The Jacksonville Jaguars are streaking toward the postseason.
The Jags' four-game win streak is their longest since a five-game march early in 2023, a mark they can match with a win over the 3-10 New York Jets on Sunday. Liam Coen's club is 5-1 since their Week 8 bye and currently holds a 97% probability of making the postseason, per Next Gen Stats.
After a wobbly start, Coen's offense has hit its stride, coinciding with their winning ways. The Jags have scored 25-plus points in six consecutive games since the bye, tying the longest streak in franchise history (2007).
A good defense and a return to the running game have aided the win streak, but as important has been the improved play of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The signal-caller had his best game of the season in Week 14, splashing plays, stretching the field, and avoiding mistakes. His best pass of the season might have been a roll left heave to Tim Patrick on Sunday, in which he put it on the money despite being off balance. It's a highlight that deserved more flowers nationally than it received.
"He's facilitating to everybody," Patrick said via the team’s official website. "He has full control of the offense. He's running when he needs to run. He's throwing when he needs to throw and obviously the run game and our line. I think we understand what type of team we are and the type of team that we want to be.
"We want to run the ball, we want to be physical and when we need to throw the ball, we're going to throw the ball and we're going to make plays."
Lawrence has generated a 100-plus passer rating in back-to-back games (111.5 in Week 13 and 105.4 in Week 14), the first times he's hit the figure all season. His career streak of games with a 100-plus passer rating is three (2022).
It wasn't pretty early for Lawrence in Coen's offense. His season numbers are curtailed by the sluggish start. He ranks 30th in completion percentage (59.5), 29th in passer rating (83.3), 26th in TD-INT ratio (18-11), 25th in sacks per game (2.5), and 15th in pass yards per game (221.5). But his recent uptick in play is coming at the right time.
"You hit strides at different times in different seasons," Coen said. "It's just the way it goes. And try not to overthink it. Try not to dive into too many what-ifs and this-and-thats; you just kind of keep coaching. You keep the standards high and the expectations high."
Lawrence is two pass TDs away from tying David Garrard for 3rd-most passing touchdowns in Jacksonville. Top 4: Mark Brunell (144), Blake Bortles (103), Garrard (89), Lawrence (87).
