The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of three 0-3 teams to start the 2024 campaign following Monday night's embarrassing loss in Buffalo.
Given the sky-high expectations entering the season, including owner Shad Khan stating "winning now" is expected, the disappointment has hammered Duval.
For coach Doug Pederson, in his third season in Jacksonville, the answer to getting on track is simple: Return to basics.
"If you want to be an elite football team, it's led from within, it's led by the players," Pederson said Tuesday, via the team's official website. "Listen: The speeches are done. The speeches are over. We don't need any more rah-rah stuff. It's just time to go play football, fix the mistakes and do everything we can to play our best football this weekend."
Pederson added that his discussions with Khan remain positive despite the struggles.
"We've had great conversations before and after football games," Pederson said. "Obviously, those conversations are private and all of that. He's very supportive, has been supportive and he continues to be supportive of what we're doing."
It's not just the 0-3 start that has signaled panic in Jacksonville. The Jags are 1-8 since Week 13, 2023, the worst record in the NFL over that span. The only win came in Week 17 versus Carolina, with C.J. Beathard as the starter.
Trevor Lawrence's struggles have been pervasive this season. Through three games, the highly-paid quarterback is averaging 186.7 pass yards per game with two touchdown tosses and one interception for a 75.1 passer rating. It marks the fewest pass YPG and pass TDs in the first three games of a season in his career. The only qualified QBs with fewer pass TDs than Lawrence in 2024 are Bryce Young (0), Bo Nix (0) and Jacoby Brissett (1).
"We have to take a hard look at ourselves, first internally as far as coaching goes," Pederson said, "and then making sure we are presenting the plans with great communication. Look: It's a two-way street, too. Coaches coach and players play.
"We have to make sure our players are playing fast and not making the mistakes that are showing up."
Sunday gets no easier for Pederson's squad, which heads to Houston to face a Texans squad that got blown out last week in Minnesota. DeMeco Ryans' defense has allowed 163.0 pass yards per game and is one of four clubs that have not allowed 200-plus yards in any game in 2024.