It was easy to feel pessimistic about the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into Week 9. After all, they were coming off
an embarrassing loss to the Seattle Seahawks
and they were going to take on the Buffalo Bills, one of the best teams in the league. To make matters worse, the Jags were without running back
and left tackle
but they still showed up and didn’t falter.
The Jaguars went toe to toe with the Bills and were 6-6 by halftime. They have had leads heading into the second half this season but they have not been able to hold onto them. Not this time. The Jags didn’t take the gas off the pedal and ended stunning Buffalo, showing they can keep up with the best if they play up to their potential.
If Jacksonville can build off this win, a few more will come in the remainder of the season. These three stats made their second victory in the last three weeks possible.
1. The Jaguars’ defense limited big plays in Week 9.
So how did the Jaguars manage to hold the Bills’ top-scoring offense to a measly nine points? There are several reasons, one is the number of big plays Jacksonville’s defense allowed. Buffalo racked up 14 carries for 72 yards, and 50 of those came in scrambles by quarterback Josh Allen. Take those away and the Bills averaged 2.4 yards per carry.
Also, Buffalo’s offense only completed two passes of 20+ yards, a 28-yard reception by wide receiver Steffon Diggs and a 22-yard catch by Emmanuel Sanders. Limiting big plays has been an issue for the Jaguars’ defense all season long. In Week 9, it wasn’t.
2. The Jaguars’ stopped the Bills in third downs.
You could argue that the Jaguars’ defense did the heavy lifting in the win over the Bills and you would be right. But does it matter? A win is a win after all. Sure, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell needs to get more out of his unit but the team should also be pleased with their defensive performance.
Throughout the season, the Jags have stopped teams in first and second downs but fade on third down, giving opposing teams a fresh set of downs. Against the Bills, they allowed a 40 percent conversion rate in third downs. Also, Buffalo went 0-of-1 in fourth down, an incompletion by quarterback Josh Allen late in the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars made stops when it mattered the most. They gave up 301 yards but gave up only nine points. That’s why points surrender is a better way to measure a defense’s performance than yards allowed. You can let teams move the ball and travel the field but if they can get points in a drive, it’s fruitless.
The other side of the coin is the Jags converted only two of 13 third-down opportunities. They have talked about improving third-down efficiency but haven’t been able to do so. On the bright side, they went 2-of-2 in their fourth-down attempts. In a day in which points were hard to come by, those made a difference. Having said that, Jacksonville wouldn’t have been in the position to go for it in fourth down if they had a better conversion rate in third downs. The coaching staff needs to continue working on that area.
1. The Jaguars pressured Bills quarterback Josh Allen at a high rate.
You have probably heard that football games are won (and lost) in the trenches, and the Jaguars proved the cliché right in Week 9. Even though they gave up two sacks, they generally gave Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard enough time to throw the ball. Meanwhile, their defense didn’t stop pressuring Bills quarterback Josh Allen all game long.
Allen was able to scramble a few times but Jacksonville’s defensive front rattle him and forced him to make mistakes. He dropped back 47 times and was pressured in 29, that’s a pretty high rate. Moreover, the Jags registered four sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. Head coach Urban Meyer told the media this kind of performance was possible thanks to the interior pass rush, which was a non-factor in previous games but was key in Week 9.
You could argue that the Bills were without two starting linemen, guard Jon Feliciano and offensive tackle Spencer Brown but injuries are an inherent part of the game and teams need to be ready for them. What was Jacksonville supposed to do? Postpone the game and resume it once Brown and Feliciano can play?
Left tackle Cam Robinson and running back James Robinson also missed the game and the Jaguars still won. The truth is that the Jags were the better team Sunday, and their latest win should give them a reason to continue playing hard for the remainder of the season.