The Jacksonville Jaguars Complete the First Quarter of the Season 3-1

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a 3-1 record for the first quarter of the season as a result of the defeat of the New York Jets. What a difference a week can make! DUUUVAL!

The Jacksonville Jaguars limped onto the field after a depressing loss to the Tennessee Titans last week. To start two of the three running backs were injured. Also, our nickel back D.J. Hayden was inactive.

Our starting center went out with a bad back almost immediately. In addition, the lingering question asked was…can the Jaguars put their poor performance against the Titans behind them?

The answer was a resounding YES!

The first half

As it turned out the first half was the deciding factor in the game. The Jaguars first drive went 13 plays for 81 yards capped by a Josh Lambo field goal. The next drive was an 11-play, 73-yard drive that ended in another Lambo field goal.

Immediately after the field goal Blake Bortles completed. 31-yard pass to T.J. Yeldon.

Lambo kicked a 54-yard field goal with 29 seconds left. The half ended with the Jaguars up 16-0. Leonard Fournette was done for the day with a reinsured hamstring.

Many of the Jaguar faithful would have been happy to have the game end right then.

The second half

The third quarter began with a safety by the Jaguars defense. This was followed by a field goal for the Jets by former Jaguars kicker Jason Myers. He was serenaded by a loud chorus of boos when he came on the field.

The highlight reel play of the game was a 67-yard pass from Bortles to Donte Moncrief. The Jets won the fourth quarter perhaps due to a loss of intensity by the Jaguars and several critical turnovers.

Bottom line was Jaguars 31 and Jets 12.

Four reasons the Jaguars won

The first reason was the play of Bortles. We were quick to criticize him last week and we must be even faster to praise him this week. Bortles was 29 of 38 for 388 yards and 2 touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 10.2 yards per pass.

Next reason was our wide receivers. The wide receivers ran poor routes and were considered a major reason for our loss against the Titans. Against the Jets, all receivers had 29 receptions for 388 yards. Dede Westbrook had an incredible 9 reception for 130 yards.

Moncrief impressed with 5 receptions for 109 yards. Quite an improvement.

The defense had 3 sacks and 5 tackles for losses. They held the Jets to 34 yards rushing for the game. Myles Jack led the way with 5 tackles. The entire defense played like champions today.