The Jacksonville Jaguars turned the ball over four times, punted seven times, and turned it over on downs once in a 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Despite a litany of errors, the Jaguars trailed seven in the final minutes of the game and had a chance to drive the field for a game-tying touchdown. Instead a failed fourth down set up the Browns for a field goal that extended their lead to 10 points and essentially put the game on ice.
The Jaguars are left searching for answers after back-to-back losses and a sudden avalanche of injuries. While Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence appeared to escape without any further damage to his injured ankle, offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, and safeties Andre Cisco and Rayshawn Jenkins all exited for stretches Sunday.
The silver lining for the Jaguars is that neither the Indianapolis Colts nor the Houston Texans made up their one-game deficit in the AFC South standings. Still, the Jaguars are in need of a win and have plenty of questions that need answers with the playoffs just a month away.
Here’s how Jacksonville’s messy Week 14 loss went down:
Jaguars MVP of the game: TE Evan Engram
On the board.@eazyengram | @Trevorlawrencee pic.twitter.com/bi0rMWv9On
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 10, 2023
On a day with plenty of miscommunication between Trevor Lawrence and his receivers, the quarterback was on the same page with his tight end. Engram caught 11 of his 12 targets for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Browns MVP of the game: TE David Njoku
they might want to start covering 85 🤔@David_Njoku80 going OFF pic.twitter.com/4fFiBsVzyU
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 10, 2023
The first two touchdowns of the day came when the Jaguars left Njoku running wide open. The Cleveland tight end finished with six receptions and a team-leading 91 yards to go with his pair of early scores.
Jaguars play of the game: Parker Washington's 19-yard touchdown
Heck of a catch by Parker Washington. Jags pull within one possession.
📺: #INDvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8S30C pic.twitter.com/EtD0nFyC7m— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
Plays down the field didn’t come often for the Jaguars in their first game without Christian Kirk. With the offense in desperate need of a touchdown, Lawrence looked to a rookie to make a play and Washington delivered with a spinning grab in the end zone.
It was over when ... Dustin Hopkins hit a 55-yard field goal
After the Jaguars offense turned the ball over on downs in their own territory, the defense did its part with a quick stop on three plays. Still, the Browns were close enough to try a 55-yard field goal and Hopkins delivered to put the home team up 10 with just over three minutes left in the game.
Jacksonville drove the field on its ensuing possession, but Hopkins’ field goal left the Jaguars needing an onside kick. That proved unsuccessful.
Stat that says it all: 389 yards of total offense for the Browns
The Jaguars and Browns combined for seven turnovers and 15 punts. The difference is that Jacksonville’s offense finished with 293 yards and Cleveland’s had 389. At the end of the day, the Browns simply found more success on offense to overcome their mistakes.
What's next?
The Jaguars will be in primetime once again when the Baltimore Ravens visit EverBank Stadium for a Week 15 battle of AFC division leaders on Sunday Night Football.
On Sunday, the Ravens beat the Rams in overtime with a 76-yard walk-off punt return touchdown to improve to 10-3 on the year.
