Last week, I indicated the game seemed to be a throwback to years' past on many levels. We wore the teal, we had Jaguars alumni here to cheer on again, and we won. This retro Jaguars feel continues this week. I remember when we first found out we got the team. People around town would have these goofy grins of disbelief when they saw other people with the new Jaguars shirts. This year, the fan base went from loss weary to loss wary, and now legitimate excitement is beginning to creep in. This year, coworkers who identified you as a Jaguars fan are changing from offering unsolicited insults to unsolicited praise. Before, when you wore a Jaguars shirt in public, very few would initiate conversation with you. Now, strangers come up to me talking about how great the win was. Before, when I'd stop at a restaurant after a game, I wouldn't see many people wearing Jaguars gear. Today, after the game, I saw several people wearing Jaguars gear. It's taken a while, but enthusiasm over this team is returning. It's not quite where I'd like it, but dang it feels much better than the alternative. My thoughts on the game...
1. Before the game, there was chatter about this being a revenge game for former Jaguars' coach Gus Bradley, who is now the Chargers' defensive coordinator. However, the person who actually got his revenge was former Chargers kicker Josh Lambo, who kicked the game tying and game winning FGs today. At least for today, Everbank became Lambo Field (goal)!!!!!
2. This game was arguably decided by three Chargers drops. There were two potential pick 6 INTs of Bortles that were dropped, and there was the deep Phillip Rivers' TD down the left sideline that hit the receiver in the hands. I think those drops are indicative of the Jaguars' changing fortunes. In years past, the Chargers make one of those plays and the Jaguars lose. To make the playoffs, sometimes it takes a little luck. Those drops were exhibits A, B & C.
3. This was not one of Bortles better games. Aside from the drops referenced above, Bortles threw two late INTs that were bad and almost doomed the team. To his credit, at one point, he had a high completion percentage. Generally, he plyed decently in the face of a lot of pressure from a good Chargers pass rush. He led the drive to tie the game at 14, making several clutch plays. But we are likely to have more close games in the future, and we can't have him throwing picks like that.
4. A major reason so many Jaguars fans were scared about this game is Phillip Rivers. He has absolutely tormented this team over the years. While he managed to throw for a couple of TDs, he didn't trash us like he historically has. Some might be alarmed at the lack of sacks today, but even though the team did not register any sacks today, the pass rush did a decent job of harassing rivers, hitting him a few times, and moving him off his spot. The fact is, Rivers has such a command of the offense and can read defenses so well, he can be hard to sack because he is quick and decisive with the football. But finally, the defense was able to keep him under control and we came away with a W.
5. Bouye's INT was sweet! I only wish he scored.
6. I thought Special teams played very well. Aside from Lambo's FGs, the kick coverage was very good. Nortman had a pretty good game, as did Mickens, who fielded some tricky punts and saved some field position. But the other key play was Grant's fake punt. This is the 2nd fake punt the team has run this year (3rd if you count preseason). I've never seen a Jaguars coach so willing to run fake punts.
7. Rookie Watch:
- Leonard Fournette-was shut down today after his return. After the game, Jaguars radio announcers were speculating whether or not Fournette was completely healthy. I sincerely hope he is healthy. We will need him to produce down the stretch.
- Cam Robinson-Had his hands full with the Chargers' DEs. I know he had a holding penalty (maybe two).
- Dawaune Smoot-I don't remember him
- DeDe Westbrook-DNP. Given the way Hurns crawled off the field late in the game, we may need him to play next week.
- Blair Brown-Do not remember him
- Jalen Myrick-Do not recall him standing out
- Keelan Cole-made some catches, but just missed a bomb. He can get deep, and is getting better as the season progresses
8. I thought Dareus had a good game. Perhaps it's because he has a fresh start with a new team, but watching him today made me wonder what our visiting Bills fan was talking about when he called Dareus lazy. Dareus chased a play down from behind, made another tackle in pursuit wide to the left. I want to review the game, but I seem to recall him making an impressive play inside where he blew up the linemen to stuff the run. As it stands, the two games we've had him here, we've done a good job defending the run. Buffalo? Not so much.
9. I appreciate this team is winning. I appreciate the enthusiasm and confidence that comes with November relevance and playoff contention. But somehow we've got to curb the taunting. I don't know if the team has developed/is developing a rep among officials for trash talk, but those two taunting penalties could have had devastating impact on us.
10. Bottom line: We managed to somehow, someway, find a way to win. We finally vanquished Rivers and the Chargers. We finally won on an even numbered week. We finally won three straight. We finally won two straight home games. We finally won a close game. We kept pace with the tacks. But now we have to keep going. The more we win, the more important the games are and the more we have to win. This is true even against teams we are "supposed" to beat. We can't afford to stumble against Clevelan.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!
