Jaguars have big concerns, but they still control their playoff destiny

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

The Jaguars have major concerns. There’s also no reason to panic. 

Both things can be true.

Jacksonville dropped to 8-5 with its loss Sunday at Cleveland. The Jaguars have now lost consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 2 and 3.

The defense, which has been the strength of the Jags all season, has faltered in the past two weeks to backup quarterbacks. Between Jake Browning and Joe Flacco, Jacksonville allowed a 70.7% completion rate for 665 yards, five total touchdowns and created just two takeaways. 

The performance against Cleveland was particularly embarrassing. Each of Flacco’s three touchdown passes went to wide-open receivers for 34 or more yards. Jacksonville had allowed five touchdown passes of 34 yards or more in the first 12 games combined.

“Turned around and saw nothing but green grass,” said Browns receiver David Bell of his 41-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a Jaguars’ fourth-and-3 blitz in the fourth quarter. “I was surprised. Not a little, I was a lot surprised to keep it real. It just felt like Little League when I was back in second grade, just seeing that much green grass. I haven’t seen that much since I was about 6 or 7.” 

Offensively, the Jaguars will have to adjust to life without leading receiver Christian Kirk, who will be out at least the next three games on injured reserve following core-muscle surgery. His absence was felt in Cleveland, where Jacksonville had pass-catching struggles. Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones had just nine catches combined on 27 targets and no touchdowns. 

In the second quarter, Lawrence and Jones had a miscommunication on a deep pass that led to an interception — Jones broke inside on a deep route, while Lawrence threw outside. 

Lawrence was even more out of sync with Ridley. The QB had two interceptions targeting him, the first being inside the two-minute warning of the second quarter, when Jacksonville was just outside the…

Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jaguars-have-big-concerns-but-they-still-control-their-playoff-destiny

Author :

Publish date : 2023-12-13 19:55:33

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.