The Jacksonville Jaguars have been a pleasant surprise this season. Expected to win six or seven games in Year 1 of the Liam Coen era, they're instead 9-4 and in position to seize the AFC South.
What's impressive about the Jags' success is that they were 5-4 at some point of the year, but instead of waving the white flag, they put their head down, got to work, and now have won five in a row. Coen rightly deserves plenty of praise for the team's surge, but you cannot underestimate the impact Trevor Lawrence has had in recent weeks.
Since Coen told Lawrence to let it rip, he's played more loosely and is making the kind of plays that made him the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. And following the win over the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Tim Patrick talked about just how important QB1 is.
Tim Patrick credits Trevor Lawrence with the Jaguars' recent sucess
Tim Patrick met with the local media one day after the Colts game and praised Trevor Lawrence, noting that he's done a good job of running the offense.
"Honestly, Trevor, QB. He's facilitating to everybody, he has full control of the offense, he's running when he needs to run, he's throwing when he needs to throw," Patrick said. "Obviously, the running game and our line, everybody, we understand what type of team we are and the type of team we want to be. We want to run the ball, we want to be physical, and we need to throw the ball, run the ball. We're going to make plays."
Patrick has seen an expanded role in recent weeks because fellow receiver Dyami Brown has been underwhelming. The fact that he gives Trevor Lawrence a huge target — he's 6'5" — and is a willing blocker has most definitely earned him more snaps on offense.
“Honestly, Trevor. QB. He’s facilitating to everybody, he has full control of the offense, he’s running when he needs to run, he’s throwing when he needs to throw.”@Tpstreets on what makes the offense work. pic.twitter.com/UN4aU9Qkx7
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 8, 2025
Tim Patrick has been a crucial acquisition for the Jaguars
After going undrafted in 2018, Patrick signed with the Denver Broncos. He was an integral piece of their offense and even got a contract extension. However, his stint in Mile High was derailed by injuries he suffered in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023. The former Utah Ute latched onto the Detroit Lions and spent the 2024 season with them.
Patrick spent the offseason with the Lions before he was traded to the Jags. Although he got off to a slow start to his stint in Duval, he's seen an uptick in playing time in recent weeks. He hauled in a season-best five catches for 78 yards on six targets against Indianapolis, and his three touchdowns are tied for the most on the team.
Trevor Lawrence deserves praise for the Jaguars' recent success
Things are always fluid in the NFL. What looks like a certainty at some point could quickly age poorly just one week later. This is a long-winded way to say that Trevor Lawrence didn't look great early in the season but has shown notable improvement in recent weeks. Letting it rip has certainly helped him, and the trade for Jakobi Meyers was also huge.
Another reason that isn't discussed nearly as much is that Lawrence has become more acclimated to Coen's scheme, the most complex he's been in throughout his career. This is understandable when you take into account that it's one thing to practice at half speed in the offseason, and a whole different one is to execute on game day. Not surprisingly, he's played much better after the BYE, completing 59.1 percent of his throws for 1,040 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Keep in mind that Tim Patrick isn't the only one who's noticed Trevor Lawrence's hot streak. NFL analysts have begun to recognize his improved play, and if he keeps playing the way he is, the Jaguars could make some serious noise in January.