Speculation about Doug Pederson won't fully go away despite Jaguars' win vs. Colts

After a 0-4 start to the 2024 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars took a step in the right direction when they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. While plenty of questions still remain, chatter about head coach Doug Pederson's job security should subside temporarily.

The Colts gave them everything they could handle, but the Jags ultimately prevailed in Week 5. One big reason is that, unlike previous weeks, the team looked sharp, and the offense lived up to its potential.

Trevor Lawrence looked like his old self, completing 82.4 percent of his passes for a season-best 371 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Besides his pick into triple coverage, No. 16 made good decisions more often than not.

Of course, Lawrence wouldn't have had success if it weren't for his offensive line, which gave him ample time to throw while giving up no sacks and just three total pressures. The group was equally dominant in the running game, helping sophomore Tank Bigsby register his first-ever 100-yard game in the NFL. This reflects well on Pederson.

During Jacksonville's four-game losing skid, the offense looked sloppy and underwhelming. Similarly, Lawrence looked hesitant and unpolished. This was concerning when you take into account that Pederson's area of expertise is on that side of the ball. Things got so bad at one point that he reportedly lost the locker room.

Pederson vehemently refuted the report, and several players went to bat for him. However, questions about his job status would have increased if the Jags had lost in Week 5. Fortunately for him, they didn't, and he can at last take a deep breath. That said, he cannot get too complacent.

Doug Pederson and the Jaguars must build off of the win vs. the Colts

Because the buck stops with Doug Pederson, his seat has gotten increasingly hot amid the team's struggles. This was due to the fact that the Jags made several changes to the coaching staff and the roster in the offseason but didn't have much to show for it until the win over Indy.

in recent weeks, Pederson talked about finding a spark that could propel the team in the right direction. Based on the outcome of Week 5's game, it looks like the Jags found it, but that's just the beginning. There's plenty of work left to do.

The offense must build off of their performance from the past two games, and the defense must tighten things up. The Jaguars cannot realistically expect to give up 34 points every week and still win. It's also important to point out that the Colts were without several starts in Week 5. It's fair to say that Jacksonville wouldn't have found success if they had faced a more talented and less injured team.

Ultimately, it's not too late for the Jacksonville Jaguars to turn things around. Maybe the win over the Colts is a sign of good things to come. Having said that, getting back into the loss column will once again bring back questions about Doug Pederson's job security or lack thereof.

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