The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to rebound from an embarrassing and largely self-inflicted loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Unfortunately, that game was the first in a string of tough opponents, with the New England Patriots next up.
The Broncos were expected to be a difficult team to beat, but the Jaguars were controlling the game with ease in the first half. By the third quarter, Jacksonville had a 13-3 lead, which it squandered by allowing Denver to score 17 unanswered points.
In a Friday press conference, head coach Liam Coen spoke about his preparations for the Patriots, and how he had been the one to fail the team as a coach.
Liam Coen speaks to the media. #DUUUVAL https://t.co/EVQR9MbsRs
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"I think I walked off the grass a little
bit disappointed in myself, disappointed with a couple of things that I felt like as coaches, we could have helped them with," he began. "I don't ever question the way that our guys are going to come out and play on Sundays in terms of the effort that they provide. We get what we emphasize. And I didn't feel like I was at my best personally in times of need. And it's all of us, it really is. And so when you don't get the result you want, especially when you don't play to your standard and you don't execute to your standard, a lot of that falls on me and us as coaches as well."
The Jaguars have faced plenty of criticism after the Broncos loss, especially regarding two-way star Travis Hunter, who so far, has been severely underutilized. The offensive line likewise posed no match for the Denver, and as Coen noted, the team will need to play at the level it is capable of playing to not only defeat New England, but also to continue its status as a legitimate playoff contender.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have built a reputation under head coach Mike Vrabel for winning physical, tightly contested games with discipline and consistency. Jacksonville will need to prove its own identity can hold up against another good team. This time, at least, the Jaguars will be playing at home, in a much friendlier environment.
"We walked into a hostile environment with every possible reason for them to kind of whoop our butts in ways," Coen said. "And we kind of tricked it off."
Ultimately, though, the issue was not a difficult road game, but Jacksonville's own performance. As Coen admitted, the loss was more on the Jaguars playing poorly than anything else.
"In terms of our execution, they beat us without question," he said. "But we also had some moments where we did not execute to the best of our ability, where you walk off the grass saying like, man, we did everything we could and we just got beat. And so they beat us, we earned the L, absolutely."
Against New England, Jacksonville will need to play at the top of its game, particularly on defense and along the offensive line. But knowing the Jaguars didn't play to their potential also gives Coen a reason to be optimistic heading into Week 3.
"If anything, I'm encouraged, because I know we didn't execute to our standard," he said. "And Denver was a reason for that, absolutely. But when I mean it's truly about us, it is, and we're all in it together."
Sunday's matchup with the Patriots will give the Jaguars an opportunity to show what their response to a self-inflicted loss looks like. Against a Patriots team known for forcing opponents to remain physical and disciplined for four quarters, getting back to their own standard is especially important.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Liam Coen challenges Jaguars to meet their standard against Patriots
