How do the Jaguars give up a three-score lead against a backup quarterback? And how does a team come back from this?
This past Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars visited the eighth wonder of the world for a conference matchup with the Houston Texans. This was a crucial game for the AFC playoff picture, with the Jaguars looking to become 6-3. On the other hand, the Texans are a team fighting to recover from a 0-3 start. The Texans’ third loss this season was against the Jaguars in Duval, an ugly showing from the offense led by C.J. Stroud. This time around, the Texans’ starter would be backup Davis Mills. The proposition of playing a team you already defeated, but now with a worse quarterback, would lead you to believe this is a straightforward victory.
This game was a victory; the Jaguars led by three scores entering the fourth quarter. Their defense this year has been based on forcing turnovers and capitalizing off their opponents’ mistakes. The game began with exactly that – an interception that turned into points for the Jaguars. The defense and special teams put the Jaguars ahead seventeen points in the first half, before the offense woke up and pushed it to a nineteen-point deficit going into the fourth quarter. What commenced ended up being the largest blown lead in Jacksonville Jaguars history.
There are a lot of repeat offenders within this Jaguars team that have cost them in crucial situations. The defense has gone from one of the most opportunistic to one of the most vulnerable in a matter of weeks. There is no such thing as a pass rush in Duval, as it once again went completely missing. The Jaguars forced zero pressures against the Texans in the final quarter. Davis Mills was able to stand tall, extend plays, and pick apart a withered secondary. Nico Collins’ partial stake in Jaguars ownership only grows with each matchup, as his dominant fourth quarter proved to be the spark they needed.
The Jaguars’ offense, on the other hand, didn’t have a receiver to lean on. Newly acquired Jakobi Meyers had an early touchdown wiped off the board by a false start. The offensive penalties would rear their ugly head in the fourth quarter, taking a 17-yard gain from Parker Washington off the board on the games final drive. To put into perspective how bad it is, the Jaguars are tied with the Broncos for most offensive penalties despite playing one less game than Denver. The Jaguars’ offensive line was manhandled by the Texans pass rush. Trevor Lawrence dropped back six times in the fourth quarter, and was pressured on 100% of snaps.
The blame pie is not too difficult to put together, but to all their own. Head coach Liam Coen may be having one of the best starts a Jaguars coach has had record-wise, but from a discipline standpoint, things are getting out of hand. The play-calling in the fourth quarter is inexcusable as well. Going into a chalk run, run, pass offense wasn’t anywhere near enough to put away the Texans. Coen wasn’t hiding any emotions either regarding the outcome. It doesn’t help that Trevor Lawrence wasn’t doing all that much when given the opportunity. It was another mundane performance with a laughable last gasp of breath.
The real culprit here is the defense. They take up a majority of this blame pie for how much of an anomaly this fourth quarter was. This was a backup quarterback behind a offensive line made up of mall cops that picked them apart. And don’t forget Nick Chubb turning back the hands of time with his trusty sidekick Woody Marks. Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campnile was forced to send more than four to try to generate pressure, proving to make no difference. Davis Mills leading Houston to 10/15 on third down conversions tells you everything you need to know.
This is teaching moment for Liam Coen and this young team. Coen holding the record for largest blown lead by a coach in franchise history is a bad look. Especially against a division rival who wasn’t even close to full strength. The offense and defense looked completely lost in final fifteen minutes, and a lot of that can be attributed to coaching. With the Colts continued success, reality is settling in that a fight for a wildcard spot is the primary goal. With the fellow AFC playoff hopeful Chargers coming to town, it will be interesting to see how the first year head coach responds to the advesaty.
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