The Jacksonville Jaguars put an end to the Urban Meyer era less than a year after it began. Now, they need to turn their attention to the remaining four games of the 2021 season. Sure, the stain Meyer left won’t be easy to wipe off but there’s not much the Jags can do but put it behind and finish the year with momentum.
In Week 15, the Jaguars will take on a Houston Texans team that has an identical 2-11 record. They are most likely eager to show they’re better off without Meyer at the helm and they will have that chance Sunday. They’re currently favored to win the game by three points, according to WynnBET, but they can’t take the Texans lightly, as they already got beat once this season. Also, Houston defeated the Tennessee Titans a few weeks ago.
If the Jaguars want to avoid being swept by the Texans this season, they will have to follow these three keys to victory.
1. The Jaguars must stop the Texans’ running game in Week 15.
The Texans aren’t very good at running the ball but the Jaguars haven’t done a good job stopping it either. In fact, they’ve given up an average of 135 rushing yards per game over the last five weeks. Running back Rex Burkhead will likely get the start Sunday and although he’s not the kind of player defensive coordinators spend the week game-planning for, the Jags can’t underestimate him.
The Jaguars must make stopping the run a point of emphasis Sunday and force the Texans to become one-dimensional. If Houston abandons the run early in the game, the Jags’ chances of winning the game will go up.
2. The Jaguars’ defense must pressure Davis Mills in Week 15.
Making the Texans’ offense become one-dimensional is imperative for the Jaguars, as they would then need to rely on rookie quarterback Davis Mills. The former Stanford Cardinal has the potential to become a solid starter in the NFL and his numbers might be a bit better if he had more weapons at his disposal.
Having said that, Mills is still a rookie and has lost every single game he’s started. Quarterback wins is one of the most deceiving stat in football. Signal-callers often get more praise than they deserved and often get blamed for their team’s shortcomings even if they aren’t at fault. Then again, there’s a reason for that, they have the most influence on the football field, and Mills could have a big impact in Week 15.
If Mills has enough time to throw the ball and keeps Jacksonville’s defense on the field, the Texans will have a shot at winning the game. That’s why defensive coordinator Joe Cullen’s unit must pressure him early and often. On the bright side, that is something the Jags can do well.
Even though the Jaguars allowed 20 points in Week 14, they logged 21 pressures and four sacks. Cullen called blitzed from all over the field and generally disrupted the Titans’ passing game. They should be able to dial up the same amount of pressure against Mills Sunday.
3. The Jaguars’ offense must wake up from slumber.
Urban Meyer would leave the Jags’ facilities early and let the staff prepare, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If that’s accurate, which it most likely is, it won’t matter that he’s no longer with the team. Also, there was a report the head coach got in a rift with his assistants because they didn’t agree on what kind of offense they would run.
Interim head coach Darrell Bevell will now have the chance to implement his offensive vision. This presents a great opportunity for him. Even though he won’t probably remain in Jacksonville next year, the demand for his services will increase if he can give the Jags’ offense look respectable in the last four games of the season.
The Texans will give Bevell the chance to right the ship, as their defense ranks near the cellar of the NFL when it comes to points surrendered. Then again, the Jags’ offense has been anemic over the six weeks, averaging less than 11 points per game. On Sunday, the Jaguars must find a way to get Marvin Jones Jr., Laquon Treadwell, and Laviska Shenault Jr. involved. Also, they need to do something Meyer refused to do, get James Robinson the ball often and make him the focal point of the offense.
The Jaguars have a Ferrari in their garage they must take it out and drive it. If they do, they will have a chance to earn their third win of the yard and the first of the Bevell era.