For as positive a start as the Jacksonville Jaguars have made to the season, they have also been their own worst enemy. Coming off a 35-7 trouncing in London at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, it felt like the Jags needed a week off for self-reflection. It’s something Liam Coen and his staff probably did a lot of during the bye week.
While this team remains in a playoff position, there is one area they need to clean up if they are to stay there by the end of the regular season.
The Jaguars are just getting by
Though it’s been a frustrating couple of games for Jaguar fans, being 4-3 in a playoff position shows how far this team has come. Doug Pederson’s group last year self-destructed when things got rough, and the resilience to bounce back despite all the mistakes they’ve committed in games this season should be commended.
On the other hand, the Jags are often just squeaking by, thanks to their share of turnovers created on defense, some X-factors on offense, and Parker Washington on special teams.
It is a good thing they’ve had outstanding individual performances; otherwise, this team could be in a much worse position than it currently is. At the same time, it would be naïve to think they will remain in a playoff spot if they continue to make some of the mistakes we’ve seen. The good news is that those mistakes can be corrected easily.
The Jaguars are beating themselves
We’ve heard Liam Coen say countless times that they’ve not played clean football. He’s spot on with that assessment. What has not been spot-on with his team all season long has been their discipline, which has been wildly inconsistent.
Those self-inflicted wounds have been there throughout 2025, but are beginning to cost them games. According to ESPN, the Jags lead the league in total penalties (83), accepted penalties (65), and accepted offensive penalties (37).
#Jaguars Offensive Miscues
65- Flags (Most)
52- Penalties (2nd Most)
34- Off Penalties (Most)
18- PreSnap Penalties (Most)
16- Drops (Most) pic.twitter.com/N1hoG3YQyf
— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) October 14, 2025
After what was a statement Monday Night Football victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jaguars’ penalties over the past two weeks have been momentum killers. Brian Thomas Jr. had an opening 54-yard touchdown wiped out in their next game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Travis Hunter lining up offside took away that great play. The Jags went on to lose and looked rather stagnant offensively, in part because they were flagged so many times.
That didn’t change in London, as Parker Washington had a 62-yard punt return touchdown wiped out for an illegal block in the back by cornerback Jarrian Jones. Through seven weeks, the Jaguars have accumulated the third-most accepted penalties in franchise history to this stage of a season.
The only ones with more were the 2016 Jags (66) and the 1996 team (73).
Penalties are preventing the Jaguars from being contenders
Mental errors can often make or break a team, and at the moment, it is doing the latter for the Jaguars. Of course, not all penalties are preventable, but in Jacksonville’s case, many of them are.
Few Jaguar players are completely blameless in that area. Travis Hunter has been flagged for costly penalties on both sides of the ball, Trevor Lawrence is guilty of taking too long to leave the huddle at times, and the offensive line has nullified great running plays with needless holds or jumping too quickly.
INSANE BRIAN THOMAS JR CIRCUS TOUCHDOWN….
Called back because Travis Hunter was offsides 😬 pic.twitter.com/8dEFVsdhI6
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) October 12, 2025
The Jaguars’ loss to the Rams looked like a blowout on paper, but it was another case of the team getting in its own way. Eight of their 11 offensive possessions at Wembley Stadium ended in LA territory.
Walking away with just seven points from all those opportunities is unacceptable. They wound up punting on two of those occasions, missed a field goal, turned the ball over on downs four times and scored a touchdown when the game was already over. Overall, the Jaguars had 119 penalty yards in that game.
They’ve gotten themselves in a position not many would’ve predicted at the start of the season, as they are in the postseason conversation. However, they’ll soon find themselves in a familiar position of watching the playoffs from their home if they can’t clean up the penalty problems.
There is a favourable schedule for them the rest of the way, as they have their share of weaker opponents. Many of us would’ve taken 4-3 at the start of the season, but the way they’re losing those games is concerning. Better discipline overall, and you could argue the Jags might be 7-0 instead of just clinging to a playoff spot.
The opportunity to make the playoffs is right there in front of them, and if they can get there, then the sky’s the limit. Clean up the penalties, and we could be looking at a team poised to make a Cinderella run in the New Year.