Winning helps NFL teams mask some issues. By the same token, it’s easy to point fingers when things aren’t going well. This is true for the Jacksonville Jaguars in recent weeks, as their offense has failed to put points on the scoreboard while the defense has played at a high level.
While it’s easy to blame quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the Jags’ inability to score, there are other issues that are affecting the offense. Head coach Urban Meyer recognizes that the rookie passer needs to play better but he also points out that everyone around him has to improve.
Keep in mind that Lawrence is a rookie and expecting him to play like a vested veteran after just nine starts is not reasonable. Especially when you take into account that the Jags could use upgrades at most position groups.
The Jaguars’ brass must keep adding talent next offseason if they want their potential quarterback of the future to succeed. For the time being, these are three stats that explain Jacksonville’s failed comeback attempt to the Colts in Week 10.
1. The Jaguars’ offense was flagged at an alarming rate versus the Colts.
Penalties in the NFL are pretty much self-inflicted wounds. While some calls are questionable, things such as false starts and holding are avoidable. Against the Colts, the Jaguars were flagged eight times and the offense was responsible for seven of them, if you take into account safety Andre Cisco’s offensive holding during a kickoff return by Jamal Agnew.
Tight end Chris Manhertz led the team with an inexcusable three penalties, an offensive holding, a false start, and an illegal blindside block. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was second with two flags, offensive holding both times.
While the Jaguars limited the Colts’ offense to 295 yards, they gave up 79 yards on penalties. The coaching staff needs to make penalties a point of emphasis in the week ahead of their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Jaguars struggled to convert 3rd downs against the Colts.
Third-down efficiency has been an area of weakness for the Jags’ offense throughout 2021 and things didn’t get better in Week 10, going 5-of-15 on third downs. Heading into Week 11, they’re in the cellar of the NFL with a 30.3 success rate.
Late in the third quarter, the Jags’ offense got a bit of momentum and completed four third-down attempts. However, it was a case of too little too late. Also, Jacksonville went three-and-out a staggering seven times. This is frustrating because the defense helped them dig their way out of a 17-point deficit and gave them several chances to come back in the second half.
Down 20-17 in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars got the ball two more times. They went three-and-out in their first chance to put the game away and promptly allowed a field goal, giving the Colts a 23-17 lead. The Jaguars then got one last opportunity to win the game. A field goal wasn’t going to be enough though, they needed to score a touchdown. Ultimately, Indy forced a fumble and recovered the ball, putting an end to Jacksonville’s comeback attempt.
Again, Trevor Lawrence was the one that lost the fumble but the loss isn’t on him. The Jaguars failed to give him optimal protection throughout the game, and his wide receivers failed to create separation. The Colts’ defense needs to get credit for keeping Jacksonville’s offense in check, just like the Jaguars’ offensive players deserve some heat for underperforming against their divisional foe.
3. The Jaguars’ defense didn’t force any turnovers in Week 10.
The Jaguars’ defense has gotten significantly better in recent weeks. They were a big reason the Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 and gave them a chance to beat the Colts in Week 10. It may be unfair to blame them for Jacksonville’s most recent loss but just like their offensive counterpart, the defense does have some room for improvement although not nearly as much.
Early in the game, the Jags couldn’t stop running back Jonathan Taylor, who racked up 93 yards in just 10 carries in the first half. On the bright side, they did a better job of containing him in the second quarter, limiting him to just 23 in his next 11 rushes. Edge rusher Josh Allen led the team with nine pressures and defensive tackle once again played well posting a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 82.5.
Rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell also showed growth and allowed just 28 yards and a 50 percent completion rate on passes thrown his way. On the other hand, the Jaguars’ defense didn’t generate any turnovers. It may be nitpicking but takeaways were a big reason why they were able to beat the Bills. Shaquill Griffin came close to intercepting a pass in Week 10 but couldn’t hold onto it. He acknowledged after the game that it would have been big.
While it’s not reasonable to expect the Jaguars’ to force three turnovers every game, they need to do a better job of making big plays. They currently rank dead last in takeaways with five. They need to create more turnovers in the remainder of the season to put the Jags in a position to win a few more games.