3 thrilling stats from the Jaguars’ blowout win over the Colts

1. The Jaguars limited Jonathan Taylor to 54 yards in Week 2

This might not seem like a big deal at first sight but keep in mind that Jonathan Taylor was the 2021 NFL rushing leader and has averaged more than five yards per carry throughout his career. He’s the kind of running back teams lean on to wear defenses down but the Jaguars effectively limited his impact in Week 2.

While Taylor ended the game with a respectable 54 yards, most of them came in the second half, when the game was already out of reach and the Jags were trying to avoid getting burnt on a deep pass. Before halftime, the former Wisconsin Badger managed a measly four yards on five carries. Of course, slowing down Taylor was just part of the equation and it would have been pointless if Jacksonville had allowed Matt Ryan to move the ball.

However, Ryan struggled and ended up throwing three interceptions. Not having Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. certainly hurt, and so did Taylor’s inability to run the ball. Having said that, the Jaguars’ defensive line deserves credit for constantly disrupting the pocket and forcing the veteran quarterback into making mistakes.

While it’s true that Ryan is no longer the quarterback he was in his prime, he’s still a reliable manager. The fact that the Jaguars were able to neutralize him and the Colts’ offense speaks volumes about how much the Jags have improved since head coach Doug Pederson took over earlier this year.