Wins were hard to come by for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. While they came close a few times, they couldn’t get the job done and ended up mustering just three victories. On the bright side, the Jags tripled their win totals from the previous season and that must account for something, right?
Then again, the Jaguars were supposed to be far better under the leadership of Urban Meyer. Or so they thought when they hired him. Once it became clear he wasn’t fit to coach the team, he got the boot.
In retrospect, it’s fair to wonder how many more games the Jags could have won had they had a competent head coach at the helm. While dwelling in the past may not be good helpful, this team needs to look back and all the things that went right in 2021 and try to repeat them next season. For the time being, here’s how the Jags’ three wins of the 2021 season rank.
No. 3 Jaguars’ win of the 2021 season – Week 6 against the Dolphins.
The Jaguars’ first win of the season was a meaningful one. They were just a few days removed from a scandal involving Urban Meyer and fresh off a loss to the Tennesse Titans. If that wasn’t enough, the Jags were riding a 20-game losing streak. In spite of all the noise, the Jags came through and beat the Miami Dolphins 23-20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The game was close and it came down to the Jags’ last drive. Trevor Lawrence connected with wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. in consecutive passes, with 20 seconds remaining on the clock, to get to the Phins’ 35-yard line. This made it possible for Matthew Wright to make the game-winning field goal. An interception by veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson also help, and so did wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., who hauled in seven passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.
The Jaguars went into the BYE not having to worry about the losing streak and the pressure of having to win a football game.
No. 2 Jaguars’ win of the 2021 season – Week 9 against the Bills.
Heading into Week 9, it was uncertain where the Jaguars’ season was headed. After all, they had beat the Dolphins before the BYE but they were coming off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Moreover, Jacksonville was playing against a talented Bills team, so a loss looked like a realistic possibility. However, the Jags thew a curveball at everyone, pulling off an upset and beating Buffalo 9-6
Throughout the game, the Jaguars’ defensive front pressured quarterback Josh Allen and forced him into making mistakes at a high rate. Jacksonville’s own Josh Allen had a monster performance, sacking his namesake, scooping up a fumble, and snagging an interception. For his dominant play, he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the first time a Jaguars’ defender got the honor since 2019. Also, defensive tackle Taven Bryan had a career game, logging four total pressures and two sacks. While he reverted back to his usual self next week, he played like a first-round pick at least for a day.
All in all, the Jaguars’ forced three turnovers. Their offense only managed nine points but on a day where their defense played like an elite unit, that was enough. Although the Jags went on to lose their next eight games, they were the talk of a town for a hot minute and showed how good they can be if they play up to their potential.
No. 1 Jaguars’ win of the 2021 season – Week 18 against the Colts.
Revenge is a dish best served cold or so the saying goes. Back in Week 10, the Jaguars came close to pulling off an upset against the Indianapolis Colts but their efforts ultimately fell short, and ended up losing the game. However, the Jags would have a chance at payback in the season finale. Heading into the game, Indy was a 15-point favorite and needed to beat Jacksonville to qualify for the playoffs.
At least on paper, this looked like a walk in the park for the Colts. They had one of the best defenses in the NFL and the Jags were coming off a 50-10 loss to the Patriots. But there was one small detail they seemed to have overlooked. The game was at TIAA Bank Field, and the Colts haven’t won there since 2014.
Without much to play for, the Jaguars pulled no punches and went on to beat the Colts 26-11, even though head coach Frank Reich had told his players before the game not to underestimate their opponents. Trevor Lawrence played like a franchise quarterback, going 23-of-32 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz looked overmatched and unprepared, completing 58.6 percent for his passes with one touchdown and one interception.
The Jaguars ended up knocking the Colts out of playoff contention while clinching the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. This was possible because the Detriot Lions beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 18 and had a better win-loss record than Jacksonville. Furthermore, defensive end Dawuane Smoot and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. reached contract incentives in the game, so they went home with a bit of extra cash.
Now in full offseason mode, the Jaguars should be motivated to work hard in the following months after finishing the 2021 season strong. If they do and the front office bolsters the roster, they should have no trouble racking up a few more wins in 2022.