Jacksonville Jaguars Week 13 Power Rankings: Disappointing
By Daniel Lago
The Jacksonville Jaguars had everyone fooled last week, as they were widely considered favorites in a home game against the then 2-8 San Diego Chargers. Despite the momentum they had heading into the contest, the Jaguars had no answer for Philip Rivers as he sliced and diced a helpless Jacksonville secondary.
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With the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts both picking up steam and putting together winning streaks, the Jaguars are now firmly on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Sitting at 4-7, the Jaguars need to win out to have any shot at the postseason, and that’s not happening with this current iteration of the team.
Here’s where the Jaguars fell in some of the power rankings around the web after a disappointing loss that ended the Jaguars playoff hopes:
"27. Jacksonville JaguarsIf you can believe it, the Jacksonville Jaguars came into Week 12 with a better record than the San Diego Chargers. With the Chargers making the cross-country trip to Florida, it looked like Jacksonville was favored to get the win.But Philip Rivers came to spoil the party and completed 29 of 43 passes for 300 yards and FOUR touchdowns. The Jaguars defense made Chargers tight end Antonio Gates look like the younger version of himself, as he caught two touchdowns.Blake Bortles, on the other hand, looked like he was struggling to understand the rules of the game, more importantly those regarding the line of scrimmage and the forward pass. Twice Bortles ventured past the line of scrimmage and attempted to throw it down field.That being said, Julius Thomas had a big day with nine receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.While the Jaguars have to feel like they let a win slip away here, they get to play Marcus Mariota and the Tennesee Titans next week. While no win is guaranteed, the Jaguars have to field good about their chances in that one before a tough home stretch that sees the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons come to Everbank Field."
"27. Jaguars (4-7) HIGH: 22 / LOW: 32Jacksonville’s inability to generate any semblance of consistent pressure has exposed their secondary. Cornerback Davon House is starting to look like a big-money, free-agent bust."
"28. JaguarsWith one more touchdown, Blake Bortles will tie the Jaguars’ franchise record for touchdown passes in a season (23, set by David Garrard)."
"28. JaguarsSo much for any playoff chance. That was a bad showing on defense against the Chargers."
"28. Jaguars (4-7, LW: 26)Losing a home game to a 2-8 team that was dealing with a ton of injuries, and not being particularly competitive in dropping that game, is a terrible look in the third year of the Gus Bradley regime."
"29. JaguarsIf the Jaguars are ever going to compete for a playoff spot, then they have to win games like Sunday’s. The Chargers limped into Jacksonville with the worst record in pro football, against a team that is in its first division title race since 2007. With the way the Texans are playing — and, somewhat surprisingly, the Colts — Gus Bradley can kiss his postseason dreams goodbye now. The defense simply can’t get stops. And while Blake Bortles puts up nice fantasy numbers, turnovers = costly."
Next: Jags v. Chargers prediction recap
My take:
I can’t disagree with most of the takes above, except for the complete idiocy being shown over at FOX Sports by whoever thinks Davon House has been a bust. He’s been the Jaguars’ best cornerback by a significant margin and he’s played at a high enough level to not warrant replacing him in the near future.
We’re back at the point where the Jaguars shouldn’t be favored against any team, and that holds true this week as the Jaguars travel to Tennessee to face the Titans with the home team favored.
My ranking for the Jaguars after week 12: 31