JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence hasn't had it easy.
After dealing with dysfunction in 2021, having to adjust to a new coach and offensive system (again) and trying to succeed in the NFL, Lawrence's play has been inconsistent.
But he had a solid performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in a 27-20 win on Sunday after having one of the worst days of his career the previous week. And he needed that. Especially with games against the Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) and Baltimore Ravens (6-3) coming up next.
“I think it just boosts confidence,” coach Doug Pederson said. “It's everything that we talk about with him and how he can play. You know, it takes moments like this, it takes games like this for young players to really understand sometimes what the coach is talking about a little bit.
“He was able to do that. It was great to see him do that. He was in a great frame of mind all game. Never once did he show any signs of panic or wavering, nothing like that. He showed a lot of confidence.”
Lawrence completed 25 of 31 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ come-from-behind victory over the Raiders at TIAA Bank Field. Lawrence completed 12 consecutive passes at one point in the second half and went 4-for-6 for 37 yards on third down (all four completions converted first downs).
It was just the fifth time that Lawrence -- who also ran for a career-high 53 yards, including two third-down scrambles that converted first downs -- posted a QB rating in the 100s (109.0).
He needed that kind of game after throwing for just 133 yards and posting a 52.2 QB rating -- the third-lowest numbers in his career -- in a loss to the Denver Broncos in London on Oct. 30.
“[It's] just a part of growing,” Lawrence said. “You know, some of the Raiders' guys were, like, 'Man, why do you have to get the ball out so fast?' I've had to learn the hard way. I've learned my lessons. There's still a lot more I'm going to learn in years to come and games to come, all those things.
“But I think just for my confidence, for the team's confidence, just for us to be able to bounce back as a whole and go and win this game, especially under the circumstances that we were in early. I think it says a lot about, yeah, myself, but also just this whole team.”
Lawrence hasn’t been able to find much consistency or string together four or five good games in a row, and it’s not coincidental that the team doesn't win when he hasn’t played well. He’s had more games in which his passer rating is below 60 (six) than above 100 (the Jaguars are 4-1 in these games).
Lawrence had back-to-back games with a passer rating higher than 100 just once: In Weeks 2 and 3 this season (wins over the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Rams).
And he is going to have to do that again if the Jaguars (3-6) are going to beat the Chiefs for the first time since 2009 and the first time in Kansas City since 2007. Kansas City has the NFL’s fifth-ranked rush defense (102.0 yards per game allowed), but is also giving up the ninth-most passing yards per game (249.5).
Lawrence is at his best when he gets rid of the ball quickly and gets into a rhythm. He did that against the Raiders when wide receiver Christian Kirk caught a season-high eight passes and nine players caught at least one pass. This has to be his approach against the Chiefs, if the Jaguars are going to keep up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' explosive offense.
“[Lawrence] played within himself,” Pederson said. “You know, he really managed the offense. ... [He] just took a step in the right direction. That's all you can ask from your quarterback.”