The Jaguars secured their second victory of the 2024 season against the Patriots on Sunday, with Jacksonville largely handling New England en route to a 32-16 triumph at Wembley Stadium in London.
Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the win below.
On if Pederson feels a heightened sense of pressure playing in London:
DOUG PEDERSON: “No, no. The only pressure was just that we needed to win a game. It didn’t matter where. Obviously, we love coming over here, but it didn’t matter. We just needed to feel what winning feels like again. Proud of the guys. Proud of the coaches for the way we worked this past ten days or so over here. Good way to finish this little run.”
On Pederson’s message to QB Trevor Lawrence on the drive following the failed fourth-and-one conversion attempt:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, situations like that, it’s going to happen. To go back to the decision, I mean, I was riding the momentum of what we were doing leading up to that point. Our offensive line was really taking control of the game at that point and felt like just putting it in their hands one more time and getting the first drive there and potentially ice the game at that point. They went down, scored. We get the ball back, and you still got to play football, and that’s just the message. You still got to continue to play. We were able to do that to go down. We ended up taking a little time off. We punted the football back to them. Defense did a great job. Then, of course, from the 10-yard line, able to punch it back in. But you just have to play for 60 minutes. These games are never over, and that’s always going to be the message.”
On what Pederson saw from RB Tank Bigsby:
DOUG PEDERSON: “He’s done a really good job for us. Going into the season behind T.J. [RB Travis Etienne Jr.], he’s earned the right to be out there. He’s earned an opportunity. He did a nice job today. Ran hard; ran tough. As they say, ran behind his pads. I thought the offensive line did a great job for him, tight ends, blocking and things of that nature. But he did the rest. I think he went over 100 yards again today, and just a great effort.
On Pederson’s message to the team following the win vs. New England:
DOUG PEDERSON: “We’ve got to duplicate it. We have to duplicate the energy. We have to duplicate what we did over here. This week in practice has been one of our better weeks of practice, and we’ve got to be able to carry this all the way back and do it again. I mean, that’s what this league is. It’s a short-term memory. You just try to go 1-0 each week, but I thought the guys really handled themselves professionally while we were here for the ten days.”
On if Pederson is happy with how the younger players on offense had performed:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, these guys have really proven their worth, obviously their draft stock and things of that nature. What [WR] Parker Washington did on that punt return, obviously he is just one guy. Ten other guys needed to do their job. They did a great job there. [WR] Brian Thomas, I think each week he keeps getting better and better. He and Trevor have had a really good connection going. This is something we have to continue and continue to find ways to scheme him open. I thought Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] did a nice job this week in doing that and getting him some balls down the field as well as Christian [WR Christian Kirk] and Evan [TE Evan Engram], and everybody had a hand. But that’s what it takes to win these games. It’s not just one guy. The ball has to be spread around, and it was today.”
On if Pederson has ever had a more complete quarter with the Jaguars than the game’s second quarter:
DOUG PEDERSON: “It was pretty complete. It was 22 points, right? The way we started the game, both sides of the ball wasn’t what we wanted. New England came out and obviously scored, got up ten. Then we finally answered. It was a complete quarter, but again, you’re going to have those. You’re going to have a quarter like that from time to time. They’re not always – every game is not going to be like that, but it was good to see. It was something we hadn’t had this year, and it was good to see.”
On if WR Parker Washington’s touchdown and if the new kickoff format was schemed during film analysis:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, this dynamic kickoff is different week-to-week. Probably not – I think a couple of weeks ago it was 30 percent or less balls were being returned. It’s a hard play. It’s difficult. Guys are too good, and you don’t want to risk that return. Again, each week is different. There’s going to be weeks where we’re going to kick the ball off, and there’s going to be weeks we’re going to put it out of the back of the end zone. So, we take a look every week and see what’s best.”
On how the team handled adversity throughout the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “You know, it’s just what our team can do, right? I feel strongly that if we play like that, that’s what we’re capable of. Now, is it sustainable over the course of 60 minutes? It’s not going to be sustainable. I get it. The other team is just as good. But, again, we got in a situation where we were down ten, but nobody was, like, ‘Here we go again,’ or defeated or had negative thoughts. It was just one play at a time. We’ll work ourselves back in it. Offense went out. We showed the complementary aspect of the game today in all three phases. That’s the spark that hopefully can get this thing going.”
On if the two-point conversion call was part of the game plan or if it occurred due to momentum:
DOUG PEDERSON: “No, those are thought out. Situations like that where there’s a penalty on the defense on an extra point, you get the ball off the one-yard line. It’s a way to get an extra point, right? Two points. So, no, it wasn’t something we just were trying. It’s definitely planned and executed well.”
On if the run game was a point of emphasis this week and if WR Brian Thomas Jr. will get the ball on the ground more:
DOUG PEDERSON: “As far as Brian goes, we try to find ways to put the ball in his hands. To answer your question, yeah, we’ll try to find unique ways to get him the football where he can run it. Obviously, he’s better down the field. Then the run game was just something that, look, it’s a mindset to run the football in the National Football League. It takes a lot of people, not just the offensive line. It’s the quarterback getting us in the right run, the five O-linemen being on the right page, targeted right, the tight ends are involved. Even the receivers going in and digging out safeties. Just thought today was a complete game. Obviously, we’ll take a look at the tape on the way back and make corrections and learn.”
On the distribution of reps at running back going more to Tank Bigsby when Travis Etienne Jr. returns from injury:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I don’t think so. I’m not a believer where – I should say I’m a believer where injury doesn’t replace your position, right? I think you have to have a fair competition. For us, we’re blessed to have two really good running backs right now. When Etienne comes back, he’s just as explosive, just as good, just as powerful, and it’s still his job. But Tank has done some really good things. Obviously, we’re going to continue to find ways to put the ball in his hands too because he’s a little different runner than Etienne is.”
On Pederson’s advice to international players wanting to play in the NFL:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Don’t let people say that you can’t do anything, right? You’ve got to believe in yourself. Give yourself an opportunity. Be seen. Your work ethic is going to go a long way. A lot of these players in this locker room, that’s how they grew up. They grew up with an opportunity to play this game as a young player, but obviously now with the international pathway there’s more opportunities for players to find themselves on NFL rosters. We have to continue to develop the sport globally because it makes us a stronger league overall.”