After the game, coach Doug Pederson was asked if he would consider taking over play-calling from offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who, up to this point, the coach had never actually confirmed was the one selecting the plays.
“For what? I thought he called a great game,” Pederson said. “As coaches, we can’t go out there and make the plays, right? It’s a two-way street. So, you know, you guys can sit here and point the finger all you want and it’s fine. Point it right at me. I can take it. OK. I can take it. So whatever you want to ask me, say whatever, write, go ahead.”
Pushed on the play-calling matter, a seemingly exasperated Pederson replied: “OK, yeah, sure, I’ll take it into consideration.”
It’s surprising to hear a coach with Pederson’s experience put the onus on players, but he’s not wrong. Outside of a couple of questionable pass plays late that left additional time for C.J. Stroud to march for the game-winning drive, the play-calling wasn’t at the heart of the problem for Jacksonville. The biggest concern was a highly paid quarterback who missed far too many layups.
After an up-and-down first half in which they used a muffed punt to go up early, the Jags trailed 17-13 at the break. Jacksonville rode the ground game back into the lead, including a 58-yard jaunt by Tank Bigsby. But with multiple chances to put the game away in the fourth quarter, as the defense repeatedly got Stroud and Co. off the field, Lawrence and the offense came up short.
Pederson was asked if he was concerned about his job status after the latest loss.
“My status? No,” he responded. “That’s kind of a weird question, but OK.”
Lawrence has dropped nine consecutive starts dating back to 2023, the longest losing streak of his career.
Pederson lamented the latest loss, in which one or two plays could have flipped the script.
“We’re that close to flipping the switch, making more plays during the games,” he said. “We’re not making them right now, and that’s what’s holding us back.”
Since 1990, just one of 105 teams to start a season 0-4 has made the playoffs, the 1992 San Diego Chargers. None won the Super Bowl.
