JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer brief thoughts on the Jaguars’ 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in a Week 17, 2024 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars senior writer…

1. So good, so soon, so often. This is admittedly a repetitive, quick thought, but how can you watch the Jaguars this season without thinking that rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is really, really good? More importantly for the Jaguars and Thomas, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is improving quickly and showing every sign of being an All-Pro receiver. Thomas has reportedly demonstrated a top-notch football IQ this season, with the ability to learn all receiver positions, and he has the work ethic and professional approach of a veteran deep in his career. “The way he works, the way he handles himself as a little kid … very impressive – very impressed with Brian,” head coach Doug Pederson said Sunday. Thomas already holds single-season receptions, yards and touchdowns records for franchise rookies. He’s stepping up and playing better every week. In an otherwise dismal season, the Jaguars have found a receiver and No. 1 superstar. The best in this regard is undoubtedly yet to come.
2. One for the home audience. This was the kind of NFL Sunday where storylines are hard to find. Even though this was a game between two teams that hadn’t been in the postseason in a long time, it still had a certain coolness for the Jaguars – even beyond the downright cool performance from Thomas and a win against the Titans. Sunday is cool? The story of Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, who won for the first time in front of his hometown fans as a starter. The fourth-year veteran, who joined the Jaguars via a trade in the offseason, made his seventh start in eight games in place of injured starter Trevor Lawrence. He had won at Tennessee earlier this month, but the Bolles School graduate had not won in his previous two home starts. He threw two touchdowns on Sunday and went without an interception for the second straight game. He also had one of the better moments after the game when he was asked if he kept the ball after the game for a reason. No, said Jones. “I just like to keep it so we don’t give it to the refs so they don’t take it home,” he said with a laugh. Funny stuff at the bank on a comparatively fun Sunday at the end of December.