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Jaguars Loss Highlights Costly Penalties and Missed Opportunities | Week 6 Quick Thoughts

WEEK 6 Quick Thoughts

LONDON – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Goodness gracious. There seems little to say or analyze after this one, the second time in four weeks that has been the case. This was the Jaguars' second one-sided, nationally-televised loss of the season – and Sunday in many ways was as disheartening as a 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 3. The Jaguars for a second time in as many weeks struggled mightily defensively, and they were dominated in decisive second quarter. The Jaguars led 3-0 entering the period, poised to turn their two-game London trip into the same sort of season-turning swing as last season. The Bears instead completely turned the momentum by outgaining the Jaguars 216-13 and not allowing a first down. Chicago's 14-3 halftime lead seemed insurmountable – and disappointingly, it was just that. "We're staying together," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "We know brighter days are ahead. We just have to stick together as a team."

2. Last, best hope. It was this kind of day Sunday: When the Jaguars suddenly had a glimmer of hope and momentum in the third quarter, the chance eroded in a frustrating flurry of defensive mistakes. The Jaguars, after the Bears pulled ahead 21-3 with quarterback Caleb Williams' third touchdown pass in four series, pulled to within 21-10 with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to wide receiver Gabe Davis. The Jaguars then registered a huge defensive stop when defensive end Travon Walker sacked Williams for a 10-yard loss on third-and-8 Bears 42. But that sack was negated by a penalty on the Jaguars for too many players on the field. Cornerback Ronald Darby was penalized for holding twice later in the series, with each penalty turning an incomplete third-down pass into a first down. Williams capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen for a 28-10 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. "We kept them on the field on one drive with three penalties and they ended up scoring," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. "We have to correct those. Outside of the penalties, we were getting off the field. We have to respond and still get off the field. We didn't do a good job of that today."

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears


WR Gabe Davis (0) and QB Trevor Lawrence (16)

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. The 12 men-on-the-field penalty might be the worst against the Jaguars this season and they earned it. The offense had just pulled to within 21-10 and they had a little spark to give the defense a little energy. The defense responded with two sacks in three plays, including what appeared to be Walker's drive-ending sack, but a mental miscue gave the Bears another shot at third-and-three. The Jaguars' defense could have given the offense the ball with more than two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Instead, the defense gave the Bears another chance and they made the Jaguars pay.

2. Big mistakes by big-time players instead of big plays. No mistake by the Jaguars Sunday was bigger than those made by wide receiver Gabe Davis on what looked like an excellent opening drive for the Jaguars, their most productive first drive of the season. His false start on first and goal from the 8-yard line hurt, but not as much as his flat-out drop in the end zone of what had been a perfectly thrown pass by Lawrence on third and goal from the 13-yard line. On the first play of the second half, you could see tight end Evan Engram trying to cover the ball up as he went to the ground, but he didn't – and the Bears knocked it free and returned it to set up a Bears touchdown and a 21-3 lead, which sucked a lot of the life out of the Jaguars sideline. Lawrence later joined the chorus when he underthrew a wide-open wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the third quarter. A poorly thrown pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk was intercepted easily early in the fourth to set up yet another Chicago touchdown. Even Thomas had a drop in the end zone. The Bears won Sunday because they easily controlled the line of scrimmage, but the Jaguars made it even easier for them with their costly miscues.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears


TE Evan Engram (17)

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ..

1. Comedy of errors. Penalties were not why the Jaguars lost Sunday, but they did prevent them from even having a chance. The offense was the culprit early. The Jaguars' first possession looked promising, but two false start penalties in the red zone led to a field goal rather than a touchdown for Jacksonville. After cutting the lead to 21-10, the Jags' defense desperately needed a stop, but penalties cancelled out some big plays. A third down sack by Walker was negated by a 12-men-on-the-field penalty. Then Darby later in the drive cornerback was called for holding on third down not once, but twice. The drive that was extended three times ended in an Allen touchdown. The Jaguars' deficiencies this season are vast and varied, but dumb penalties aren't helping matters.

2. Not so eazy. Engram played Sunday for the first time since Week 1 in Miami. The usually sure-handed target struggled in his first game back. In the first half, Engram was unable to secure a first down after slipping short of a crucial third down. Then an extremely costly fumble by Engram to start the third quarter allowed the Bears to balloon their lead to 18 points. I'm not sure if Engram is still hampered by his hamstring injury, but he was far from the reliable, veteran presence we are used to seeing.

That Sunday feeling 😍 Swipe through top shots of the Jaguars facing the Bears in the UK during Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season. 🏈

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