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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Stites

Jaguars PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Panthers

The Jacksonville Jaguars got back on track with a Week 17 win, cruising to a 26-0 demolition of the Carolina Panthers.

It was just what the doctor ordered for a Jaguars team that was on a four-game skid leading into the New Year’s Eve contest. The Jaguars offense got its run game going, avoided turnovers, and the Jacksonville defense completely shut down a Carolina team that scored 30 points a week prior.

The smooth win also managed to come when the Jaguars were missing quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. The team also lost Jamal Agnew early in the win.

At Pro Football Focus, every player was graded for every play. Here’s who stood out most for the Jaguars in the Week 17 victory:

5 highest grades on offense

Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
  1. TE Evan Engram: 79.8
  2. RB Travis Etienne: 72.6
  3. WR Calvin Ridley: 69.7
  4. QB C.J. Beathard: 69.3
  5. TE Brenton Strange: 68.4

On a day where Engram became the eighth tight end in NFL history to have a 100-reception season, he caught all six of his targets for a team-leading 60 receiving yards.

5 lowest grades on offense

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union
  1. LG Tyler Shatley: 44.6
  2. RB D’Ernest Johnson: 47.1
  3. TE Luke Farrell: 49.6
  4. WR Parker Washington: 51.1
  5. RT Anton Harrison: 52.6

The Jaguars got 158 yards out of Etienne, Beathard, and Tank Bigsby, but Johnson finished with zero yards on his three attempts.

5 highest grades on defense

Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports
  1. OLB Josh Allen: 78.8
  2. LB Devin Lloyd: 76.3
  3. CB Tre Herndon: 74.8
  4. S Andre Cisco: 69.2
  5. DL Roy Robertson-Harris: 66.5

Allen was the star of the day at EverBank Stadium with three sacks to become the Jaguars’ single-season record holder. It’s no surprise that he finished with the best grade for the defense.

5 lowest grades on defense

Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
  1. DL Tyler Lacy: 36.3
  2. DL Folorunso Fatukasi: 36.9
  3. DL DaVon Hamilton: 48.3
  4. OLB K’Lavon Chaisson: 51.4
  5. DL Jeremiah Ledbetter: 54.8

Panthers running backs Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders averaged 4.2 yards per carry Sunday against the Jaguars’ front. It’s not exactly a jarring number, but it’s an effective one. Fortunately for the Jaguars, the Panthers couldn’t stick to the run as they fell further and further in a hole.

5 other notables

Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
  1. WR Jamal Agnew: 78.8 (nine snaps)
  2. TE Brenton Strange: 68.4
  3. CB Antonio Johnson: 64.7
  4. OLB Travon Walker: 60.4
  5. CB Tyson Campbell: 58.4

Agnew made an early exit Sunday, but he only needed a handful of snaps to make a big impact. The 48-yard bomb he caught from Beathard was the Jaguars’ longest pass play of the day.

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