After being beaten up and bullied against the 49ers one week ago, the Jaguars returned the favor to the Tennessee Titans. The Titans came into Jacksonville losers of three straight, and on Sunday they never had a chance. Jacksonville won the line of scrimmage, had better quarterback play, and even a better pass rush. In short, the Jaguars beat the Titans in every phase of the game.
The big test for the Jaguars is next week when they take on the Houston Texans. The Texans sit in second place in the division. At 6-4 and with a win in Jacksonville already, the Texans would take over the AFC South lead with a win. Since their loss to the lowly Panthers, the Texans have won three straight and they are getting stellar quarterback play from their rookie signal-caller. The Jaguars need a win next week for their playoff hopes. Looking back at the Titans game should show the Jaguars the recipe they need to beat the Texans.
4 Takeaways From the Jaguars Win
Trevor Lawrence Could Be Great
Lawrence missed some throws against the Titans on Sunday, but overall he played one of his better games. He still could not top the 300-yard mark and has yet to reach it this season. He was also bailed out on a few drives because of pass interference calls on third down. Lawrence is also getting sacked more often and seems to be struggling with decision-making. After injuring his knee before the Saints game, some pointed to that as the reason for his lack of production. The effects of that injury, however, seem to be negligible. He is moving around the pocket well and even had two rushing touchdowns against the Titans.
On Sunday, it was easy to see the potential greatness of Trevor Lawrence. Had the game not been out of reach so early, he probably would have thrown for more yards and had even better stats. As it stands, his 2023 numbers are average at best. With an 11-6 touchdown-interception ratio and being sacked 25 times so far, Lawrence has a long way to go. but when he plays like he did against the Titans, it is easy to see why the hope for his greatness remains intact.
Calvin Ridley Can Still Produce
Calvin Ridley, even though he has disappeared at different times during the year, and sometimes for whole games, is still a good receiver. So far this year, Ridley has already had three 100-yard games tying him for 10th in the NFL. He has also had six games with less than 40 receiving yards. There are reports that he is the focus of many defensive schemes with help over the top and regular double teams. The problem with that is that every good No. 1 receiver in the NFL faces those same challenges without disappearing. Maybe he is still rusty or maybe the chemistry between him and Lawrence is not there yet. Whatever the problem, Ridley can still produce like a No. 1, but it is time for him to start doing it consistently.
Travis Etienne Is Not Having a Great Year
Almost every expert and pundit on television talks about the good year that Travis Etienne is having. The thing they are overlooking is that he is averaging 3.8 yards per carry. He may be in the top 10 in rushing yards, have seven touchdowns on the ground, and have shown some flashes of brilliance, but he is not having a great year. Regardless if it is his fault or the offensive line’s, 3.8 yards per carry does not cut it. If your running back is averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry, he is part of the problem, not the solution.
The Team Has Still Not Reached Its Potential
The Jaguars still struggle against good teams with good quarterbacks. The Jaguars are now 6-0 against teams quarterbacked by Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ritter, Derek Carr, and now Will Levis. None of those quarterbacks will crack very many top-15 lists. Their losses are to teams who, like the Texans, have an elite quarterback. If the Jaguars want to be considered a top-10 team in the NFL, they have to be able to beat top-10 quarterbacks. This Sunday, in the form of rookie CJ Stroud, they have their chance.
Main Photo: [Nathan Ray Seebeck] – USA Today Sports
