Disjointed Jaguars raise plenty of questions in Week 2 loss vs. Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars are now 0-2 after falling 18-13 to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of the 2024 season. The loss was marred with mistakes and underwhelming play. While there were a few bright spots, there were nearly enough. Now, the Jags find themselves having to answer plenty of questions ahead of their primetime matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night.

The Jaguars couldn't get anything going on offense in the first half, logging a measly 81 yards on four drives. Surprisingly, they kind of turned things around in the third quarterback but they would ultimately come up short.

Down 16-13, the Jags still had two chances to come out on top in the fourth quarterback. In the first one, Trevor Lawrence was sacked for a safety. Center Mitch Morse and left guard Ezra Cleveland deserve the blame. After all, they had a two-on-one matchup on the play and still couldn't execute.

Then again, Lawrence also played a role in the loss. He was dreadful in the first half, completing five of 11 passes for 16 yards. You won't win many games putting up those kind of numbers. The former Clemson Tiger played better in the second half but it was too little too late.

Going back to the safety, it looked like the game was over. Surprisingly, the Jaguars had one more possession. Again, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Now, Jacksonville finds itself facing several questions ahead of Week 3.

One of the biggest ones is whether the offensive line is good enough to protect Lawrence. They gave up three sacks — two with the game on the line — in the season opener and allowed four more in Week 2. You could make the case that the fourth-year quarterback must make better decisions but it's hard to find a rhythm if you have to face pressure on nearly every dropback.

Lawrence, for his part, has left much to be desired. He signed a massive extension in the offseason because the Jags believe he's the long-term answer behind center. However, he's not done enough to justify his contract two games into the 2024 season.

On the other hand, the Jaguars have yet to show they can play a full game. After the loss to Miami, head coach Doug Pederson said the game was a tale of two halves because they started strong but faded down the stretch. Something similar happened in Week 2. This time, though, they got off to a slow start and hit their stride in the second half. That falls on Pederson.

The Jaguars have their work cut out after the loss to the Browns

Following the game, head coach Doug Pederson told the local media that the team you saw in Week 2 isn't who they are. But that's not true. The Jags are what their record shows, a team that's flashed at times in 2024 but lacks consistency to win games. That makes you wonder how different they are from their 2023 counterpart.

The Jaguars struggled to finish games last year and often lost because of self-inflicted wounds. It's still early in the 2024 season but the Jaguars already face several questions. They must quickly find an answer if they want to turn things around.

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