Jacksonville continues to have a rough go of it in the 2021 season. In Sunday’s game against a 4-6 Atlanta Falcons team, the Jags allowed it to get the momentum early and eventually lead by as much as 21-3 as the offense struggled to answer.
The team eventually mounted a comeback as it did two weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts, cutting the deficit to seven points in the fourth quarter. But like in that game against the Colts, the offense stalled on its final drive, and the Jags lost 21-14 to fall to 2-9 on the year.
The defense played better this week than it did in a blowout loss to San Francisco in Week 11, but the offense continues to lag, and with receiver Jamal Agnew out for the year, things are only getting tougher on quarterback Trevor Lawrence during his rookie season.
Here’s what the snap counts from the game can tell us.
*The following info was obtained by (NFLGSIS).
Offense
Analysis
- With Brandon Linder back in the lineup at center after spending several weeks on the injured reserve, the Jaguars are finally back to having their best offensive line combination on the field. All five starters played the whole game, and the team ran for 141 yards.
- Tight end James O’Shaughnessy also made his return from injured reserve in this game, and he totaled three catches for 29 yards. He saw the bulk of the playing time as Dan Arnold exited in the second quarter with a knee injury. Chris Manhertz, the only other active tight end, saw an increase in playing time as a result.
- James Robinson had a good game on the ground, taking 17 carries for 86 yards. However, he was barely on the field for a majority of offensive snaps, with Carlos Hyde seeing 32 in this game, though he only had six carries. It seems the team may have more confidence in Hyde on passing downs, especially as Robinson could be still limited a bit with a heel injury.
- With Agnew out for the year, Laquon Treadwell started at receiver and saw the bulk of the reps alongside Marvin Jones Jr. He led the team with 53 yards on four catches, while Laviska Shenault Jr. seems to have been relegated to the No. 3 role. Tavon Austin caught his first touchdown since 2019, while John Brown (who was released Monday) went another game without registering his first catch in a Jaguars uniform.
Defense
Analysis
- Shaquill Griffin was out with a concussion, meaning that Nevin Lawson got the start at cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell. Campbell had the best game of his young career, totaling three pass breakups and an interception, but Lawson was solid as well, finishing tied for second in tackles with six to go with a pass breakup of his own.
- Damien Wilson had to leave the game with an ankle injury, and that allowed Shaquille Quarterman to play meaningful reps at linebacker. He handled the challenge well, totaling five tackles
- Roy Robertson-Harris played a major role at defensive tackle, and he earned the team’s only sack on quarterback Matt Ryan. He and Malcom Brown saw the most reps along the interior in this one, though DaVon Hamilton was close behind. Taven Bryan has played better recently, but he saw his role diminish a bit this week and he only had one tackle and a hit on the quarterback.
- Lerentee McCray saw a bit of action in this game as Josh Allen had to briefly exit early in the game. He didn’t do much with that opportunity, totaling just one tackle, and Allen only had three tackles. Meanwhile, K’Lavon Chaisson didn’t crack the stat sheet despite playing on almost half of all defensive snaps.