Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette notes the Jaguar‘ performance in a 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles based on execution, effort and circumstances of the game.
Offense: F
In a season where slow starts have been commonplace, the Jaguars reached a new low by gaining just 31 yards in the first half and one first down. Nothing seemed worse than the reappearance of the Jaguars’ short-yardage problems.
Trevor Lawrence couldn’t convert a third-and-a-quarterback, then on a fourth-and-one, a freakish quick pass in the left flat to Evan Engram fell incomplete as Cooper DeJean’s tight coverage disrupted the play Lawrence didn’t get much help as Engram already had an easy third-down pass, while Austin Trammell failed to complete another third-down pass as the ball slipped out of his hands.
Travis Etienne added to the first half nightmare by completing a short pass, then throwing it in the air with his right hand, leading to a diving interception by linebacker Zack Baun and a touchdown. Philly with 22 seconds left in the half.
Without a defensive touchdown from Travon Walker, the Jaguars never would have had a chance to win in the end because the offense took far too long to find a rhythm. The Jaguars recorded a season-low 215 total yards and finished 3 of 10 on third down.
Lawrence (16 of 31, 169 yards, 2 INT, 40.9 rating) never found any rhythm and was lucky to have a chance to win in the end. That game-ending interception on first down was a bad decision. The ball should have gone somewhere else, even if it was a throwaway ball.
Defense: C-plus
The defense was on the field for 40 plays in the first half, but held up pretty well under difficult circumstances. A fumbled punt return put the Eagles on a short field for their first touchdown. The Jaguars also left the field in the red zone when Philadelphia mysteriously gambled on fourth-and-3, leading to Darnell Savage breaking up a pass to AJ Brown.
It looked like the Jaguars might go into halftime down just 10-0 or 13-0, but they allowed Saquon Barkley to go 19 yards untouched for a touchdown on a third-and-18 on a simple draw play. The Eagles were simply trying to shorten a field goal attempt, and the Jaguars gave them three more points.
Ryan Nielsen’s defense did a credible job on several plays, including Travon Walker recovering a Barkley fumble and rumbling 35 yards for the first defensive touchdown of the season. The Jaguars also stopped the Eagles twice on their normally ultra-successful Brotherly Shove plays and denied them two two-point conversions. However, the Jaguars also allowed three third-and-long touchdowns of 22, 19, and 18 yards, which contributed greatly to the loss.
Josh Hines-Allen had his best day of the year with two sacks and also drew a holding call. Still, that defense allowed seven plays of 20-plus yards and Barkley finished with 159 yards on 27 carries. A better performance than usual in spots, but not good enough.
Special teams: C-minus
With Christian Kirk out for the season and Parker Washington starting, the Jaguars elevated Austin Trammell off the practice squad and his first significant play as a punt returner ended in disaster. He tried to make a move and knocked the ball out to Sydney Brown’s left hand. The result was a Kelce Ringo recovery at the Jaguars’ 20 to set up the Eagles’ first score on a Barkley reception.
Those seven gift points proved important when the Jaguars nearly recovered from a 22-point deficit. Logan Cooke did his usual efficient job with five punts for an average of 47.6 yards, including three punts downed inside the 20. Cam Little had no field goal attempts. The Jaguars allowed a 34-yard kick return to start the Eagles’ final drive, which led to a missed 57-yard field goal attempt by Jake Elliott that clanged off the right upright, giving the Jaguars a chance to win the match.
Framing: D
The Jaguars were completely out of this game for over two quarters. Only a few questionable decisions Philadelphia Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni – leaving a ton of points on the board with failed 2-point conversions and missing a field goal to go up by two scores – ultimately gave the Jaguars a chance to win this game.
Credit to the Jaguars for fighting back and nearly erasing a 22-point deficit. But losing a fifth game this season by less than five points or less calls into question why this team can’t execute when games are on the line.
With the Jaguars 13 yards from the end zone and 1:40 remaining, why attempt the home run on the first read to third-team running back D’Ernest Johnson on this which was essentially an in-between pass? Lawrence’s ball, slightly knocked down, was easily recovered by Dean to sabotage what would have been one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history.
It was yet another example of this team’s inability to make plays when it matters most. This reflects not only Lawrence and his teammates, but also Pederson’s staff.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars lose to Eagles: Lackluster offense gets Saturday school
