Protecting Trevor Lawrence and unleashing the run game are crucial. The Jaguars' 2026 success hinges on solidifying these two key areas.
The Jacksonville Jaguars reversed their dismal performance of 2024, when they only won four games, and increased their win total by nine in 2025, posting a 13-4 record under first-year head coach Liam Coen.
Behind a record-setting offense that finished 11th in the league in total offense and sixth in scoring offense, the Jaguars went on an eight-game winning streak to finish the season, and they won the AFC South title.
But there is room for improvement, and there are two things that need to occur for the Jaguars to get better and to continue to build on the success of the 2025 season.
Improve Pass Protection
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was a 4,000-yard passer last season and showed significant improvement from the previous season in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Over the course of the final eight weeks of the season, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was pressured approximately 38 percent of the time. Also, the offensive line gave up 41 sacks last season.
So, how did Lawrence respond to this pressure?
Lawrence completed 65 percent of his passes for 2.216 yards and 22 touchdowns, including the playoffs. He averaged over nine yards per pass attempt and posted a QB rating of 113.7 during that winning streak in the second-half of the season.
Lawrence survived the onslaught of opposing defenses without injury, but it would be wise to do whatever is possible to improve on those sack totals and get better at pass protection. The more Lawrence is kept upright, the better off the Jaguars will be.
Scheme More for Etienne and Tuten
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne was an 1,100-yard rusher last season and scored seven touchdowns. He also had six receiving TDs. The rushing attack ranked 12th in the league with 1,956 yards on the ground and averaged 115 rushing yards per game. That is significant when you consider that Etienne rushed for just 558 yards and only two touchdowns in 2024 and was inactive for two games.
Etienne’s running mate, Bhayshul Tuten, scored five touchdowns in his rookie season of 2025 and was a change of pace back, especially in the red zone.
By comparison, Bills running back James Cook won the NFL rushing title with over 1,600 yards. The Packers Josh Jacobs led the league with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Even Lawrence got in on the fun running the ball, scoring nine touchdowns on the ground. But the Jaguars should not have to rely on their star quarterback rushing for touchdowns. Yet another reason to keep Lawrence out of harm’s way.
Etienne will be an unrestricted free agent when the new league calendar year begins next month. General manager James Gladstone, also just finishing up his rookie year in the Jags' front office, will have his hands full navigating the free-agent market.
The Jaguars have the talent and the coaching to build on the success of last season. If they can improve in their pass protection and get even better in the run game, then the Jaguars could repeat as the division champs and make a deeper playoff run.
A lot can happen in a year. But the best insurance policy the Jaguars can have is to build a wall of humanity around Lawrence in the pocket and keep him vertical, as opposed to horizontal.
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