3 Jaguars stats that defined embarrassing Week 13 loss to Rams

2. The Jaguars couldn’t stop the Rams’ rushing attack.

Earlier this year, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen and head coach Urban Meyer would talk about how good the Jaguars’ run defense was. However, things have gone haywire over the last four weeks. In that span, Jacksonville has surrendered an average of 143 rushing yards and they gave up 128 in Week 13.

The Rams have one of the best aerial attacks in the whole league but had struggled to run the ball before facing off the Jags. From Week 6 to Week 12, Los Angeles’ rushing attack had averaged 93 yards per game and failed to crack the 100-yard mark four times. On paper, this looked like a favorable matchup for Jacksonville but they failed to seize the situation.

To exacerbate the issue, Rams’ starting running back Darrell Henderson Jr. sat out the game but backup Sony Michel made the most of his opportunity, becoming his team’s first 100-yard rusher of the year.

There’s no doubt the Jaguars’ defense was a strength in the middle of the season but their efficiency has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks. While the offense needs to shoulder a good chunk of the blame for their overall record, the defense hasn’t helped matters. Their front seven hasn’t suffered any major injuries, so it’s fair to wonder what’s wrong with the unit. One thing is clear, they won’t be able to win many games as long as they don’t fix things up front.