After a slow start, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave the Green Bay Packers all they could handle but ultimately came up short, losing 30-27. To add insult to injury, kicker Brandon McManus (remember him?) made the game-winning field goal to put the Packers on top. They're now 3-5 and with a slim chance to make the playoffs, they can no longer justify keeping Doug Pederson around.
The Jags got off to a slow start but finished the first half strong, scoring late in the second half to make it 10-7. The Packers quickly answered back with a field goal to go up 13-7. Jacksonville later scored in the third quarter to briefly get ahead on the scoreboard 17-13. Unfortunately, they weren't able to hold onto the lead and allowed 10 consecutive points.
But despite the odds, the Jaguars weren't ready to throw in the towel, so they nailed a field goal and later put together an eight-play, 87-yard drive that ended on a 14-yard touchdown reception that tight end Evan Engram reeled in over three Green Bay defenders.
Happy #NationalTightEndsDay ‼️@eazyengram | #GBvsJAX on FOX pic.twitter.com/QVaqZh2ltJ
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 27, 2024
Brian Thomas Jr., for his part, solidified his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year, hauling in three catches for 60 yards with one touchdown.
Trevor Lawrence also came up clutch, engineering the drive that tied the game in the fourth quarter. Having said that, No. 16 was also responsible for a fumble and one interception. This makes you wonder what kind of outcome the game would've had if he had been sharper.
Of course, Lawrence wasn't the sole reason the Jags lost (and nearly won) the game. The defense routinely struggled to stop the Packers. Tied 27-27, and when it mattered the most, they gave up a big run by Josh Jacobs that allowed Brandon McManus to make the game-winning field goal.
Speaking of McManus, he was surely thrilled to stick it to his old team. In case you forgot, the veteran kicker spent the 2023 season with the Jags but was let go in free agency. He promptly signed with the Washington Commanders but was released after a lawsuit was filed against him. The situation is now resolved, and he wasted no time joining the Packers. In fact, this was just his second game with them. He went 3-of-3 on his attempts in Week 8.
Doug Pederson must shoulder the blame of the Jaguars' disappointing record
With the loss to the Green Packers, the Jacksonville Jaguars are virtually eliminated from playoff contention. Granted, they're mathematically still alive but it's hard to see them turning things around based on how they played in Week 8.
You could argue that the Jags lost by a couple of plays here and there, but those are the ones good teams make and the bad ones don't. While players deserve blame for not coming through when called upon, the coaching staff must also put them in a position to succeed. Add the fact that the buck stops with the head coach, and Doug Pederson must be on the hot seat.
Pederson says that the Jags haven't given up, and went as far as denying that players quiet when safety Andre Cisco said after the loss to the Chicago Bears. That makes things even worse, though. If Jacksonville hasn't thrown in the towel and still couldn't deliver against the Packers, you don't want to imagine how they'll play when they give up.
The Philadelphia Eagles are next on the Jaguars schedule, and a win would put them at 3-6. Two years ago, they had the same record and managed to make a playoff run. Fast forward to 2024, and it's hard to see the Jags pulling it off. Then again, they wouldn't have been in this position if they hadn't lost four consecutive games to start the season. That falls on Pederson, who's making it harder to defend him with each additional loss Jacksonville has to endure.
Maybe it's time the Jaguars move on from Doug Pederson and start doing due diligence on Detriot Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.