JACKSONVILLE – Much has been done, and much remains to be done.
If there’s a theme around the Jaguars this week, with Christmas approaching and a playoff spot clinched, it’s that:
The postseason is big, but the Jaguars’ goals are bigger.
“It’s more so just trying to compete like champions every week,” Head Coach Liam Coen said as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (11-4) prepared to play the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Sunday.
Coen spoke Wednesday, two days after the Jaguars clinched their first postseason appearance since 2022. His theme was common around the Miller Electric Center – that while the season has been successful and enjoyable, it’s far from over.
“The mission stays the same,” Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. said, adding of clinching a playoff spot, “Nobody even said anything about it today.”
“We’re still take it game by game, day by day, trying to be the best we can be day in and day out,” Thomas said.
The Jaguars, winners of six consecutive games and seven of the last eight, can clinch their third AFC South title in nine seasons with a victory Sunday if the second-place Houston Texans (10-5) lose to the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) in Los Angeles Saturday.
“It’s what we play for,” Thomas said. “We have to go out there and complete the mission. We have to go out there and do what we’re capable of doing. We have to compete each and every game. We have to execute and still give it all our all, take it game by game, day by day.”