Jaguars’ collapse started well before loss to Titans, and may unspool into offseason of soul-searching

Wow. That’s the appropriate reaction to what has happened to the Jacksonville Jaguars this season.

Just a month ago, this team was 8-3 with a chance to contend for the No. 1 seed in the AFC entering a game against Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals. They went 1-5 since that point, a burst of losing that started with that Monday night loss.

Head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence were expected to take the Jaguars’ offense to the next level this year after the way Lawrence closed the 2022 season, but instead of ascending into the upper echelon of the AFC, they had a season that can only be described as a complete and utter failure.

The Jaguars lost everything over the final six games of the season. They lost four straight games before receiving some reprieve on New Year’s Eve against the ill-fated Carolina Panthers (who didn’t score a single point over their final two weeks of the season). Even with their stumbling to the finish, the Jaguars still had a strong chance to win the AFC South if they could just get past the 5-11 Titans. In a division rivalry like this, all bets can be off, but this is a matchup the Jaguars should’ve been able to handle. Ryan Tannehill was starting in place of Will Levis — and he struggled throwing the ball at times Sunday.

Instead, the Jaguars lost 28-20 and watched their playoff hopes evaporate.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars have a tough offseason ahead after they went from 8-3 to missing the playoffs entirely. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

On paper, this lined up well for the Jaguars to win and get in the playoffs, but they just totally faltered in crucial spots. Derrick Henry continued his domination against the Jaguars by rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown, rookie running back Tyjae Spears chipped in with two more touchdowns and the Jaguars screwed up a goal-line sequence at the end of the game that sealed their fate.

“Scored on (that play) four or five times, and didn’t on that one,” Lawrence…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-01-07 22:40:58

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