The Jaguars’ dreadful 2024 season took another turn for the worse in Week 16 when Jacksonville fell to the Las Vegas Raiders — who entered the contest as the worst team in the NFL as reflected in the Week 15 2025 NFL draft order — 19-14.
Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s latest loss below.
On if Pederson is frustrated by the Jaguars’ effort level and mistakes at inopportune times:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, you kind of summed it up. You’re right, it’s not for the lack of effort, physicality, all that. Those guys do play hard. But the mistakes, penalties, things that just held us back all season. I think as coaches, players, it’s the frustrating part. Until we get that corrected, obviously there’s going to be a lot of long days. We’ve got to get it fixed.”
On if there is self-doubt that affects the Jaguars’ ability to win close games:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m sure there’s some. I’m sure when a bad play happens or a penalty and it sets you back a little bit, I think maybe there’s a little bit – where we are in our season, I’m sure that creeps in. Guys are human. They’re going to feel that. They’re going to feel that emotion. But it’s mental toughness. It’s the grind. It’s the grit, determination. And the guys show it, and they have shown it, but we just haven’t been able to overcome some of the setbacks.”
On if it’s hard to focus at this time of year:
DOUG PEDERSON: “What do you mean by ‘this time of year’?”
On if it’s hard to focus at this point in a losing season:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m sure there’s some of that. I’m sure, again, you’re human and things haven’t gone our way this season. And disappointing as that is, you’re going to feel that emotion. It’s just something that, I think, everybody handles it a little bit differently. But it’s that mental toughness we talk about, having that. And just trying to flush a negative play. Trying your best you can to move on from bad plays, mistakes, whatever it is. Trying to move on to the next play.”
On if Pederson can enjoy rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s successes despite the Jaguars’ record:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I’m so happy for Brian. We talked last week. He’s such a bright spot offensively and gives a thousand-plus yards and all of that. Just a kid that is so deserving of it, from the way he works to how he plays. And the load that we put on him, for a young player like that, to go out and perform like he does. So happy for him, definitely a bright spot.”
On if Pederson has ever seen an easier touchdown play on Thomas Jr.’s 62-yard receiving touchdown:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Probably busted coverage, looked like. And we needed a play, because I think B.T. [Brian Thomas Jr.] dropped one earlier. And then we come back to him again on the same type of thing and he makes the play. So, it’s the type of kid he is. But it’s never an easy play, but we got help on that one.”
On how difficult managing the pre-snap was:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Those are the inconsistencies. I would say that [Raiders Head Coach] Coach [Antonio] Pierce is probably saying the same thing with his team. But where we are as a football team and the type of year we’ve had, we just can’t make those types of mistakes and expect to win. That probably goes without saying. It’s hard to overcome and try to flush it and move on, I guess.”
On the Jaguars’ lack of takeaways in the last five games:
DOUG PEDERSON: “We had opportunities again today. A couple of balls were tipped and had chances, and that’s part of it too, creating the takeaways. And we had two huge costly turnovers. But again, it’s not for lack of effort and all that. But it’s an area that just we’ve got to keep working, keep working during the week at it. You’ve got to keep making an emphasis in game. You could see our guys punching the football, things of that nature. It’s just not bouncing our way.”
On if Pederson was surprised by P Logan Cooke’s shanked punt:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, that one surprised me. I know he definitely would want that one back. But obviously, we know Logan [Cooke] is a great punter, just uncharacteristic of him and his ability, but definitely a punt he’d like to have back.”
