Heading into Week 11, it wasn’t hard to feel optimistic about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ chances against the San Francisco 49ers. After all, they nearly pulled off a comeback against the Indianapolis Colts the week before. Also, their defense was playing at a high level, so it was fair to expect them to compete and even beat the Niners. But it wasn’t meant to be and the Jags lost 30-10.
San Francisco dominated the Jaguars in all three phases of the game and looked overwhelmed. The Jaguars moved the ball well at times, and the defense made several stops but it’s difficult to find many positives when your team lost by 20 points. On the bright side, Jaguars players are self-aware and acknowledge as much. Trevor Lawrence met with the local media after the game and said he wasn’t going to talk about things that went well, as there weren’t many.
Instead, Lawrence and Josh Allen told the media they want to watch tape and see what went wrong. The rookie passer even said the Jags need to help offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell more even though he needs to shoulder some of the blame for the offense’s inability to score points. Lawrence went on to say the team is sticking together, which is what you want to expect from your team captain in moments like this.
As Lawrence told the media, there are still seven games left to play this season and can’t throw in the towel. Although it won’t be easy, they have a bit of time to improve. For the time being, here are three studs and three duds from the Jags’ frustrating loss to the 49ers.
Here are 3 players that played well in the Jaguars’ loss to the 49ers.
1. Trevor Lawrence, quarterback
At first glance, there’s nothing outstanding about Trevor Lawrence’s statline. Some will even suggest he gets benched but the truth is that he’s not the reason the Jaguars’ haven’t gotten their offense going. He even posted a 71.4 Pro Football Focus grade against the 49ers.
Often, his wide receivers aren’t open and have dropped several catchable passes. Also, he doesn’t always get optimal protection and has to throw in less-than-optimal circumstances. Even veteran quarterbacks would struggle under these circumstances and until the Jaguars don’t upgrade the offense, they will have a hard time putting points on the scoreboard.
2. Tyson Campbell, cornerback
Tyson Campbell’s struggles in the preseason are well-documented. But at this point, it all seems like a footnote, as the rookie cornerback has improved considerably in recent weeks. Against the 49ers, he allowed two receptions on two targets for 15 yards. He’s playing the pass better than he did early in the season and is slowing becoming the player the Jags expected when they selected him 33rd overall in this year’s draft.
3. Josh Allen, defensive end/linebacker
Once again, Josh Allen played at a high level. The problem is that is difficult to stand out when your team losses by 20 points. His 83.2 PFF grade was the highest among Jaguars’ defenders in Week 11. He finished the game with 10 tackles, one tackle for a loss, and a forced fumble.
Although the Jaguars’ defense has shown signs of progress, games like the one against the Niners prove that there’s still work to be done before they compete week in and week out.
These 3 players played a role in the Jaguars’ loss to the 49ers.
1. Rayshawn Jenkins, safety
Even the best NFL players get flagged every now and then. After all, penalties are a big part of the game of football. But when you are frequently affecting your team, you must consider changing your approach. Against the Niners, Safety Rayshawn Jenkins was first flagged for holding and was later disqualified for punching wide receiver Jauan Jenning.
Emotions run high during a football game but you don’t see players throwing punches after every play and Jenkins needs to do a way better job of managing his emotions.
2. Laviska Shenault Jr., wide receiver
After losing DJ Chark for the season, the Jaguars needed Laviska Shenault to step up but that hasn’t been the case. In fact, he’s been a non-factor and has hurt the offense in some instances. In Week 11, he had five catches for 50 receptions but he also lost a fumble.
Over the last four games, Shenault has hauled in 14 receptions for 102 yards. That’s not the kind of production you expect from a player that was supposed to have a breakout season in 2021.
3. Tavon Austin, wide receiver
With Jamal Agnew out for the game, Tavon Austin took over return duties and muffed a punt. The Jags have placed Agnew on the Injured Reserve list, so Austin will need to perform better if he wants to keep handling retun duties. that includes holding into the ball.