Jaguars cannot get elusive win vs. Giants, takeaways from Week 7

2. The Jaguars defense has cooled down considerably in recent weeks

After their dismantling of the Las Vegas Chargers in Week 3, the Jags seemed like a team on the rise and ready to make the playoffs in Doug Pederson’s first year at the helm. Looking back, it was premature to crown them. Then again, they were coming off two convincing wins in back-to-back wins, so the hype was kind of justified.

Moreover, Jacksonville nearly beat the Washington Commanders in the opener and came close to upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, so even though they were 2-2 entering Week 5, they were still seen as a potential playoff team but that’s no longer the case after four straight losses.

Coincidentally, the Jaguars’ defense has cooled down considerably since their win over the Chargers. Andre Cisco did have a pick-six against Philly but that was the last takeaway they forced. Similarly, Jacksonville has had a hard time getting after the quarterback in recent weeks, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to torch their secondary and move the ball at ease.

Against New York, the Jags only mustered one sack and let Daniel Jones throw for 202 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Moreover, he added 107 rushing on 11 carries. While they did a good run of containing running back Saquon Barkley early in the game he ultimately tallied 110 yards on 24 rushes.

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to pinpoint the underlying reason why the Jaguars’ defense has regressed. Sure, players’ execution and the scheme play a role but it’s fair to wonder if there’s something else at play.