Weekly Superlatives: Jaguars @ Saints
The Jaguars defense once again played terribly, while the offense couldn’t get anything going for most of the first half. The Jaguars are now eliminated from the playoffs, but per usual, there were some really impressive individual performances.
MVP and Offensive Player of the Week: The Brothers Allen — Hurns and Robinson were at it again Sunday and are making a case to be considered as the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL. Allen Robinson had 6 catches for 151 yards and a score, including a 90 yard catch and run, while Allen Hurns caught 8 passes for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns. Combining for over 250 yards and 3 scores, the Brothers Allen did everything they could to try to keep the Jaguars in this one, but the defense just couldn’t get out of their own way.
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Defensive Player of the Week: No, just no — 38 points and over 500 yards of offense allowed.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Nick Marshall — Despite being torched on defense, Marshall had a good day returning kicks. It was nothing spectacular, but it is worth noting that on his 2 kick returns he averaged 32 per, including a 36 yarder. He is a raw player, but clearly has the athletic ability to help the Jaguars out in the immediate future.
Needs the most Improvement: Everything on defense. Yes, the Jaguars are without their best defensive player, Sen’Derrick Marks; Yes, the Jaguars are without their first round pass rusher, Dante Fowler; Yes, the Jaguars are without their free safety of the future, James Sample; No, that does not excuse the type of performances we have been seeing over the past several weeks. The Jaguars can’t cover anyone, they struggle to get after the passer, and against the Saints they couldn’t even stop the run, giving up 122 yards and 2 touchdowns to Saints’ backup running back, Tim Hightower. In the upcoming offseason the Jaguars need to and will revamp many areas on their defense. At the very minimum they will likely have a new starting defensive end, outside linebacker, free safety and cornerback in 2016.