Quote:After a bye week that left the Jaguars within shouting distance of first place despite a 2-5 record, the Jaguars went up against the Jets in the Meadowlands.  My thoughts...

 

1.  Three turnovers in the last 5 minutes of the game, including on successive plays.  Of course, when a fumble occurs at midfield that could have given the Jaguars the ball in great field position, Poz jumps right on it and can't recover it #becauseJaguars.

 

2.  One of the most frustrating things about watching this defense is seeing them succeed in the first two downs, getting third and long yardage, and allowing the opposing offenses to convert.  Today was no different.  In the first half, the Jets had 3rd and 12, 3rd and 8, and 3rd and 7 and converted them all.  One was a pass to Ivory over the middle.  Another was a 3rd and 8, reduced to 3rd and 3 by penalty.  They played decently overall, but there were two blown coverages in the second half that cost this team big time.

 

3.  Special teams continues to let this team down.  After Jacksonville took the lead in the first quarter after having good field position, the Jaguars could have controlled field position the entire first quarter, but instead on the kickoff, they allowed a long kick return giving the Jets field position at midfield.  They allowed another long punt return, then finally, Marshall fumbled the punt, precluding any chance of a Jaguars rally.  But hey, at least Myers got us the free sub.

 

4.  The Jaguars were whipped on the offensive line of scrimmage.  At least six sacks were registered, including the 4th quarter fumble by Bortles that stopped a Jaguars drive inside the red zone (though that one is on Bortles for holding the ball too long.  There were several other pressures and not much room to run.  The line must do better.

 

5.  Bad call on the Walters "incompletion" on the sideline.  Worse because review clearly showed both feet down in bounds and control of the ball. The whole purpose of replay is to get the call right when there is clear and convincing evidence the call on the field was wrong.  I don't know what was unclear or unconvincing about that replay.

 

6.  Though Hurns and Robinson both had drops, they both had good games against a good secondary.

 

7.  Bottom line:  While the result was disappointing to be sure, I am not as angry after this game as I was after the Tampa and Indy losses.  Jacksonville had momentum in parts of the second half, and as the game wore on, I thought the Jaguars had a legitimate chance to win until Poz didn't recover that fumble.  I think against a lesser opponent, Jacksonville wins this game.  Unlike in games past, the team didn't let down in the aftermath of a bad play.  Despite the loss, this team showed signs of growth.