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The Jacksonville Jaguars are channeling fresh motivation for their playoff journey, spurred by recent Pro Bowl omissions. Despite boasting a solid 11-4 record, the Jaguars saw just one of their players make it to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.
Based in Jacksonville, Fla., the Jaguars have been on a roll, securing six consecutive victories and winning seven of their last eight games to clinch a playoff berth. However, the team was surprised to find that only long snapper Ross Matiscik was named to this year’s AFC Pro Bowl lineup—leaving out any positional players from the honor.
“These decisions are beyond our control, and we have many players who have shown remarkable skill and dedication,” remarked head coach Liam Coen. “Being 11-4 with only one Pro Bowler truly speaks volumes about our team’s depth and talent.”
Among those who narrowly missed the cut are running back Travis Etienne, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, linebacker Devin Lloyd, and kick returner Parker Washington. These players have been named alternates and may still have a chance to participate in the Pro Bowl Games, set to occur during the Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
Running back Travis Etienne, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, linebacker Devin Lloyd and kick returner Parker Washington were voted alternates and still could land spots in the Pro Bowl Games, which will be played the week of the Super Bowl in San Francisco.
Jacksonville considers Lloyd the biggest oversight as the team prepares to play at Indianapolis (8-7) on Sunday. Lloyd leads the AFC and is tied for second in the NFL with six takeaways, including five interceptions.
He had game-changing picks against San Francisco, Kansas City and in the first meeting against the Colts. He also has a career-high nine quarterback hits, including 1 1/2 sacks.
“Obviously as a competitor, you want to get that nod,” Lloyd said. “But, at the end of the day, we’re in a great opportunity to play in the real bowl. So, for us, it’s just about attacking the week-to-week process and doing what we got to do to prolong the season and get to where we want to go.”
The Jaguars can clinch the AFC South and secure a home playoff game with a win this week combined with Houston losing to the Los Angeles Chargers.
They shouldn’t need any motivation, whether it’s real or manufactured, the rest of the way. But Coen would welcome any potential help. The first-year head coach insists his team plays better with an edge, an us-against-the-world mentality.
Last week at Denver, Coen turned an innocuous quote from Broncos coach Sean Payton about Jacksonville being a small-market team into bulletin-board material.
Before the previous meeting with the Colts, Coen put up quotes from NFL analysts seemingly overlooking Jacksonville while talking about Houston and Indianapolis vying for the South title.
Even this week, with the Jaguars in the playoffs and playing as well as anyone in the league, it hasn’t been hard for Coen to find doubters.
Pro Bowl voters are the latest. The teams are decided by fans, players and coaches, with each group making up a third of the vote. Cincinnati (5-10), Miami (6-9) and Jacksonville were the only AFC teams to land just one Pro Bowl starter while the New York Jets (3-12) were the only AFC team shut out.
“You always use that type stuff as fuel,” Lloyd said. “At the end of the day, you got to channel it the right way. … Anything you can use as an edge. I don’t think I was the only one that kind of got snubbed. We’re an 11-4 team, and a lot of guys put a lot of good stuff on tape.”
Lawrence leads the AFC with 26 touchdown passes and has seven more rushing. Etienne ranks third in the conference with 13 total touchdowns. Even second-year kicker Cam Little got overlooked despite setting an NFL record with a 68-yard field goal.
“Shoutout to Ross. Kudos to him. He deserves it,” defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “But we have other guys on the team that deserve it as well. … It just goes back to the same old, same old thing that we’ve been experiencing. It’s expected.”
AP NFL: