Losing can be taxing. That’s why it was refreshing to see the Jacksonville Jaguars win their first game of the 2021 season and simultaneously put an end to a 20-game losing streak that dated back to last year. Now, the Jaguars aren’t a powerhouse, far from it. They will still lose several games this season, but the organization should be pleased with all the progress it has made in the past six weeks.
After all, it’s easy to forget that this Jaguars team look undisciplined in the season opener and couldn’t even line up without using a timeout. Since then, they have shown tangible growth. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is quickly improving and the coaching staff has also given running back James Robinson a bigger workload after barely getting him involved in the two weeks.
Both Lawrence and Robinson played a key role in the Jaguars’ win over the Dolphins but they were far from the only players that contributed in Week 6. This was a team effort, one that was defined by these three stats.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars got a clutch performance by Matthew Wright.
The Jaguars went five games without making a field goal. Kicker Matthew Wright changed that in Week 6 when he went 3-of-3 in his attempts. More importantly, two of his kicks came with the game on the line. First, he tied the game with less than four minutes left in the game and later made the game-winning field goal. The Central Florida product answered the call when the team needed him the most.
Moving forward, Wright will handle kicking duties as the team has released kicker Josh Lambo.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars got their second turnover of the season.
After six weeks of NFL football, the Jaguars’ defense ranks 29th in total yards and 35th in points allowed. Also, they are dead last with just two turnovers in 2021. One of them came against the Miami Dolphins. Right after Miami recovered a fumble, cornerback Nevin Lawson made an interception, the first one of his eight-year NFL career.
You could make the case that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a bad pass, and you would be right. However, Lawson still made the play and it shifted the momentum in the Jaguars’ favor. You have probably heard that most football games come to one or two plays good or bad plays. This was true in Week 6. Had the cornerback not come up with the interception, the Jags’ chance of winning might have decreased considerably.
Think about it, earlier in the game, they had trouble stopping the Dolphins’ offense there’s a good chance they would have scored or at least eaten the clock. They didn’t though and the Jags ended up winning the game. During their BYE, the Jaguars need to figure out a way to create more turnovers. If they can make a few more, they will be in a good position to win more games in what is left of the 2021 season.
3. Seven different Jacksonville Jaguars caught a pass in Week 6.
The Jaguars may not have many stars but they have dependable targets in the passing game. Against the Dolphins, seven different players caught a pass. Even though quarterback Trevor Lawrence favored Marvin Jones Jr. and Jamal Agnew, he didn’t force any pass and often threw passes to whoever was open. It’s good to see the rookie passer not lock into one receiver at this stage of his NFL career.
Having said that, Jones and Agnew certainly deserve credit for their performance. They weren’t the only players that had a catch but made the most important ones of the game. Jones made several passes worth a highlight reel, including his 28-yard touchdown reception, and finished the game with a team-high seven receptions for 100 yards. Meanwhile, Agnew had five catches, including two that went over 20 yards.
The Jags don’t have a true number one tight end but the unit stepped up in Week 6, catching a combined four receptions for 59 yards. Also, second-year running back James Robinson hauled in three receptions for 28 receiving yards. Jacksonville’s offense is far from elite but it’s good enough to put points on the board and compete week in and week out.
On the other hand, the Jaguars need to improve their third-down efficiency. They went 3-of-12 in Week 6. That was good enough to beat the Dolphins but may not get the job done versus the Seattle Seahawks or any other future opponents.