'He's an outstanding quarterback': Jaguars prepare to host Jackson, Ravens in AFC showdown

When Jacksonville was preparing to face off against the Chiefs before the bye week, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was asked if Patrick Mahomes was the most frustrating player to play against.

His response was yes, until the next team they faced, referencing Baltimore’s quarterback Lamar Jackson. When asked about Jackson on Wednesday, Pederson gave a concise answer.

“A really, really good one,” Pederson said when asked what type of player Jackson was. Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell followed suit, calling him an “outstanding quarterback” when asked the same question during his media availability.

Jackson has recorded 1,977 passing yards and 666 rushing yards with 19 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the AFC North leading Ravens this season. Each of their three losses have come by less than seven points. They’re a team trending toward the playoffs and it starts with Jackson behind center.

Jackson is a former MVP winner and one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. He’s elusive in the backfield and has the arm strength and accuracy to hurt a defense through the air if given the chance.

The Ravens' offense is completely tailored to his skillset and will be a challenge for Jacksonville’s defense to contain him.

“The Lamar challenge is where he can carry the ball and when the quarterback can run it kind of provides the extra blocker for them and then the schemes and stuff,” inside linebacker Foye Oluokun said. “He’s good throwing the ball down the field when he buys them time and all that and then obviously the running backs have extra gaps.

"It's tough, you got to make sure they got the ball, but they're talented guys, too. So it's really just assignment football at that point, but we got to make the plays that come to us after we make sure all our gaps are covered.”

The last time Jackson played at TIAA bank it was as a member of Louisville at the Gator Bowl.

He recorded 329 total yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions as the former Heisman winner competed in his final college game.

Kirk’s consistency key to Jaguars’ success

Wide receiver Christian Kirk said he felt sick to his stomach after the Jaguars lost to the Chiefs. It wasn’t because he had a bad game.

In fact, Kirk crossed off a milestone during his two-touchdown performance. It raised him to a career high seven scores with seven games remaining this season.

He had a season-high nine receptions and logged 105 yards in the road loss. But the Jaguars still weren’t able to win despite his big performance.

“If you play your best, there’s a higher chance of us being able to win the game,” he said ahead of the bye week. “You know it hurts you when you put all that into it, then you’re not able to come out on the other side because at the end of the day, I’m sick and tired of losing, and I know everyone in this locker room, everyone in this building wants to win a lot, so that’s how we work.”

Kirk talked about what the focus needs to be starting this weekend against Baltimore. To him, every phase needs to play complementary football.

In the games that each phase played well, the Jaguars have walked away with wins.

“No. 1 for us the rest of the season is just playing complementary football,” Kirk said. “Offense plays good, defense plays good, special teams plays good and usually when we do that, you know, we end up winning the game and so I think that needs to be the main focus for us. It’s just playing complimentary football.”

Jenkins talks contagious play

Almost every week Jaguars’ safety Rayshawn Jenkins makes an impact play for Jacksonville’s defense. The six-year veteran has racked up 59 total tackles including 39 solo with nine passes defended, one interception and a forced fumble.

The nine passes defended are among the league’s best in the category with Jenkins leading all safeties in the stat.

His high-level play has come on the heels of a season ending injury last year that forced him to recover into OTAs and training camp.

“If I’m the guy who I think I am, who my team thinks I am, I have to do that every game,” Jenkins said on his play this season. “We’re losing, so that doesn’t make it better, but I like to get more of that into the defense and we’ll see how it goes.”

While the team hasn’t won as many games as they’d hoped, Jenkins believes that his splash plays have the potential to create ripples throughout the defense. According to him, that’s the type of contagious play that could help Jacksonville.

And it’s the type of play they’ll need down the stretch if they hope to get their season back on track.

“It’s contagious. That’s just like, not only me, if Josh Allen [OLB Josh Allen] makes a play. That’s going to make me want to make a play,” he said. “If I see my guy balling, I’m ready to go now. I see Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun] come down and make a hit, I’m ready to go. If they see me come down and make a hit, that’s just setting the tone. That’s what I say every game, I want to be a tone setter. I want to be the one who ignites that fire within my unit to say ‘Hey, let’s go.’”

Jersey Reveal

Black and teal is the reveal. The Jaguars will wear black jerseys with teal pants and black socks on Sunday against the Ravens.

Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars notes and quotes for Baltimore Ravens game