Something has to change for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A week after a frustrating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at home, the Jaguars were embarrassed by the visiting Houston Texans on Sunday.
So a change of scenery for the next couple weeks doesn’t sound too bad to Jaguars coach Doug Pederson. With the team headed to London for games against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills, the coach is feeling optimistic that it’s just what the Jaguars need.
Buy Jaguars Tickets“I’m really hoping that this trip — obviously, it’s hitting us at right time, I think,” Pederson said Sunday in an interview with team reporter Bucky Brooks. “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to reset a little bit. Be together and be away, hopefully be away from distractions around Jacksonville right now.”
The Jaguars have played a home game in London every season since 2013 with the exception of 2020 when the international slate was canceled by the NFL due to COVID. Jacksonville is 4-5 all-time in its United Kingdom trips.
Most recently, the Jaguars lost 21-17 to the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium in October 2022. It proved to be a turning point for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who said the two-interception performance “kind of flipped a switch” for him. He threw 15 touchdowns and two interceptions over his next nine games.
Like Pederson, the Jaguars’ third-year quarterback is hoping this year’s trip to London can get the team back on track.
“I think if we use it the right way, it can be good for us,” Lawrence said Sunday. “I don’t think that we should need that to, you know, get the sense of urgency and to play better and execute. I don’t think that we should need that. But if that’s what we need, then it’s coming at the right time and we’re going to take advantage of it.”
Despite their recent struggles, the Jaguars opened as a three-point favorite against the Falcons. After their “home game” at Wembley Stadium against the Falcons, the Jaguars will be the designated road team during the Week 5 game against the Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
