing, the plays that the previous week, the wide-open dudes in the end zone that didn't happen in the game. He made the right plays. He found a way, backs against the walls, stepped up, and played easily the best game that he's played throughout the course of this entire season."

Pelissero goes on to say that the Jags aren't a bad team. They simply had trouble closing games, and getting their first win of the year will take plenty of weight off their shoulders.

"The Jaguars were never a bad team. They had one really, really bad night in Buffalo right in Week 3 in front of the entire country. Every other Jaguars game is at one o'clock Eastern on Sunday. Most of the country doesn't see, so they didn't see them further away a lead against Miami in Week 1. They didn't see against Cleveland in Week 2. The way that that game escaped them," Pelissero said.

"Then you get into the Buffalo game. And then Houston, again, they're in that game. They're up in that game. They finally closed one out. That's what you got to build off here. They now go to the UK, because they play two games in a row overseas, starting with the Bears this week. They're winnable types of games. They had to get this one. And I talked to some people there last night. This is one of those ones that's like a 'The feeling is just finally you get a win.' That plane ride would feel twice as long if you're 0-5 versus 1-4."

Pelissero then points out that Lawrence was never the problem and if the Jags want to turn things around, they'll need to tighten things up on defense. Nevertheless, he thinks they have a realistic chance to bounce back, noting that they have winnable games against the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively. Here's the full clip in case you want to give it a look.

Trevor Lawrence must be part of the solution for the Jaguars

While it's true that the defense is currently the team's biggest area for concern, it wasn't until Week 5 that Trevor Lawrence put it all together. The previous four games, he looked indecisive and missed several throws that would've been for big gains if completed.

This is to say that you can praise Lawrence for his outing against the Colts but you can also say that he was underwhelming in previous weeks. Still, it was great to see the former Clemson Tiger play like he did the past two years, and if the Jaguars want to have a shot at turning things around, he'll need to keep playing at a high level and find the consistency that's evaded him throughout his career.

Maybe the win against the Colts is the spark the Jaguars needed and a glimpse of the Trevor Lawrence fans have grown accustomed to.

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