FILE – In this nov. 15, 2015, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley watches the second half an NFL football gameagainst the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore. The Jaguars play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Conversations about Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn and Jacksonville counterpart Gus Bradley were a lot different a couple of months ago.
The Falcons started the season 5-0, and the first-year coach looked like he would get the team back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Jaguars lost five of their first six games, couldn’t get out of their own way and were surrounded by speculation about Bradley’s future.
The talk has changed dramatically since. Now the good friends and former Seattle assistants need a win for different reasons when Jacksonville hosts Atlanta today.
The Falcons (6-7) have dropped six games in a row and seven of eight and are on the verge of being eliminated from wild-card contention in the NFC.
“We got off to a hot start, that’s for sure, and we have struggled really the last two months and haven’t played the way that we’re capable of,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing. On the offensive side of the ball we’ve got to find a way of scoring more touchdowns and protecting the ball a little bit better.”
The Jaguars (5-8), meanwhile, have found some rhythm offensively, set several franchise records and have an outside shot at winning the muddled AFC South. Jacksonville is one game behind division co-leaders Indianapolis and Houston and can catch one of them with a victory today.
“I just know that we’re not first, so we need to take care of our business and win out and get some help,” Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis said. “Games in November and December haven’t been meaningful around here since like ’07, so it feels good to be in that position.”
Quinn and Bradley were in the same spot, Seattle, in 2009 and 2010. Bradley was the Seahawks defensive coordinator, and Quinn was the defensive line coach. Together, they helped build Seattle into one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses.
Quinn left after two seasons and returned to college to become Florida’s defensive coordinator. But when the Jaguars hired Bradley in 2013, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll asked Quinn to return. Quinn did and helped guide the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl victory.
Quinn and Bradley talk and text often, congratulating each other on wins and talking philosophies and “better ways to do things,” Quinn said.
“It’s just a great connection for me and one that I have great regard and great respect for,” he added. “I really do.”
Jacksonville has broken several losing streaks this season, which could bode well for the Falcons. Tampa Bay and Tennessee snapped 11-game home skids against the Jags, and San Diego ended a six-game losing streak in Jacksonville last month.
Jaguars cornerback Davon House has done a decent job covering some of the league’s top receivers this season, including Miami’s Jarvis Landry, New England’s Julian Edelman, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, Indianapolis’ T.Y. Hilton and Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins. Atlanta’s 6-foot-3 Julio Jones, who leads the NFL with 109 receptions, could provide a tougher challenge.
“Davon House is starting to understand who he is, what his strengths are and what areas he needs to work on,” Bradley said. “I’ve seen that the last probably two or three weeks it’s really been evident. When you’ve got that, then you’ve got a great chance for taking the bar higher.”
Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny will return after missing one game with a broken right hand. He will play with it heavily wrapped. The Jags will be without leading rusher T.J. Yeldon, who sprained a ligament in his left knee last week. Former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is expected to make his first start of the season.