Heading into Week 11, reports surfaced that the Jacksonville Jaguars could dismiss head coach Doug Pederson if they were embarrassed against the Detroit Lions. His dismissal now seems inevitable following the 52-6 loss.
Expected to bounce back after a disappointing end to the 2023 season, the Jags have somehow managed to sink even lower in Year 3 of the Doug Pederson era. After the humiliating loss to Detroit, they're now 2-9 or 3-14 dating back to Week 13 of last season.
On the days preceding the games, Josina Anderson broke the news that owner Shad Khan would prefer to wait until the offseason to make a decision on the fate of both Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke... unless they got blowout out by Detroit.
It looks like they're right on schedule, as the Jags suffered one of the most embarrassing losses they've ever suffered. Their 46-point deficit is tied for the worst in franchise history.
Jacksonville’s 46-point loss today at Detroit was the worst loss in franchise history, surpassing the 44-point loss the Jaguars suffered to the Lions in December 1995.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2024
Throughout the game, the team looked toothless and unprepared. Maybe both players and the coaching staff knew the end is near for Pederson, so they just went through the motions. Either way, there's no way to justify the Jags' dreadful outing against Detroit.
For the second straight game — starting in relief of Trevor Lawrence — Mac Jones was unremarkable, going 17-of-29 for 138 yards with one interception. On the other hand, the defense couldn't catch a cold, giving up 644 total yards.
The loss to the Lions gives the Jaguars a reason to dismiss Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke
The loss falls on Pederson but Baalke must also shoulder plenty of blame. After all, the general manager brought in premier free agents such as wide receiver Gabe Davis and Arik Armstead in neither one had an impact in Week 11.
This wouldn't be an issue if it was a one-time thing but neither Davis nor Armstead have lived up to expectations. Similarly, second-round pick Maason Smith was once again a healthy scratch for the first time this season even though he was full to go.
The bottom line is that Pederson and Baalke had a prime opportunity to get the Jacksonville Jaguars back on track after an anti-climatic end to 2023 but they squandered it. You could make the case that owner Shad Khan calling this 2024 Jags the most talented team in franchise history put unnecessary pressure on both the general manager and the head coach.
That said, the best teams deliver under pressure, and Jacksonville isn't a good team right now. While they took things down to the wire against playoff teams such as the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles, they ultimately came up short, and that's what ultimately matters.
The standings won't show whether a loss was close or lopsided. What's important is your number of wins and the Jaguars haven't been able to muster too many in 2024, which is why they must move on from both Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke after the embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions.