What’s Next? Can Blake Bortles Win?

29 of 37, 253 yards, one touchdowns, and two interceptions. The stat line isn’t bad. Blake Bortles is a rookie. Blake Bortles is learning. Blake Bortles is taking chances. Can Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars win?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind as they watch Bortles orchestrate the Jaguars offense. The team came close against the San Diego Chargers in the first half, in large part because of Bortles’ play. But can he string it together for a full 60 minutes? Can Bortles put the Jaguars ahead and in a position to hang onto games for the win?

These questions linger after watching Bortles’ first start. It looks like he has the physical tools and mechanics to do so. There will be lumps for him to take and he’ll definitely have some experiences that are obviously learning moments, as he did with the interceptions and few incompletions on Sunday. Yet it looks like he could put it together for a win.

The Jaguars take on the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday in a winnable game for team. The Steelers have the unfortunate distinction of being beaten by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past week. They barely squeaked out a win against the Cleveland Browns in week one. While the Steelers have shown they can beat down opponents, like they did to the Carolina Panthers in week three to a solid 37-19 victory, they have also shown they can be dismantled like they were in week two against the Baltimore Ravens.

There’s no doubt the Jaguars will bring this game close. The Steelers have shown they’ll play to the level of mediocre opponents. If the Bucs and Browns can do it, so can the Jags.

It’ll be up to quarterback Blake Bortles to put the Jags over the hump, though. He’ll need to compete the whole game, limit some mental mistakes, and continue to be a leader on the field and on the sideline. I have no doubt he is capable, it’s simply a matter of putting it together. There’s a 50/50 chance it could happen against the Steelers this week.