To nobody’s shock, the Jacksonville Jaguars made shedding a sport a lot worse than it wanted to be as soon as once more.
The Jaguars (2-10) fell to the visiting Houston Texans, 23-20, to finish the season sweep of the Jags by the Texans. The three-point margin may as effectively have been 30 factors really however the largest storyline comes not from the ultimate rating however the well being of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
In a sport he merely didn’t must play in— but did to face together with his different banged-up teammates— Lawrence took a grotesque shot to the pinnacle and suffered his second identified concussion of his NFL profession. The hit goes together with Lawrence enjoying on an injured shoulder that most likely would require surgical procedure and certain already required surgical procedure weeks in the past.
This staff misplaced a sport it was at all times going to lose. In truth, this staff wanted to lose this sport to maintain its place atop the NFL Draft.
And but in doing so, it misplaced a lot extra. It’s virtually outstanding how onerous the Jaguars make the whole lot even whereas shedding.
WINNERS
Brian Thomas Jr.
In what basically was rubbish time, quarterback Mac Jones linked with Thomas for a 56-yard catch and run. That play ended because the staff’s longest acquire from scrimmage. Thomas completed with 76 yards receiving and 11 yards speeding all capped off by a late landing. Thomas’ six landing catches as a rookie tie him with Allen Hurns for many by a rook in Jags historical past. His six TDs are additionally a team-high. All of us knew Thomas was going to be a beast. Even with the quarterback play he has been dealt, he has delivered. If solely Lawrence and Mac Jones had been capable of join with him on deep balls earlier on this very sport.
LOSERS
Actually everybody and the whole lot concerned with the staff together with Thomas
With Sunday’s loss, the Jaguars have now dropped 15 consecutive video games when trailing at halftime. That quantity shouldn’t shock anybody but it surely’s nonetheless sufficient to make your chin sink all the way down to your chest and your eyes swell with tears. For the reason that staff’s final win of the earlier season, they’re a mixed 3-15. Solely two of these wins had been with Lawrence below heart and the quarterbacks crushed had been Bryce Younger, Drake Maye and Joe Flacco (Colts variant). That is as down dangerous as one franchise might get. Really.
Week in and week out the recipe for this staff is the very same. They get behind early, shoot themselves within the foot, get down much more, make a type of comeback to supply some bizarre semblance of hope after which they lose. Week in and week out it’s the identical story, simply sprinkle in additional accidents or poor play calls by the sport.
It’s virtually spectacular that within the two video games this season in opposition to Houston, the Jags have put themselves in the very same place to win. However in every, the end result was an identical: too little, too late.
Within the first assembly, the Jags had 17 first downs. On Sunday that they had 19.
The primary assembly noticed the Jags convert 4 third downs. Sunday, the Jags transformed 5.
The Jags gained 313 yards the primary go round in opposition to Houston. It was 373 the second time.
It was three purple zone journeys within the first sport. 4 within the second.
These numbers are literally higher the second time however with the very same results of 20 factors and a loss. At what level does Sisyphus simply cease pushing the boulder?
Organizational cohesion
Swept up within the fray of no matter we had been watching Sunday was operating backs coach Jerry Mack taking the pinnacle teaching job at Kennesaw State. This was introduced DURING the sport. The Jags are at a degree the place coaches are being introduced to be leaving in the midst of divisional video games. This isn’t the top of the world and is basically only a foolish coincidence that Kennesaw State didn’t wait a short time longer to announce the hiring, however nonetheless, I don’t assume I’ve ever seen one thing fairly like this earlier than.
Trent Baalke
Earlier than the catastrophe on Sunday even occurred, Trent Baalke was in his lair cooking up one thing nefarious. His concoction was an extension for left sort out Walker Little which most everybody across the league is taking a look at as a last-ditch effort for Baalke to avoid wasting face and his job.
Is Little one of the best left sort out ever? No. Is he nonetheless simply 25 and doubtless effectively underdeveloped for what he might be? More than likely.
Right here is the place the issue lies.
Little sat for the overwhelming majority of his rookie contract behind Cam Robinson, although Little was inserted into the lineup as a guard to low success at numerous factors and in for Robinson because of damage and suspension.
The Jags went forward and prolonged Robinson which additional benched Little, simply to commerce away Robinson after which lengthen Little ultimately.
If the plan was to draft a man within the second spherical and develop him, then why not just do that? The Jags basically paid Little to not play, prolonged Robinson after which paid Little anyway. The contract itself is okay for what Little is value. However it looks like an extremely roundabout option to get there. Baalke ball child.
Trevor Lawrence
With Andrew Luck again within the information, his title was on my thoughts once I noticed Lawrence get his head virtually taken off Sunday. I had a nightmarish realization that the Jags are organising Lawrence not in contrast to how the Indianapolis Colts did Luck.
Luck retired from soccer approach too early because of accidents after being lauded as the best quarterback prospect ever. Lawrence is now going to be labeled “damage susceptible” together with his newest rash of accidents after being one of the best QB since Luck. There definitely are similarities although I admit they’re most likely slightly dramatic ultimately.
Cam Newton was by no means the identical after his shoulder damage. Luck left soccer altogether because of accidents. I concern the Jags are charting a harmful course that solely has damaging outcomes with their famous person quarterback. Time would be the final decide.