Jaguars report card: A below-average performance everywhere costly against bad Raiders team
Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette grades the Jaguars’ performance in a 19-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders based on execution, effort and game circumstances.
Offense: D-plus
The Jaguars were their own worst enemy in the first half as two costly fumbles sabotaged good field position. Tank Bigsby had the ball poked out by safety Isaiah Pola-Mao at the Jacksonville 45. Tight end Brenton Strange was victimized by another Pola-Mao hit that resulted in a Raiders’ recovery at the LV 33, preventing the Jaguars from spiking the ball to set up a Cam Little field goal try at the halftime gun.
Had it not been for Brian Thomas Jr. (9 catches, 132 yards), who became the first rookie receiver in Jaguars history to crack 1,000 yards, this offense would have been unwatchable. Quarterback Mac Jones (25 of 39, 247 yards, 1 TD, 90.4) had a serviceable game, but needed help from a coverage breakdown in the Raiders’ secondary on Thomas’ 62-yard TD to make his numbers look respectable.
The running with Bigsby and Travis Etienne never got into any kind of rhythm as the Jaguars ran for just 72 yards. Without Thomas, this offense is borderline lifeless because the running game isn’t there and it rarely gets any favorable field position.
Defense: C-minus
The Raiders were intent on attacking the NFL’s worst pass defense from the outset, and it paid off with three consecutive first-half scoring drives. Las Vegas’ first TD march was ignited by Aidan O’Connell passes of 24 yards to Jacobi Meyers and a 29-yard rainbow down the left sideline to Tre Tucker, who beat Tyson Campbell at the 1-yard line.
One first-half bright spot was seeing Arik Armstead, lined up inside — where he belongs instead of on the edge — getting his second sack of the season and first since Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. But as the Jaguars have been prone to do all season, they couldn’t hold a fourth quarter lead and lost by a touchdown or less for the ninth time.
The defense had no answer for spectacular tight end Brock Bowers, who caught 11 passes for 99 yards, becoming the third rookie TE in NFL history to surpass 1,000 yards. The defense had multiple chances to get the Raiders off the field on their game-winning, 70-yard touchdown drive, but Las Vegas converted two third downs and a hands-to-the-face penalty by Montaric Brown was a big factor.
Since getting three turnovers against the Minnesota Vikings six weeks ago, the defense has been shut out in that department. Rookie Maason Smith had one of his better games with a sack, another tackle for a loss and a pass breakup.
Special teams: C-minus
Devin Duvernay set up the Jaguars’ opening TD with a 26-yard punt return, eluding a tackle by John Samuel-Shenker and streaking across the field. A late hit out of bounds on Duvernay by Amari Gainer moved the ball to the Raiders’ 29. That favorable field position led to a Bigsby 1-yard TD plunge.
Duvernay was also fortunate to recover his own muffed punt. The ball went right through his hands as safety Thomas Harper came down on him, but he fell on the ball at the Jaguars’ 9.
A high 55-yard punt by Logan Cooke in the second quarter was negated when returner Ameer Abdullah put a couple nifty moves on defenders for a 19-yard pickup to the Raiders’ 37. Cooke also had a rare gaffe when he shanked a 20-yard punt out of bounds, but it didn’t prove costly as Daniel Carson was way wide right on a 46-yard field goal attempt. Heath Farwell’s special-teams unit is the most dependable part of the Jaguars, but it didn’t look particularly sharp on this day.
Coaching: D
Almost every game has become Groundhog Day for the Jaguars this season, this time losing to a Raiders' team that had lost 10 straight games since beating the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 29. The effort and will to win is there for the most part, but the confidence and ability to execute in game-deciding moments continues to elude them.
When a team loses for the ninth time by a touchdown or less — albeit with a lineup missing a lot of key players — it’s also a reflection on the coaching staff not putting this team in a position to win. The Jaguars had way too many pre-snap penalties and their eight flags for 60 yards didn’t reflect how undisciplined they played at times as several infractions were declined.
Four combined penalties by veteran players Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen and Armstead for lining up offsides, though two were declined, is inexcusable. This game was a microcosm of a bad season and why it’s hard to envision Doug Pederson and most of his coaching staff not getting a pink slip when this disgusting season ends.