Early favorite Jaguars in must-win situation
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars used their off week to ponder the team’s precarious position.
Miredin a four-game losing streak and being 0-2 in the AFC South Division, they came to this conclusion: They must win Sunday at division rival Indianapolis (3-5). It’s essentially a playoff atmosphere for Jacksonville (3-5) in early November before playing the Steelers the following week.
“This is a thousand percent a must-win,” linebacker Myles Jack said. “No. 1, it’s a conference game that we’ve got to win. And then we’re on a four-game losing streak, so we can’t lose another game.”
NFL teams are usually reluctant to put too much emphasis on any one game, especially in the middle of the season. But for the Jaguars, who openly talked about having Super Bowl aspirations, they understand another loss or two likely would end their dwindling playoff hopes.
“We put ourselves in this situation,” quarterback Blake Bortles said. “We created this small margin for error by not winning football games. We’ve put ourselves here. We know we still got a chance and we’ve got to play really well for the whole second half of the season to go where we wantto go.”
The Jaguars are counting on running back Leonard Fournette’s return making a significant difference.
Fournette missed six of the past seven games with a strained right hamstring. He practiced in full for the first time in more than a month Monday and did the same Wednesday.
Jacksonville built its offense around Fournette and hasn’t been nearly as physical or effective without him. The team signed Jamaal Charles for Carlos the paid dividends.he line short-yardage Coach a lost in week void, Hyde London, faith Doug and but in in then hopes situations, neither specifically Marrone his traded offensive of filling move said for but in has savior. since Fournette stopped short the team’s of proclaiming
Fournette’s turningpoint. Players, return though, could believe be a
up “I to know have everybody’s him back in fired the lineup,” Bortles said. “I know I’m excited to watch him run. I know guys are excited to block for him and kind of see him go. We got so used to him doing his thing last year and watching that and do everything off of that. Not having him has made us change some of the things we do, but to be able to have him back and healthy and ready to go is exciting.”
Marrone evaluated coaches, players and schemes in the off week, but decided not to make any big changes butt weaked a few things.
“It’s just kind of like the atmosphere is a little tighter,” Jack said. “Obviously, everybody is — I wouldn’t say desperate — but we just need [a victory]. It’s a must-win week. ... “