Disappointed Jags see loss as ‘growing moment’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Josh Hines-Allen said the Jaguars’ 27-24 loss Sunday to the Bills in an AFC wild-card playoff game will bother him for a while, but he also believes some good will come out of the hurt.

And motivation.

«This is a growing step for us, a growing moment,» Hines-Allen said. «And obviously this team’s not going to be the same next year. And we felt like in the moment this was our opportunity to go take advantage of it, and we didn’t.

«But we’ve got a lot of guys that’s hungry. And we’re going to attack this offseason, grow from this offseason and come back ready to win the whole thing next year.»

Trevor Lawrence put together the best season of his five-year career.

The Jaguars do have several key impending free agents — running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd top the list — and coordinators Grant Udinsky and Anthony Campanile might receive head coaching interviews for one of the NFL’s eight current vacancies. But the core of the team will be back, as will cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, who sat out the second half of his rookie season because of a knee injury.

Hines-Allen said that group has set a high standard.

«This is one of the first times where I felt surrounded by guys that wanted to be great, guys that sacrificed their body, guys that wanted greatness from their teammates and told them about it, sacrificed themselves about it,» he said. «So for me, it was a lot of fun to be around a lot of that.»

In fact, Hines-Allen called this season «the most fun» he’s had in a very long time.

«I’ve got a lot of guys that can say the same thing,» he added.

Lawrence, who set a career high in total touchdowns (38) and posted his third 4,000-yard passing season, also is optimistic that the success the Jaguars put together under Coen is sustainable.

«I have so much confidence in this group and the staff and the direction we’re heading, but that doesn’t make you feel better about the season ending today when we feel like there was more out there for us,» he said.

«… There’s no guaranteed success, but I do feel like this is sustainable, the things that we’re doing. I know offensively and defensively, both sides of the ball had a hell of a year when it got down to the end, where we finished, and the growth that we had. … But you have to earn it every year. It’s not just going to happen.»