JACKSONVILLE – This was a good sign, a good step.

Head Coach Doug Pederson described the Jaguars’ latest victory that way, and said winning in Sunday’s regular-season finale could have the same feel.

“It would mean we finished the season the right way; that would be something to really hang our hats on as we move forward,” he said Monday.

Pederson, speaking a day after the Jaguars’ 20-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans in the 2024 regular-season home finale, spoke extensively of the grit shown by the Jaguars in recent weeks as a disappointing 2024 season approaches an end.

“It’s a team that continues to compete,” he said. “It’s a team that continues to fight to the end.”

Pederson, too, cited Sunday as an example of a strong culture despite a 4-12 record and losses in seven of the last nine games.

“Winning has a part in [culture],” he said. “I don’t think it’s everything, though. Take a look at our season. Not what we wanted. You would look at us and go, ‘They don’t play like a 4-12 team.’ They’re still fighting to the end.”

The Jaguars have lost nine games by a touchdown or less, winning two of four games – both by one score over the 3-13 Titans – after being eliminated from AFC South contention with five regular-season games remaining.

“Guys are still fighting, guys are still battling, they’re playing for one another, playing with a lot of pride,” Pederson said. “You saw that Sunday.”

The Jaguars on Sunday made big plays late, with quarterback Mac Jones‘ 11-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. giving them a 20-10 lead and second-year safety Antonio Johnson defensing Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph’s potential game-tying pass at the goal-line with :09 remaining.

Pederson called the game “a great example of everybody doing their jobs and executing.”

“Was it perfect? No, it wasn’t perfect,” he said. “At the same time, I thought both sides of the ball played well. That’s what you have to look at. That’s something we can lean on and teach from moving forward.”

The Jaguars, after back-to-back 9-8 seasons that included a 2022 AFC South title, started 2024 0-4 – with Pederson on Monday saying of the seasonal, “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me.”