JACKSONVILLE – He looks sharp and good – and he feels that way, too.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is playing well in recent weeks, and the Jaguars are winning. If he and the team seem like they believe in themselves, there’s a reason.
“We all feel really confident out there, including myself,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence, who has thrown 9 touchdowns in the last 4 game, spoke to the media Wednesday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (9-4) prepared to play the New York Jets (3-10) at EverBank Stadium Sunday. Head Coach Liam Coen spoke to the media Wednesday morning, calling Lawrence’s increased confidence and comfort in recent weeks “huge.”
“Anytime your leaders are playing at your best and playing at their best, it’s a good sign for your team,” Coen said.
Lawrence, in his fifth season as the Jaguars’ starter, has thrown 4 touchdowns with 0 interceptions in the last 2 games, and has thrown 18 touchdowns with 11 interceptions this season. He hasn’t had a giveaway in the last 2 games after a 3-interception, 4-turnover performance in a Week 12 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals in which he also threw 3 touchdowns.
“Trev’s playing at a high level,” said Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr., who played with Lawrence at Clemson and the past four seasons with the Jaguars. “I love that for Trev. You know it’s in there. Coach (Coen) has a way of bringing that dog out of you. I feel like he has been tapping into that with Trev.
“It’s awesome to see, just the swagger, the confidence.”
The Jaguars, who rank ninth in the NFL in scoring and 17th in total yards, have scored at least 25 points in every game while winning five of six games since a Week 9 bye.
“As an offense, we’ve played a lot better,” Lawrence said. “Everyone’s getting more comfortable, more confident. Our group’s coming together more and more. It takes some time, especially on offense sometimes, to really get that rhythm and continuity between the whole group – especially when you have a lot of guys out with injuries and new guys coming in.