The Jacksonville Jaguars and their protection have finished the unthinkable as soon as once more.
Within the workforce’s dramatic 26-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers, for the fourth straight recreation, the Jaguar protection picked off not less than two passes and compelled much more fumbles to safe a 3-1 document heading into Monday Night time Soccer this week.
It’d be incorrect to say Sunday afternoon’s recreation was fairly by any means however it was one other occasion of a gritty win and the defensive unit stepping up. Issues are nonetheless considerably early within the Liam Coen head teaching period, so possibly a few of this ugliness is the kind of factor that comes with a brand new coach.
There may be a lot to speak about following the win, loads of which occurred after the ultimate whistle and on postgame podiums. However you’ll be able to’t speak about Sunday’s recreation with out mentioning our very first Winner…
Within the smart Twitter phrases of Jourdan Lewis, “Devin go be wealthy as a mf.”
Lewis is completely proper, as Lloyd has performed out of his thoughts forward of a possible contract yr. Sunday, Lloyd snagged a pair of game-changing interceptions. These picks led to 10 factors for the offense and could be instantly tied to successful that soccer recreation.
Lloyd completed second on the workforce in tackles with eight however his presence was felt all around the area. Particularly in a recreation the place Foye Oluokun was out and in, Lloyd stepped up but once more and made play after play to maintain the workforce in it.
The fourth-year Trent Baalke product has three picks this yr and one fumble restoration. His decide numbers are tied for first within the league. He’s additionally the primary Jags linebacker to document a takeaway in three straight video games. His three-game turnover streak can be the longest present streak within the NFL.
There was a time not too way back when Lloyd couldn’t cowl something and will hardly sort out a toddler. These days are gone with the wind, as Lloyd is positioning himself to be fairly a wealthy man when this season ends if he can hold this up.
His interceptions weren’t the good performs on the planet, so beneath I current this NFL Subsequent Gen Stats graphic that has a bunch of loopy numbers and percentages that imply Lloyd was enjoying extraordinarily nicely.
One other participant who has probably modified the followers’ outlook on himself is Arik Armstead.
Lastly enjoying again alongside the inside, Armstead has strong manufacturing this yr. His most necessary play of the season must be forcing a fumble on San Fran’s remaining drive of the sport, although. Doing so in opposition to his former workforce earned the veteran the sport ball from Coen postgame.
Prior to now three video games Armstead has put up stat strains of: a sack, a half sack, and now a sack plus a fumble compelled.
It was a cool second for Armstead to place the ultimate nail in his previous workforce’s coffin. With Oloukun recovering the fumble, the Jags hit fortunate turnover quantity 13. Since 2016, solely the ‘18 Browns have matched the Jags when it comes to turnover numbers via 4 weeks.
You’ll be able to hem and haw about how Trevor Lawrence or the receivers are enjoying, however you’ll be able to’t debate the offensive line is killing it.
Coping with accidents via the day, the O-line didn’t miss a beat regardless of who they put in. The Jags churned out 151 yards on the bottom for the workforce’s third recreation over 130 yards speeding. The road additionally stored Lawrence upright, blanking a workforce in sacks for the second time this season as nicely.
You’ll be able to even attribute a little bit of the workforce’s zero turnovers on offense to the road. With Lawrence getting clear pockets (sure, Nick Bosa was harm however nonetheless) he wasn’t rushed into any dangerous positions with the ball in opposition to the ‘9ers.
Nobody might have anticipated this stage of manufacturing from the road, however that is how the Jags can overcome their rollercoaster offense. Working the ball and maintaining the quarterback upright are two apparent paths to victory. The Jags have finished a terrific job of each of these issues so far.
To associate with Lloyd, Travis Etienne is somebody enjoying himself into some money.
Sunday featured Etienne creating a giant play but once more together with his 48-yard landing scamper following the primary 49ers’ turnover. He completed with a game-high 124 speeding yards on 19 carries. His day within the workplace pushed him to 394 speeding yards this yr which is nice for third within the league. Etienne has additionally already matched his speeding landing output from final yr together with his pair of scores.
The offensive line is giving Etienne the holes, the receivers are doing a terrific job of blocking for him and Etienne is making his moments rely. He’s in all probability the workforce’s finest offensive participant proper now.
The Jags received a pair of excellent returns yesterday, each of which flipped Sunday’s recreation on its head.
Receiver Parker Washington fielded only one punt in opposition to the 49ers – who solely punted twice attributable to turnovers – and housed it for 87 yards within the third quarter.
Regardless of what whiny Kyle Shanahan needed to say about blocks within the again postgame, none have been referred to as on the sphere and the Jaguars took a commanding lead later within the contest, up 26-14. With out that return Jacksonville probably doesn’t win.
There may be one other return which may go barely extra unnoticed, because it didn’t finish in a rating. Rookie Bhayshul Tuten, who beforehand had struggled within the kick return recreation, caught a kickoff within the endzone and ran it again 54 yards. Getting his workforce previous the 50 resulted in a Cam Little area aim. Very similar to a turnover, that rating was in direct relation to the return.
Little moments like that win you soccer video games. Huge moments like punt return touchdowns are additionally good.
For some cause, the 49ers coaches simply don’t like Coen. And Coen made it recognized he doesn’t care.
Everybody noticed the postgame spat between San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Coen. Most everybody in all probability noticed Saleh speaking all week about how Coen leads some kind of “authorized signal stealing” operation. Shanahan has even made point out of the sign-stealing stuff and its potential influence.
What a bunch of crybabies.
Coen took the excessive highway and didn’t say a lot at his press convention, ensuring the world noticed that he wasn’t going to be walked over by somebody like Saleh. What a bizarre battle for these coaches to choose and what a incorrect option to deal with it.
Coen did what he wanted to do and appears like the larger man from it. Only a baffling show by a 49ers group which usually needs to be thought of the usual across the league.
Anthony Campanile is the best soccer coach to ever stay for getting his protection to play like this.
For the fourth straight week, Al’s Pizza will get to activate its promotion for half off pizza as a result of the Jags snagged two picks. Lloyd needs to be in a business due to it. I’m additionally open to any and all endorsement offers from Al’s attributable to maintaining this bit alive.
Now for the unfun stuff from Sunday.
That recreation was yet one more sloppy displaying from the Jags, largely on offense attributable to penalties. By recreation’s finish, the Jags had 12 accepted penalties for 90 whole yards. For reference the workforce’s prime two receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Unusual, mixed for 94 yards receiving.
That is the second recreation with double-digit penalties for Jacksonville, which now has 38 accepted penalties. It mustn’t shock you that that quantity leads the league.
Lawrence and firm have been capable of overcome some penalties on their 13-play landing drive however that gained’t at all times occur. Penalties have been on the losers listing all season. How lengthy till these items price the Jags a(nother) recreation?
Extra within the summary than straight up penalties is the accidents the Jags suffered in San Fran.
As talked about beforehand, Oluokun handled some stuff and Travon Walker went down with a wrist damage he didn’t return from. Anton Harrison went down and got here out and in. Patrick Mekari received banged up. Eric Murray received dominated out with a neck damage. Dyami Brown already wasn’t enjoying.
Possibly it’s one thing about enjoying in San Fran that causes any workforce, together with the house one, to undergo extra accidents. Fortunately the Jags have a bit of bit longer to relaxation earlier than enjoying on MNF however that many influence starters coping with stuff is just not a welcome signal.