The Day After Jaguars Week 12 Win Over Texans: Staying 'Locked in and Present'
JACKSONVILLE – The games get bigger by the week.
That has been fine for the Jaguars in recent weeks, because the preparation and focus has matched the results.
The Jaguars on Sunday beat the Houston Texans , 24-21, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Head Coach Doug Pederson a day after that victory spoke of the team's ability to prepare and perform in a game that pushed their AFC South lead to two games with six regular-season games remaining.
"They stay in the present," Pederson said Monday . "They just focus on the task at hand and that's just getting better each week."
The Jaguars (8-3), who on Sunday won their franchise-record eighth consecutive road game, lead the Texans (6-5) and Indianapolis Colts (6-5) in the AFC South by two games. They have a season-ending tiebreaker advantage over the Texans because of a better division record and over the Colts because of a head-to-head season sweep.
The Jaguars have won two consecutive games and have won seven of eight games since a 37-17 Week 3 loss to the Texans at EverBank Stadium. They have trailed just twice in those seven victories for less than a total quarter.
"It's fun, obviously, when you're winning because you want to continue to play more games and continue to win and have success," Pederson said. "The minute you let up and look into the future a little bit is when you get beat. So, it's my job to make sure that the guys stay locked in and present."
The Jaguars enter December tied for the fewest losses in the AFC with the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens (9-3), the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) and the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins (8-3). They play the Ravens at home December 17.
The Jaguars play host the Cincinnati Bengals Monday in their first Monday Night Football appearance since playing host to two Monday Night games in 2011.
"The better we play as a football team, it's really easier for me to keep the guys focused and keep their attention to detail," Pederson said. "This time of year, too, there's a lot of speculation and talk about playoff picture and seeding and all that kind of stuff. That generates a little interest there.
"Even though we don't look past the week we're in, you can't help yourself but listen to the outside noise and the media talk about that. But for us, and this is what I appreciate about our guys, they stay in the moment."