By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Doug Pederson’s time with the Jacksonville Jaguars has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

In his first season, Pederson turned things around, taking the Jaguars to the playoffs and winning the AFC South. Expectations were sky-high heading into last season, especially with Jacksonville starting strong at 8-3 and aiming for the AFC’s top playoff spot.

But things took a big turn after a Monday Night Football loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2023, which kicked off a painful slump.

Since then, the Jaguars have gone 3-13, leaving them with a rough 2-8 record this season and at the bottom of the league.

Pederson’s job security is definitely under the microscope now as Jacksonville has struggled in clutch situations. He’s sitting on one of the hottest seats in the NFL, especially since the Jaguars have a frustrating 1-6 record in one-score games this season.

Ownership had touted this roster as possibly the “best Jaguars team ever,” but right now, the team’s record looks a lot like the Urban Meyer disaster, with losses piling up fast.

Their recent loss to the Minnesota Vikings kind of sums up the season.

Jacksonville got off to a good start thanks to a strong defensive showing, picking off Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold three times in the red zone and preventing Minnesota from scoring an offensive touchdown.

But the offense couldn’t get going. Backup quarterback Mac Jones, in for the injured Trevor Lawrence, put up only 143 total yards and turned the ball over three times in the last seven minutes, leading to a heartbreaking 12-7 defeat.

Historically, no team has lost a game with stats like that, where they allowed zero offensive touchdowns and forced three interceptions.

Pederson is doing his best to keep morale up, reminding the team of the chances they still have and focusing on the positives.

He’s aware of Jones’s mistakes but remains confident in the young quarterback, hoping he’ll improve with more time on the field.

At the same time, Pederson has a tough call to make: should he play Lawrence, who’s dealing with a shoulder injury, or sit him to protect his long-term health, especially in a season where the Jaguars’ playoff chances are down to just 2%?

Looking ahead, Jacksonville faces a tough road game against the 8-1 Detroit Lions before hitting their much-needed bye week.

A loss to Detroit could all but guarantee a losing season and increase speculation about Pederson’s future. Jaguars owner Shad Khan has been patient in the past, but he hasn’t hesitated to cut ties with underperforming leaders, like Gus Bradley in 2016, GM Dave Caldwell in 2020, and EVP Tom Coughlin in 2019.

This track record raises the stakes for Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, who’s been criticized for putting together a roster that looks good on paper but isn’t translating to sustained success on the field.

Even with everything going on, Pederson insists the team hasn’t quit. He stays optimistic, pointing out that the division is still within reach and that there are chances to build momentum. The players are still fighting hard, but the team’s struggles to close out games have cast doubt over their future.

Lawrence’s possible return after the bye could be a boost, but Jacksonville’s ongoing problems are sparking questions about where the franchise is headed.

For now, Mac Jones will make his second start in place of Lawrence against Detroit.

Jones, who came over from the Patriots in a trade, will try to rebound from a rough first game. His recent struggles as a starter in New England left him with limited experience, but Pederson is hopeful he can bring some stability to the offense while Lawrence recovers.

As the Jaguars approach the back half of the season, Pederson’s tenure is at a crucial point. Once seen as the team’s savior, he’s now under heavy scrutiny.

His future—and that of Baalke and Jacksonville’s once-promising roster—are all hanging in the balance as the Jaguars try to get back on track in a season that’s been full of setbacks and missed expectations.