The Jacksonville Jaguars spent a week preaching that their execution needed to be cleaned up and improved after a frustrating loss in Week 2. Somehow it was much worse in Week 3.
In a 37-17 loss to the Houston Texans, the Jaguars were bad in all three phases.
Buy Jaguars TicketsThe offense was held scoreless in the first half, the defense had multiple coverage busts, and a pair of special teams plays changed the entire trajectory of the game.
Here are some studs and duds from the Jaguars’ Week 3 home loss to the Texans:
Dud: Jaguars field goal unit
The first of two missed field goals in the first half was plainly the fault of Brandon McManus as he pushed a 48-yard try wide right. The second was a protection breakdown that saw the Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. burst through the line and block the second McManus attempt of the game.
Dud: WR Calvin Ridley
It’s entirely possible that the whole game looks different if Ridley hauls in a first quarter pass from Trevor Lawrence that should’ve been a 30-yard touchdown. It was the first of a few missed opportunities for the receiver, who finished with three receptions on seven targets. On top of his drops, Ridley also picked up two false start penalties.
Stud: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
No Jaguars player looked more dialed in Sunday than Etienne, who had 88 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards. When Jacksonville finally got its first touchdown since Week 1, it was because Etienne started a drive with 32 yards on the first three plays of the second half.
Dud: Kickoff coverage unit
The Jaguars found themselves on the wrong side of history Sunday when fullback Andrew Beck returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, who became the heaviest player to ever record a kick return touchdown of more than 50 yards. Brandon McManus has kicked it through the end zone often this year and the Jaguars would’ve been better off if that continued.
Stud: Jaguars run defense
Through the first two weeks of the season, the Jaguars were eighth in the NFL in yards allowed per carry (3.5). They improved that number Sunday when they shut down Dameon Pierce. The Texans’ second-year running back scampered free for 10 yards on one first quarter play, but still finished with only 31 yards on 14 carries.
Dud: Jaguars secondary
It might’ve been a solid day for the Jaguars defense if it wasn’t for 46- and 68-yard bombs completed to Tank Dell. One put the ball on the doorstep and set up a touchdown, the second was a light jog into the end zone for Dell. Veteran cornerback Darious Williams was the closest defensive back to Dell on both plays, but there were clear communication breakdowns so it’s not entirely obvious that it’s on him.
Dud: Doug Pederson
The Jaguars’ head coach harped on execution all week after his team clumsily whiffed on several chances to beat the Chiefs in Week 2. So, ultimately, it lands on Pederson’s shoulders when the team’s execution was even worse in Week 3. What exactly can Pederson be doing differently to get a more focused team? Maybe nothing. But as long as the Jaguars are stuck in the mud, it’s his problem to fix.
