Can the Jaguars offense resurrect vs. Falcons: 3 storylines to monitor in London

The Jacksonville Jaguars have dropped two games in a row heading into Week 4, but is a two-game losing streak something to be concerned about? Sure, losing stings but teams don't realistically expect to go 17-0 in a season. The truth is that losing is bound to happen in the NFL and there's nothing clubs can do but take it in stride and focus on the next game.

This isn't to say the Jags should be celebrating that they're coming off back-to-back losses. If anything, they should be highly motivated to show they're still the same team that was expected to seize the AFC South before the start of the season. The talent is there and this isn't the first time head coach Doug Pederson has found himself in this situation.

Expect Pederson to get into his players' ears and let them know that losing two straight games is unacceptable. Also, he must've made sure the team had a great week of practice and is ready to face the Atlanta Falcons in London. With that in mind, here are three storylines to watch in Week 4.

3. Will the Jaguars be able to get after Falcons QB Desmond Ridder?

The Jaguars' pass rush has left much to be desired the past two games. After taking down Anthony Richardson four times in the opener, the defense registered just one sack against the Chiefs and none against Houston. Outside linebacker Josh Allen had a productive outing against the Colts but hasn't been nearly as dominant the past two weeks.

Allen didn't have a sack against the Chiefs but he laid a hit on Patrick Mahomes that forced him to throw an interception. Unfortunately, he's the only Jaguars pass rusher who can consistently get after the quarterback. If he has a down game, there isn't anyone else on the roster that will pick up the slack. That needs to change against the Falcons.

The good news is that sophomore Desmond Ridder has been sacked 12 times this season. The Jaguars have, on paper, a favorable matchup in Week 4. It's up to them to take advantage of it and if they do, their chances of winning will increase considerably.

2. Can the Jaguars offense hit their stride vs. the Falcons in London?

Jacksonville ranks 21st in points scored in the NFL entering Week 4. For context, they were 10th in points scored and total yards last year. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, they scored a paltry nine points and managed to reach the Houston Texans' end zone until the second half of their Week 3 bout. Simply, the Jags have too much talent on offense to rank in the bottom half of the league, so what's wrong?

Trevor Lawrence, for one, is still playing at a high level. Although he threw a head-scratching interception in Week 3, he's made good decisions for the most part. Similarly, Travis Etienne has made the most of his chances. He's averaging a full yard less than last year but that's because the offensive line has struggled to open holes for him.

Going back to Lawrence, he's stood tall in the pocket despite the fact that he's not getting optimal protection. But even when he has had enough time to throw the ball, his receivers have had drops at crucial times. As of this writing, Jacksonville is leading the league in drops. Calvin Ridley has had four while Zay Jones had a couple that might've been touchdowns against the Chiefs. The coaching staff, for their part, haven't gotten tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk involved enough.

If the Jags want to reverse course, players will need to deliver, and offensive coordinator Press must feed his playmakers the ball against the Falcons in Week 4.

1. What if the Jaguars lose to the Falcons in Week 4?

The Jaguars' decision to draft Travon Walker has gotten lots of heat in light of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson's success. In case you missed it, Jacksonville had the chance to take Hutchinson first overall last year but instead went with Walker, who had lots of upside but was a raw coming out of college. Similarly, they had a chance to re-sign defensive end Arden Key, a key cog of their defensive line rotation in 2022, but ultimately lost him to the Tennessee Titans.

Short of traveling back in time, there's not much Jacksonville can do but the pass rush wouldn't probably be an issue if they had drafted Hutchinson and re-signed Key. Of course, these are only two decisions but both of them have come back to haunt the Jags.

If the Jaguars lose to the Atlanta Falcons, owner Shad Khan must summon general manager Trent Baalke into his office and ask why didn't do enough to address the pass rush. In the same manner, head coach Doug Pederson would need to explain why the Jags have lost three straight games.

As noted earlier, teams shouldn't get fidgety if they lose two straight games, but how about three? In that case, everyone should be in the doghouse. Having said that, the Jags were able to recover from a five-game losing streak last year, so you shouldn't stick a fork in them if they lose to the Falcons.

Then again, last year has no bearing on the 2023 season. The Jaguars cannot afford to lose to Atlanta if they want to fall behind the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans in the race for the AFC South.

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