3 key stats that defined the Jaguars’ loss vs. Falcons in Week 12

Concerning Jaguars issue No. 2 – Two costly penalties in a key drive.

Penalties have been a common theme for the Jaguars this season, and Week 12 was no different. Although they were flagged a ”manageable” six times, many of those penalties came at key moments. In particular, right tackle Jawaan Taylor’s was flagged twice and both times came with the game on the line.

Trailing 21-11 with 12:57 left in the fourth quarterback, the Jags got hot and drove from their own 10-yard line to Atlanta’s 19. Things were looking bright for them but Taylor was then flagged for a false start, which moved Jacksonville back to the Falcons’ 24-yard line. Sure, no problem, the Jaguars ended up getting a first down and got to the 6-yard line. Again, the right tackle was flagged, this time though it was an offensive holding, which cost Jacksonville’s offense ten yards.

The Jaguars went on to attempt three passes. All of them were incomplete and had to settle for a field goal and came out with three points instead of seven. This changed the dynamic of the game. Down 21-14, they had another drive to tie the game in their last possession but they had to score a touchdown. They would have had better odds of tying the game if they only had to kick the field goal.

Of course, Taylor wasn’t responsible for the Jaguars’ three incompletions preceding the field goal but he didn’t help matters.