U-G-L-Y: Jags ain’t got no alibi

Sep 14, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) is sacked by Washington Redskins free safety Ryan Clark (25) and linebacker Keenan Robinson (52) during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Being a Jaguars fan in Pennsylvania, last Sunday was one of the rare opportunities to see my favorite team play. Before the game started, I definitely believed that this was a winnable game. While the Redskins did play excellent defense against the Texans in their first game, the offense was horrendous. Aside from Alfred Morris, it was plain awful.

After Griffin got hurt, Kirk Cousins and company on an absolute tear. They made Jacksonville’s already suspect defense look plain terrible. It was the worst game I’ve ever seen from the Jaguars, and after three quarters I threw in the towel and went to lick my wounds by playing Madden.

As for the game itself, Chad Henne looked shaky, and inevitably there will be calls to start Blake Bortles. While Bortles is perhaps the better quarterback, how can one justify playing the rookie when the offensive line can’t protect any quarterback? The Jaguars can’t afford to risk their best asset. Granted, the Redskins probably have the best front seven that the Jaguars will face all season, but it is still a risk not worth taking unless they heavily invest in linemen before the trade deadline. It may be worth sacrificing some of next year’s draft to get proven talent right now.

If there’s anything to look forward to, it’s that at least the Jaguars face a bitter rival in Indianapolis. Andrew Luck and company will be heavily favored, but it always seems like this is a close game. Every Jaguars fan knows how important division games are, and taking down the Colts will do wonders to turn this season around. Another drubbing, and the call for Bortles to play will grow even louder.

But even this early in the season, a win changes everything.