JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Ron from Jacksonville

I don't doubt Lawrence's ability, toughness and decentness as a person for our team, but I'd rather have a player who has a little less ability and makes better decisions.

This was a common inbox theme Sunday, with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throwing three touchdowns with two interceptions in a 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was a game the Jaguars could have won. From this view, they should have won. And Lawrence no doubt contributed to that loss, particularly with a first-half interception in the end zone that cost the Jaguars a chance to take a 14-0 lead. But it's far harder to find Lawrence at fault for his second interception of the game, a pass over the middle that wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. appeared to have not made the greatest effort to catch. That was one of several rough plays for Thomas, who dropped a key pass late in the game at the two-yard line that could have all-but clinched the victory and who had another end-zone play earlier in the fourth quarter on which he appeared not to have made the greatest effort. Wide receiver Dyami Brown also dropped a would-be touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Those are real issues at receiver, issues that from this view far outweighed those at quarterback Sunday.

Roger from Houston, TX

What the hell was going on with all the illegal shift penalties? And how can you not take a short field goal up by three points with less than three minutes left?

Head Coach Liam Coen on five illegal shift penalties Sunday, all of which were declined: "First time on the road — silent cadence. We had some motions and shifts in the offense in order to take advantage of 91 (defensive end Trey Hendrickson), and to try to help with 91 in some ways. Looking at it, we've got to evaluate too much two-gap in the game plan for these guys to go execute. That's something that we have to be better at as coaches and go figure out. We put too much on them unnecessarily, especially in the first game on road, knowing they were going to have some people here at this game. We have to look at that." Coen on running an offensive play on fourth-and-5 from the Bengals 7-yard line late in the game rather than kicking a field goal to take a 30-24 lead: "It's a 100 percent a 'go.' That's a 100 percent a 'go.'" Coen added that analytics fully supported the decision.

Bo from Winter Springs, FL

Does BTJ look hesitant to catch the ball when he thinks he will get hit?

He did on Sunday.

Levi from Huntsville AL

Excuse my French, but what the hell was up with Brian Thomas? He was shirking his grabs, showing he was afraid of contact. His talent is elite, but if the man won't go for the ball, get him off the field, he does you no good.

This now will be a storyline until it is not.

Tommy from Fernandina Beach, FL

Hey, Zone. While I didn't expect the Jags to beat Cincinnati, I was hopeful as the game went on. If BTJ wants to be considered a top-tier receiver in the league, he can't be dropping that pass on fourth down. The Jags gave that game away! Do you see this as same old Jags or do you expect them to learn from it going forward with the new coaching staff?

This is not the "same old Jags." This is a 1-1 team that has shown significant positives through two games.

Gabe from Glasgow

If the trend continues, the theme of this year will once again be "Redzone efficiency and struggling to close out games." It doesn't matter what head coach we have or what players, it just seems like the team implodes. I've watched Jacksonville since 2000 and I feel like it's a punishment being loyal to this team. How and where does the bleeding stop?

The Jaguars are 1-1 and have lost one consecutive game. There are no "trends" to their 2025 season yet.

Yoav R. from St. Johns, FL

It was Jaguars versus Jaguars, and the Jaguars lost.

Pretty much.

GP from Savannah

Fourth and five and you don't go for a field goal????? I can see being aggressive but not when you give up almost a guaranteed three points. Even if Cincy scores a touchdown all you need is a field goal to beat them. Bad call, hopefully Liam learns from his mistakes.

Coen didn't consider it a mistake. In the same situation, I would expect the same decision.

Alan from Reno, NV

The pass that was challenged looked like it traveled backwards, what's the deal?

You're referencing a first-quarter incomplete pass by Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow that indeed appeared to be thrown backward as Burrow was hit by Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker on the play. The deal was that officials ruled that Walker knocked the ball backward.

Michael from the Mean Streets of Arlington

I was POed for about four hours, then I realized that a month ago I would have been happy with just some progress showing what might be coming later in the season. They looked way better than we've seen for years. I'm happy with that. For now.

Fair.

Limo Bob from Neptune Beach/Piscataway

Hunter's late pass interference looked like textbook coverage to me? Number 0 wasn't down and they give the home team the game.

Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter was called for a 25-yard pass interference penalty on the Bengals' game-winning drive Sunday. I agree that he had pretty much textbook coverage on the play and I need someone smarter than I to tell me why that's wrong. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd one series earlier ran into the end zone after officials ruled him down following an interception return for a touchdown that would have essentially secured the victory. Replays showed that Lloyd did not appear to be down and in fact rolled on top of Bengals running back Chase Brown. Devin Lloyd Also Wasn't Down, clever folks among us might say.

Dwight from Naples

The King: A lot of fans will be blaming this on the coach's and they usually do take the credit. But if Lawrence does not throw an interception in the end zone on a scoring drive this game unfolds completely different at the end. Been same story for last 4 years. Is it time to end the Lawrence Project?

And do what?

Paul from Redding, CA

I think the purpose of a game report is reporting. Any reader would never comprehend what really happened. DROPPED PASSES!!! And I'm not even counting Thomas's refusal to catch the ball that led to Lawrence the second interception, because, as the network color man said, Thomas made a business decision, meaning he didn't want to get hit. How could you call the psblum you wrote "game report" when it clearly didn't describe why the Jaguars lost?

The purpose of the game report following Jaguars games on this website is to have a story at or near game's end that details the events of the game. It is one of multiple stories that appears on jaguars.com after every game. Dropped passes by Thomas and wide receiver Dyami Brown indeed were a major reason the Jaguars lost, a fact that is reflected in many of the stories that that appeared on this website Sunday evening.

James from Socorro, NM

I would have sent you a question but there was an illegal shift.

Good one, James.

Jim from Jagsonville

Tuten has arrived! Welcome to DUUUVALL!!! Go Jaguars!!!

Rookie Bhayshul Tuten made an impact Sunday, rushing for 42 yards on eight carries and scoring his first NFL touchdown. This was as expected. The Jaguars didn't trade running back Tank Bigsby this past week willy nilly. They traded him at least in part because Tuten is too good not to play.

Richard from Jacksonville

Tuten isn't common.

Good one, Richard.

Mike from Zaragoza, Spain

Can't beat a team with a backup quarterback. You predicted seven-to-nine wins before the season. Yeah, I can't see them winning more than eight games. Do you still feel the same on your preseason predictions?

I feel much better about the Jaguars through two games than I did before the season. I could see them winning nine or 10 games if they continue to do what they're doing well and stop dropping catchable passes.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl

Can anybody explain to me what happened with the Jaguars not being able to beat a backup quarterback?

They dropped too many passes that would have been touchdowns and didn't take advantage of opportunities. They also couldn't get a fourth-down stop on the Bengals' final possession. It can be argued they should have won. That they didn't is very frustrating.