Seahawks welcome early kick at Jaguars, who have 'some meat left on the bone' amid 4-1 start

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Hines-Allen and the Jacksonville Jaguars could be floating around the facility.

They beat three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City on Monday Night Football. They did it while playing first-year head coach Liam Coen’s “go take it” brand of football. And they won a third consecutive game to start 4-1 for the first time in nearly two decades.

Good vibes all around, right? Not even close.

“I’m not saying we played terrible,” said Hines-Allen, a veteran defensive end. “But it wasn’t up to the standard that we’ve set. We’re kind of (ticked) off about that.”

The Jaguars hope to deliver a more complete game against Seattle (3-2) on Sunday and start 5-1 for the first time since 1999.

“I don’t want to say we’re the most (ticked) off 4-1 team, but there’s definitely some feelings in the building over the last few days of knowing that we have not still put out 60 minutes of our best football,” Coen said. “They just know that there was some meat left on the bone even after a really cool win.”

Jacksonville turned the ball over twice — once at the goal line and later deep in their own territory — and allowed 476 yards and 26 first downs, both season highs. Even the winning score was a comedy of errors that started with Trevor Lawrence getting his foot stepped on and ended with him diving across the goal line.

Now the Jags have a short week to get everything fixed, and a solid team traveling cross-country to test their resolve.

The Seahawks are looking to bounce back from a 38-35 loss to Tampa Bay in which Sam Darnold threw an interception in the final minute that set up the winning field goal.

Seattle came away with its own set of issues and now gets a long flight and an earlier-than-usual kickoff — 10 a.m. on players’ body clocks — to get right.

What might help is facing Coen’s former team (Tampa Bay) and his current team (Jacksonville) in consecutive weeks.

“They run a similar offense to the one we just saw,” veteran Seattle defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “We’ve seen what we were deficient and lacking in against that type of scheme, so we’ve seen that’s something we have to work on and something we’re going to get better at throughout the week.”

As for the time difference, it might not even be a concern for Seattle. The Seahawks are 21-6 over the last 10 years in early starts on the East Coast — a better record than any of their West Coast peers.

“You’re not doing like wholesale changes, but you’re trying to bank sleep,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “There are certain strategies you have on the plane, hydrating, trying to stay on your body clock, micro things you just try to hit.”

The Jaguars swapped starting cornerbacks with Cleveland this week, sending Tyson Campbell to the Browns in exchange for Greg Newsome. Newsome is expected to have a limited role against Seattle despite getting in only one practice and a walkthrough.

“We’re going to try and get him going as fast as we can and see how all that goes,” Jags defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said.

Seattle took a chance by releasing tight end Noah Fant in July. It turned out to be a shrewd decision. Second-year tight end AJ Barner is coming off a career game. He had seven catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns against the Bucs.

“I had a great game this week and people are starting to take notice,” Barner said. “But there’s a lot more for me to do.”

Third-year pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba looks more than capable as a No. 1 receiver. He ranks second in the NFL with 534 yards and fifth with 34 catches. Equally impressive: He has built quick chemistry with Darnold and other teammates.

“That is what the great ones do, and that’s what Jaxon’s doing and that’s what makes it so exciting,” Macdonald said. “Sustainable.”

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Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass under pressure from Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a catch as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Voting began Thursday in Uganda’s presidential election despite a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic tactic in a country where the president has held office since 1986.

Crowds gathered and long lines formed in some areas as polling station openings were delayed and voting materials were seen being delivered after the scheduled 7 a.m. opening time.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.

The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters. Polls are expected to close at 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the electoral commission. Results are constitutionally required to be announced in 48 hours.

Impatient crowds gathered outside polling stations expressing concerns over the delays Thursday morning. Umaru Mutyaba, a polling agent for a parliamentary candidate, said it was “frustrating” to be waiting outside a station in the capital Kampala.

“We can’t be standing here waiting to vote as if we have nothing else to do," he said.

Ssemujju Nganda, a prominent opposition figure and lawmaker seeking reelection in Kira municipality, told The Associated Press he had been waiting in line to vote for three hours.

In addition to delayed voting materials, biometric voter identification machines were not working properly, Nganda said, adding that delays likely will lead to apathy and low turnout in urban areas where the opposition has substantial support.

“It’s going to be chaos,” he said.

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.

Museveni has served the third-longest term of any African leader and is seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade. Some critics say removing him through elections remains difficult, but the aging president’s authority has become increasingly dependent on the military led by his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Museveni and Wine are reprising their rivalry from the previous election in 2021, when Wine appealed to mostly young people in urban areas. With voter turnout of 59%, Wine secured 35% of the ballots against Museveni’s 58%, the president’s smallest vote share since his first electoral campaign three decades ago.

The lead-up to Thursday's election produced concerns about transparency, the possibility of hereditary rule, military interference and opposition strategies to prevent vote tampering at polling stations.

Uganda's internet was shut down Tuesday by the government communications agency, which cited misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement of violence. The shutdown has affected the public and disrupted critical sectors such as banking.

There has been heavy security leading up to voting, including military units deployed on the streets this week.

Amnesty International said security forces are engaging in a “brutal campaign of repression,” citing a Nov. 28 opposition rally in eastern Uganda where the military blocked exits and opened fire on supporters, killing one person.

Museveni urged voters to come out in large numbers during his final rally Tuesday.

“You go and vote, anybody who tries to interfere with your freedom will be crushed. I am telling you this. We are ready to put an end to this indiscipline,” he said.

The national electoral commission chairperson, Simon Byabakama, urged tolerance among Ugandans as they vote.

“Let us keep the peace that we have,” Byabakama said late Wednesday. “Let us be civil. Let us be courteous. Let’s be tolerant. Even if you know that this person does not support (your) candidate, please give him or her room or opportunity to go and exercise his or her constitutional right."

Authorities also suspended the activities of several civic groups during the campaign season. That Group, a prominent media watchdog, closed its office Wednesday after the interior ministry alleged in a letter that the group was involved in activities “prejudicial to the security and laws of Uganda.”

Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, remains in prison after he was charged with treason in February 2025.

Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Electoral workers deliver ballot boxes to a polling station during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters are reflected in a police officer's sunglasses as they wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)