4 winners (and 3 losers) for Jaguars in Week 1 loss to the Dolphins

For a moment, it looked like the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. A 3.5-point underdog heading into the game, they had a 10-point lead going into halftime. But then, the second half came and the Jags gave up 17 unanswered points.

What makes the loss even more frustrating is that the Jags overall played well and would've come on top if it weren't for a series of self-inflicted wounds. As tight end Evan Engram said, there's nothing much they can do right now but learn from it and have a sense of urgency moving forward.

But as underwhelming as the Jaguars were, there were several bright spots, so now is a good time to recognize a handful of players who showed out and a few others who faltered.

Travon Walker was a winner for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

The first overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft is off to a strong start to his third season, registering two sacks against the Dolphins. Travon Walker was generally around the ball and he's looked more polished and well-rounded under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Having Arik Armstead in the mix has certainly helped Walker. The veteran defensive tackle also managed to bring down quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, showing the Jaguars were right to sign him in free agency.

Going back to Walker, he's showing that last year was a sign of things to come.

Brian Thomas Jr. was a winner for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

The offense let the defense down in the season opener. Leading 17-7 at halftime, they took the foot off the gas pedal and didn't score a single point in the second half. Then again, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. isn't to blame for his unit's uninspiring play.

Besides drawing a crucial defensive pass interference that set the Jaguars' first touchdown, he later had his first touchdown reception as a pro, a 14-yard grab from Trevor Lawrence.

Hopefully, that will be one of many to come in 2024.

Cam Little was a winner for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

The Jaguars dealt with a revolving door at kicker the last three seasons. To solve the issue, they used a sixth-round pick on kicker Cam Little in the 2024 draft. Based on his performance against Miami, he should provide stability at the position for years to come.

Little routinely nailed field goals from 50 yards out in the offseason and later in the preseason. He was no different in Week 1, making a 52-yard field goal. That was his only attempt of the game but it sure left a strong impression.

Tank Bigsby was winner for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

Tank Bigsby's redemption tour is off to an encouraging start. Following an unremarkable 2023 season, the sophomore running back is showing he's still the same bruiser he was at Auburn, toting the rock 12 times for 73 yards and averaging 6.1 yards.

While it may be a bit of hyperbole to say that Bigsby should be the No. 1 back after his impressive outing, he did earn more playing time moving forward.

Doug Pederson was a loser for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

The Jaguars had a chance a 92.3 percent chance of winning the game with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Even after Tyreek Hill's touchdown reception, Jacksonville had several chances to put the Dolphins down but they fell flat. Doug Pederson deserves plenty of the blame, as he had Trevor Lawrence drop back only seven times in the second half. However, his biggest blunder came late in the third quarter when he dialed a run on fourth-and-1 on the Jags' own 32-yard with a three-point lead.

Pederson has always been bold as a playcaller but he took a risk he didn't need in the opener. The Jaguars' defense was playing well, so they could've easily punted and given the ball back to the offense.

Travis Etienne was a loser for the Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins

Travis Etienne was supposed to have a big impact for the Jaguars in 2024. Maybe he will but he wasn't particularly great in the season opener, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. To add insult to injury, he fumbled near the Miami end zone. Had he scored, Jacksonville would've been 24-7 and would've put the Dolphins in a tight spot.

Instead, Miami took advantage of Etienne's turnover and went on to score on the following play. While the former Clemson Tiger will still be the top back in Jacksonville, he could lose carries to Tank Bigsby if he continues to underperform.

Christian Kirk was a loser for the Jaguars in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season

Trevor Lawrence got flak for not coming up clutch with the game on the line. Then again, his statline would've looked much better and the Jaguars might've won if it weren't for a handful of drops, two of them courtesy of wide receiver Christian Kirk on third-down situations.

Had Kirk caught at least one of them, he would've moved the chains and increase the offense's chance of scoring.

Kirk said earlier this year that he wanted to remind everyone how good of a player he is after sitting out the last four games of the 2023 season. It's fair to say that he has his work cut out.

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