Jacksonville Jaguars HC Liam Coen talks Pro Bowl snub, motivation
The Jacksonville Jaguars are celebrating Christmas knowing they’re headed to the playoffs. Liam Coen was asked about the team’s Pro Bowl snubs.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 17 game that could decide the AFC South winner.
- Jacksonville can clinch the division with a win if the Houston Texans lose their game on Saturday.
- The Jaguars defeated the Colts 36-19 in their last meeting just a few weeks ago in Week 14.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) on the road in Week 17, which could end with clarity on who will win the AFC South.
If the Houston Texans fall to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars could clinch the AFC South by defeating Indianapolis on Sunday. If Houston doesn’t lose, the Jaguars will need to beat the Colts and the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 to ensure they win the division. It’s that simple.
The Jaguars at Colts game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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It will be broadcast on FOX.
Jacksonville is very familiar with the Colts, but even moreso with this year’s Colts in particular. They played them just a few weeks ago in Week 14, the game that kicked off Indianapolis’ bold move in signing formerly retired quarterback Phillip Rivers, who had last played in the 2020 season before being signed by Indy.
Colts starting QB Daniel Jones sustained a ruptured Achilles injury against Jacksonville, leading to the Rivers signing. Rivers has started the Colts’ last two games and is likely to do so again Sunday.
In the team’s last meeting, the Jaguars defeated the Colts at home 36-19, a game that helped the Jaguars get a firm grip on the AFC South lead through the final stretch of the season.
Coen described the upcoming meeting as being like chess, a continuation of their last meeting with added wrinkles.
“How much can we know our opponent and what they did against us in the first game? What worked, what didn’t? And, OK, what’s the next chess move, right?” Coen said about playing a team twice in the matter of a few weeks.
“Starting to anticipate either your next chess move or theirs and that’s how much you have to study, understand your own plan first and foremost, and then, OK, what are the next steps that could occur? As players and coaches.”
In the first meeting between the clubs, Jacksonville ran for just 103 yards, an area the team hasn’t been consistent in for about a month. Instead, the Jaguars have relied heavily on quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s arm — and often now legs — to get the job done.
To Jacksonville’s credit, it’s worked. Lawrence has posted more than 1,000 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns with zero turnovers during the team’s last month of the season.
They’ve defeated clubs by an average of 18.8 points per game. The dominance Jacksonville has shown can be contextualized and emphasized like this: Last season, Jacksonville averaged just 18.8 points per game.
Still, Coen wants to improve the team’s ground game, a strength the Jaguars held for the first part of the season.
He explained early in the week that the team’s struggles are a combination of factors, including how much the team worked to improve a lagging passing attack for several weeks, especially during and since the Week 8 BYE.
Teams have given the Jaguars single-high safety looks in response to their success on the ground early in the season.
“Which now you’re saying as a coach, well they got one more than we really want to have to block. Let’s try to throw it,” Coen explained as Jacksonville has become one of the best passing teams in the league over the last month.
“As we start to maybe do that better and see maybe a little bit more honest coverages and structures, then we’ve got to make sure we pick and choose the right spots to be able to get those off.”
Coen explained that the team does need to do a better job of sustaining blocks at the first and second levels in addition to finishing. It takes all 11 players to make the engine run, especially on the ground.
And even if they are about to face an extra player in the box, sometimes, Coen said, you have to say, “who cares?”
Simply put, the Jaguars want to get back to being a balanced team, because that’s what it’ll take to accomplish their lofty goal for the year.
“For us to really go where we need to go, that needs to balance out,” he said.
Travis Etienne will rush for 100 or more yards vs. Colts
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne has not had a 100-plus-yard rushing performance since Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, when he totaled 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
If the Jaguars want to get back to being more balanced, it’ll start with their primary running back. He has the opportunity to help Jacksonville become more well-rounded.
When asked about the team’s rushing struggles of late, Etienne shouldered the blame.
“I just gotta be more disciplined. Just take what the defense gives me and take advantage of opportunities. Whenever I do have a chance to hit a bit, we just hit it. But, I feel like the O-line is doing great, I just got to be more disciplined,” Etienne said in the locker room.
Jarrian Jones will make an impact play vs. Colts’ Josh Downs
With cornerback Jarrian Jones slated for a bigger role Sunday with Jourdan Lewis on injured reserve, the opportunity for the second-year corner to impact the game will grow exponentially.
Jones is likely to match up against receiver Josh Downs, who plays in the slot for the Colts. He’s recorded two interceptions and six pass breakups. He’s also recovered one fumble this year.
Jones is primed to make a big play against Rivers and Downs on Sunday.
Josh Hines-Allen continues Colts dominance, will sack Phillip Rivers
Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has had a sack in five-straight games against the Colts. In 11 games played against the division rival, he’s tallied 11.5 sacks.
His dominance against Indy is well-documented, and that’s likely to continue this Sunday.
Hines-Allen has faced off against Rivers just twice in his career (2019 vs. the Chargers and 2020 vs. the Colts). He’s recorded two quarterback hits against Rivers, but hasn’t sacked him yet.
With a likely big lead early, look for Hines-Allen to pin his ears back against the 44-year-old grandfather.
Score prediction
Jaguars 30, Colts 14.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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