The Jacksonville Jaguars have won just two games this season but nobody seems to be that surprised and it’s easy to understand why. This was always going to be a rebuilding year and expectations weren’t high for the Jags to begin with. Sure, they selected Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 draft and brought in Urban Meyer to right the ship. The organization believes the duo will help them become a perennial contender.
On the other hand, the Jaguars were lacking start talent in 2020 and one offseason wasn’t going to be enough to replenish the roster. The defense is playing better but the offense still needs several upgrades. That was on full display in Jacksonville’s 30-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.
The Jaguars’ offense struggled to move the ball and the defense couldn’t stop the Niners’ offense. Looking back, here are three stats that explain the Jags’ most recent loss.
1. The Jaguars’ offense had only 17 plays in the first half.
In their first possession of the game, the 49ers put together a lengthy drive that chewed up almost a full quarter. The Jags’ defense was rightfully tired but on the bright side, they limited San Francisco to three points.
The Jaguars could have then countered and scored to either tie the game or get ahead. However, they went three and out in their first possession, and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. fumbled in the first play of their next one. That was an omen of things to come, as they totaled a measly 17 plays in the first half, including a punt and the 30-yard field goal by Matthew Wright.
The team ended with a measly 200 total yards and most of them came in garbage time. The defense could have played better but you won’t win many games if you struggle to move the ball downfield.
2. Penalties once again cost the Jaguars against the 49ers.
Even the most disciplined teams commit penalties every now and then but the Jaguars are getting flagged at an alarming rate. Against the Indianapolis Colts, they had eight penalties, seven of them by the offense, and things didn’t get much better in Week 11, getting flagged the same amount of times. The difference was that the defense was responsible for nearly half of them.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins might have been the worst offender. He had a holding penalty in the 49ers’ first drive and later got ejected in the next one after losing his temper and punching wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
Head coach Urban Meyer said he would talk to Jenkins after the game, and Trevor Lawrence said the veteran safety showed support to his teammates despite the fact he was disqualified. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was once again flagged twice for holding although one was declined. Between those two, they had 50 percent of the Jags’ penalties but players such as wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. and tight end Dan Arnold also contributed.
At the risk of sounding pessimistic, the Jaguars won’t be able to win many games if they don’t cut down on penalties. They aren’t talented enough yet to overcome them, so they need to play a more disciplined brand of football for the remainder of the season. If they can keep their number of flags down to a manageable three or four per game, their chances of winning will increase a bit.
3. The Jaguars’ defense spent too much time on the field in Week 11.
The Jaguars’ defense has bailed their offensive counterpart in recent weeks. However, they had their work cut out against the 49ers and ended up surrendering 30 points. They had a hard time stopping wide receiver Deebo Samuel and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a pretty efficient game, going 16-of-22 for 176 yards with two touchdowns. Of course, the Niners’ front office has done a great job of surrounding him with playmakers such as Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and tight end George Kittle.
On the other hand, you can’t put this loss on the Jaguars’ defense when you take into account that they spent nearly two-thirds of the game on the football field. The Jags’ offense couldn’t do much whenever they got the ball, which forced the defense to play than it should have. Sure, they didn’t make enough stops and could come away with a few takeaways but on a day when they weren’t at the top of their game, the offense should have stepped up and it didn’t.
Their defense will continue to give the Jaguars a chance to win for the reminder season but you can’t expect them to hold a team to less than ten points every game. At some point, the offense has to score, and in Week 11, they didn’t. Making matters more difficult is the fact wide receiver/return specialist Jamal Agnew is out for the year. Even before losing him, they were struggling to move the ball, and things won’t get any easier without him.