Winners and losers from Jaguars vs. Browns Week 12 matchup

The Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up another tough matchup Sunday as they faced off against an old AFC foe in the Cleveland Browns. They once again fought valiantly but were unable to capitalize, falling to the Browns by a score of 27-25. The loss …

The Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up another tough matchup Sunday as they faced off against an old AFC foe in the Cleveland Browns. They once again fought valiantly but were unable to capitalize, falling to the Browns by a score of 27-25.

The loss marks the tenth consecutive defeat for the Jags in 2020 as they haven’t tasted victory since their 27-20 Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jags were also eliminated from playoff contention for the eighth time in Shad Khan’s nine years as owner.

Despite the loss, some of the Jaguars players’ stepped up this week, while some did not. Here are the winners and losers from Week 12’s matchup against the Browns:

Winner: QB Mike Glennon

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Here’s a name that most Jags fans weren’t expecting in the “winners” category. 

Journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon made his first start since 2017, which dates back to when he was with the Chicago Bears. He had a pretty impressive day, going 20-of-35 (57.1%) for 235 yards and two touchdowns. One of his two touchdowns was a beautiful 46-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Collin Johnson, which was the longest pass on the day. It’s also his first multiple touchdown game since 2014 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While the stats weren’t eye-popping by any measure, Glennon’s ability to play mistake-free football put the Jags in multiple positions to win the game. He didn’t turn the ball over, take any sacks, and also didn’t hesitate to attempt to move the ball downfield as evidenced by his 10 completions that traveled 10 or more yards.

The Jaguars will take on the Minnesota Vikings Week 13 on a road trip to Minneapolis. Depending on how practice shapes up throughout the week, we could either see Glennon again as the starter, or Jags fans could see the return of their enigmatic signal-caller Gardner Minshew II as he recovers from a thumb injury.

Loser: The entire Jaguars secondary

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Football is a team game, and on defense, much critical communication is required to prevent big plays. However, the Jaguars’ defense didn’t fare well as Browns receiver Jarvis Landry had a huge game as he finished with 143 receiving yards on eight receptions and a touchdown.

The starting tandem of Luq Barcoo and Tre Herndon had no answer as Landry would eviscerate the Jags defense en route to his first 100-yard game since Week 12 of 2019. Even when the corners gambled and got a decent jump on the ball, Landry was still able to complete catches. The former Pro Bowl receiver has struggled all season as he did not have a touchdown coming into the game against the Jags.

In comparison to past performances, this seemed to be a better outing from the defense, however, it still wasn’t enough to slow down a struggling Jarvis Landry. The Jags ultimately allowed 459 yards and over half of those yards came through the air.

Winnner: The Jaguars’ rookies

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The Jaguars came into the league as the youngest team in the NFL, however, their rookies proved to play a vital role in helping them stay in the game.

Johnson had a career day as he torched the Browns’ defense for four receptions and 96 yards to go along with a touchdown. He came into the game with only seven receptions and 69 yards and one touchdown for the entire season.

With fellow wide receivers D.J Chark Jr. and Chris Conley inactive due to rib and hip injuries respectively, the rookie stepped up big to try and help the Jags get the win.

Also contributing heavily to the Jaguars’ offense on the day and the entire season is undrafted free agent running back James Robinson, who has fully staked his claim in the league. Robinson had a magnificent day setting a career-high in scrimmage yards with 159 with 128 of those yards being on the ground. The Illinois State University product also scored a four-yard touchdown to make it 27-25 but the Jaguars were unable to score on the ensuing two-point conversion.

Robinson has been a force all season ranking third in the NFL in rushing yards coming into the game with 762. His performance on Sunday will push him even closer to every running back’s goal of a 1,000-yard rushing season. He has already made history this year being one of five undrafted rookies in history to record 1,000 total scrimmage yards in a season.

Even though the Jags are a young team, the rookies showed up against the Browns, and hopefully, they can be utilized more in the coming weeks.

Loser: Doug Marrone

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Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone might start seeing the writing on the wall soon.

After the loss to the Browns, the Jaguars relieved general manager Dave Caldwell of his duties, ending a seven-year tenure with the team. Former San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke will be the interim for the time being. Generally, when a prominent front office person is fired, the coach is not too far behind and that could mean bad news for the job security of Marrone.

Marrone’s coaching tactics also have not been indicative of someone who is fighting for their job. Simply put, he showed a lack of aggression this Sunday against the Browns when some fans expected more.

There was one instance where the Jags’ offense were in scoring territory on their six-yard line when Marrone decided to settle for a 24-yard field goal by kicker Aldrick Rosas. The offense put on an impressive 11-play, 69-yard drive and the chance to put up some meaningful points could have changed the result of the game.

The Jaguars’ front office seems intent on letting Marrone finish out the season and only time will tell what they decide to do in the offseason about his job status. Losing a close game like this against the Browns most likely will not help those matters.

Browns vs. Jags: 3 keys to a Jacksonville victory

The Jags are dealing with several injuries, but have a chance to beat the Browns if their interior defensive line holds up against the run.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) limped out of their Week 11 battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will now be tasked with defeating another AFC North team that is playing well in the Cleveland Browns (7-3). When considering the fact that Cleveland is dealing with personnel issues of their own, too, the game is one that could be close.

If the Jags are to win, they will need several things to go their way. Here are a few keys we think could help them upset Cleveland at TIAA Bank Field Sunday:

Play keep away and get the offense going through RB James Robinson

Both the Browns and Jags will be down several key members of their rosters due to either the league’s COVID-19 protocol or injuries. That’s especially the case on defense, which oddly enough means the Browns and Jags have a chance for a shoot out.

In Jacksonville’s case, it just wouldn’t be smart to shy away from running back James Robinson Sunday afternoon, because when they do, the results aren’t all that great. He’s been phenomenal for the team, routinely breaking undrafted rookie records, and has also been the most consistent weapon for the Jags.

Robinson will enter the game with 172 carries for 762 rushing yards and five touchdowns, which is good for the highest rushing total amongst rookies and is the third-highest in the NFL. That means Sunday needs to be a 20-plus carry day for him as the Jags will be starting a new quarterback in Mike Glennon while their wounded defense is expected to allow a lot of points.

Don’t forget about the tandem of Keelan Cole and Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Jags’ receiving corps was hit hard with injuries this week as D.J. Chark Jr. (ribs) and Chris Conley (hip) were ruled out. As a result, the Jags’ receiving corps will be a group that consists of Keelan Cole Sr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Trey Quinn, and Collin Johnson.

Due to being the most experienced member of the group, Cole is going to have to rise to the occasion and lead the way — something he’s thrived at during a contract year. That shouldn’t be all that hard to do with the Browns’ pass-rush situation as Myles Garrett and Porter Gustin both are on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list.

The Jags will also need Shenault, who is coming off a hamstring injury, to help in the short passing game. Chances are Glennon will need to get the ball out of his hands quickly due to being without Andre Norwell. Who better to go to for that than Shenault, who is a monster after the catch.

The Jags interior rotation needs a strong day

The Browns’ bread and butter on offense is their run game and they will come into Sunday’s game ranked third in the league in rushing. Nick Chubb is one of the best rushers in football and will come into the game with 96 attempts for 575 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Kareem Hunt, will come into the game with an even higher rushing total of 644 yards.

Simply put, this means the Jags have a chance if they can stop the run. It will fall on rookies DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin, as well as Taven Bryan. However, the trio will have their hands full with an impressive interior offensive line as Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Wyatt Teller have Pro Football Focus grades of 83.8, 79.1, and 95.6, respectfully. Simply put, that means fans would be hard-pressed to find a better group.

Hamilton and Costin certainly won’t be intimidated, though, as Hamilton looks like the Jags’ nose tackle of the future and Costin has a 71.9 PFF grade, good for 32nd at his position. If the pair can have a day much like we saw against the Houston Texans Week 9 and avoid wearing down in the fourth quarter, this game definitely could be a close one.

Winners and losers from Jags’ Week 11 loss to Steelers

The Jacksonville Jaguars finish the week yet again with another tough loss, this time it comes in the form of an old rival against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The crowd of 17,244 at TIAA Bank Field were treated to a disappointing Sunday as the Jags …

The Jacksonville Jaguars finish the week yet again with another tough loss, this time it comes in the form of an old rival against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The crowd of 17,244 at TIAA Bank Field were treated to a disappointing Sunday as the Jags would fall to the Steelers by the score of 27-3. The Jags’ offense appeared to have never gotten out of first gear against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

While the Jaguars were losers of the game, there were a few bright spots to be seen against the Steelers. Here are the winners and losers of Week 11’s matchup:

Winner: Logan Cooke

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It’s about time that everyone shows the punter a little love. The punter is a thankless position that only goes noticed when a bad punt happens, however, Jags punter Logan Cooke might have arguably been one of the better players on the staff.

Cooke finished Sunday’s game with six punts compiling an average of 54.0 per punt. His longest on the day was a booming 67-yard kick that was returned for only five yards. Cooke had two punts on the day that traveled 60 yards and three were returned within the Steelers 15-yard line.

The third-year punter of Mississippi State did a fine job with an offense that was struggling tremendously. At an unappreciated position, Cooke did his best to pin the Steelers’ offense deep inside their territory and he was successful at doing so.

Loser: Jake Luton

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The Jake Luton hype train might have come to a screeching halt.

Luton wasn’t overly impressive Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers, going 18-of-35 for 169 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. He wasn’t able to improve that Sunday against the Steelers completing only 43% (16-of-37) of his passes for 151 yards and four picks. Needless to say, that didn’t lead to a high QBR and passer rating where he garnered figures of 12.3 and 15.5, respectively.

The moment was too big for Luton as he was affected by a dynamic Steelers’ pass-rush which came into the league as the NFL’s leader in sacks. While the offensive line only gave up two sacks on the day, Luton was hit by the defense seven times in the game, leading to his four interceptions.

The recent struggles could mean another quarterback switch as journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon is also on the Jags roster. Gardner Minshew II wasn’t 100% as of last week per coach Doug Marrone, but a return is possible for Week 13, too. Ultimately, the decision is on the staff, and time will tell on what direction they go.

Winner: James Robinson:

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While the Jaguars’ offense has struggled tremendously at times, the one shining spark has been undrafted free agent rookie running back James Robinson.

Robinson has been the surprise of the year, coming into the game ranked fifth in rushing yards. He was up against a Steelers rush defense that ranked eighth Sunday but still found some success when given the ball, rushing for 73 yards with a 4.3 yard per carry average.

Robinson has established himself as one of the better pure runners in the league and the most consistent source of offense for the Jaguars. Against the Steelers, Robinson reached over 1,000 yards from scrimmage becoming only the fifth undrafted rookie in history to accomplish the feat.

Even with the Jags’ record, one could make a strong case for him receiving looks for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Heck, if he keeps up this level of production, the talented rookie could also get a lot of votes to be a Pro Bowler.

Loser: Tre Herndon

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Second-year cornerback Tre Herndon was tasked with a tough duty, guarding the extremely talented Steelers’ receivers. Sunday he was the main defender on Steelers’ wide receiver Diontae Johnson and Herndon struggled mightily.

Johnson finished Sunday’s game with a whopping 12 receptions for 111 yards with a receiving high of 23 yards as the Jaguars’ defense had no answer for him. While Herndon finished with seven tackles on the day, they came after already long gains from the Steelers’ receivers.

The third-year corner has been a liability in coverage all year registering a 48.5 grade according to Pro Football Focus. With the Jaguars facing a heavy shortage of cornerbacks due to injuries, Herndon looked to be outmatched as Pittsburgh’s receiving corps was too much to handle.

The good, bad, and ugly from the Jaguars’ 27-3 loss against the Steelers

There weren’t a lot of positives to take from the Jags’ loss to the Steelers as it mark yet another sign of the Jags’ struggles under Khan.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had yet another stinker Sunday, putting up just three points to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27. The Jags’ only score would come on their first drive, which looked promising, but the Steelers eventually woke up on both sides of the ball.

The game was one where the Jags didn’t necessarily give up but simply couldn’t get much going, which has led to more negative talking points than positive. That said, here are the good, bad, and ugly moments from Sunday’s very lopsided loss:

Jaguars vs. Steelers: 3 keys to a Jacksonville victory

The Steelers are sporadic against the run, which is why James Robinson may give the Jags their best chance for a win.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be the latest team to try and end the Pittsburgh Steelers’ undefeated dreams this afternoon when the two teams face off at TIAA Bank Field. The fortunes of these two franchises could hardly be further apart in 2020 as both are on opposite ends of the NFL in terms success.

The Jaguars come into this one hoping to avoid their ninth-straight defeat (and owner Shad Khan’s 100th loss in less than a decade) whilst the Steelers are looking to make it a perfect 10-from-10 to start the season.

Despite the optics, things aren’t quite as desperate as they seem for Jacksonville. In the last two matchups, they’ve lost by six points or less and were in both games well into the fourth quarter. That includes a nail-biting loss to the 7-2 Green Bay Packers last weekend.

Victory isn’t out of the question today as the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback carousel nearly bested Pittsburgh last week, so rookie Jake Luton should be going into this game confident that a win is not off the table. Of course, luck will have to be on the Jaguars side, but here are three keys to a possible Jaguars upset:

James Robinson is really good, folks

Not only is James Robinson a sensational talent, the Steelers’ pass-rush is better. The best thing the Jaguars can do is give the ball to Robinson and watch him work. The fewer dropbacks for Luton the better.

Most would anticipate that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is going to set his team up to make the rookie quarterback have to beat him, but if the Jaguars’ offensive line can successfully pave lanes, Jacksonville’s chances are better. If they do their part, Robinson is going to be the one to benefit from it as the Jags are without Chris Thompson and Laviska Shenault Jr. this week.

While that’s a lot of pressure, it seems like this young man has the nerves for it. That’s just another reason to put the game in his hands and see if he can recreate the success fans witness greats like Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have against Pittsburgh.

Stop the explosive plays on defense

As previously mentioned, the Jags’ last two losses were by six points or less, but a key to those losses are the fact that they’ve given up a touchdown of 70-yards or more in both individual games. Things have improved defensively coming out of the bye week, but Todd Wash simply must find a way to limit the explosive plays from Pittsburgh’s offense.

This was always going to be a difficult task as the Steelers’ offense boasts human highlight reels Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Simply put, both are more than capable of taking the tops off opposing defenses, or turning catches upfield and making blockbuster plays.

Things are going to be that much harder this week as the Jaguars will go into this game without their two best defensive backs. Rookie C.J. Henderson has been placed on injured reserve with a groin problem, whilst surprise-star Sidney Jones IV was ruled inactive for the game. Not having both certainly spells trouble for the Jags’ passing defense, which was already the league’s third-worst group.

Win the turnover battle

Only two times this season have the Jaguars won the turnover battle in 2020. The first game in which they did it was Week 1 against the Colts in their only win and the second instance was last week against the Packers. That, of course, was the key to the Jags being in the game late against Aaron Rodgers and company.

Turnovers are always a crucial part of any football game, but rarely do a team’s turnovers share such a direct resemblance to their record. Jacksonville has lost every game this season in which they’ve turned the ball over in 2020. So given Pittsburgh’s talent on both sides of the ball, the Jaguars simply cannot afford to cough up possession.

On the other side of the ball, Wash will have his hands full. He’ll be looking to become the first defensive coordinator in three weeks to get the Steelers’ offense to commit a turnover. If he can achieve the feat, it could help tremendously if the game is a close one.

3 bold predictions for Steelers vs. Jags

The Jags might not win Week 11’s game against the Steelers, but their offense I made to have success against Pittsburgh with James Robinson.

With them being established in 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) don’t have the history that other NFL teams do, but one team they’ve had some classic moments with are the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0). As a result, they’ve established one of the league’s most underrated rivalries and will get to add the next chapter Sunday.

To the surprise of many, the Jags actually own this rivalry record-wise by a slim 14-12 margin, but the Steelers’ chances of closing that Sunday are high. At the same time, the Jags are one of the more dangerous one-win teams fans will find, and for that reason, the Steelers are on upset alert.

While we don’t believe an upset will be the result of Week 11’s game, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Regardless of the outcome though, here are a few bold predictions we could see unfolding in the Jags’ favor Sunday afternoon:

James Robinson snags a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown

Jaguars running backs have had their share of success against the Steelers, whether it was Fred Taylor in his youth or Maurice Jones-Drew who hurt them both on the ground and on special teams. Unfortunately, neither will suit up against the Steelers Sunday but a young ascending star named James Robinson will.

The undrafted rookie will come into the game leading all rookies in terms of scrimmage yards with 917, which is also good for the fourth-highest total in the NFL. That means he needs 83 yards to hit 1,000, which would make him the fifth undrafted rookie to do so in the common draft era. Although he may not have a 100-yard day rushing, chances are he will be able to hit the 83-yard mark when looking at his total scrimmage yard. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get 100 total scrimmage yards, but with that, I think he helps fellow rookie Jake Luton by contributing a rushing touchdown and receiving one.

D.J. Chark explodes on the Steelers for 150 yards or more

While Luton is going up against a Steelers defense that ranks No. 6 overall and tenth against the pass, a solid day going deep to D.J. Chark shouldn’t be ruled out for the rookie. The main reasons for that is because we’ve seen the two connect deep early in Luton’s tenure and the Steelers have allowed two pass-catchers to register over 150 receiving yards on them this season. Those players are A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans and Travis Fulgham of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chark is just as talented as both of those players with a Pro Football Focus grade of 74.0 and he’ll be up against two perimeter corners in Joe Hayden and Steven Nelson who have grades of 62.5 and 69.7, respectfully. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him snag a few deep receptions as it may be Luton’s short-range accuracy that is the issue.

The Jags’ linebacking corps garners two turnovers

When it comes to garnering turnovers, the Jags linebacking corps may be the key. We’ve witnessed Myles Jack pick off Ben Roethlisberger in the past and the young linebacker is now a much better player. He’ll enter the game with the third-highest PFF grade at his position (85.7) and is playing at an All-Pro level this season. That’s partly due to having a coverage grade of 76.8, which could mean he’ll snag one against Roethlisberger, who has garnered a lot of wins in Jacksonville but has also thrown his share of picks against the Jags.

Another player whois quite familiar with Roethlisberger is MIKE linebacker Joe Schobert, who spent four seasons in the AFC North. In fact, just last year Schobert had a two-interception game against the Steelers, though it came while Mason Rudolph was the quarterback. Still, with him understanding Roethlisberger’s tendencies, don’t be shocked if he can snag a pick or force a fumble against a team he’s registered six starts against.

Jaguars vs. Packers: 3 keys to a Jacksonville victory

The Jags are going to have to play a perfect game to beat the Packers and that will involve several rookies stepping up.

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars will undoubtedly face their toughest task of the 2020 season as they make a trip to Wisconsin to face the 6-2 Green Bay Packers.

Whilst the Packers are currently tied for the top seed in the NFC with Aaron Rodgers playing great football, the Jaguars are enduring a seven-game slide. The Jags are also two losses away from handing owner Shad Khan his 100th in just his tenth season of ownership.

However, winning this matchup is not an impossible task for Jacksonville, but it will need to be a perfect game on all three levels. Anything less and the talent on the Packers will come to the fore. If the Jaguars are to win this afternoon, they will have to focus on executing these three points:

Control the clock

Jake Luton looked relatively comfortable in his first NFL start against the Houston Texans, but with teams now having film to study it might be difficult for him to maintain that level of production heading forward. Add in the issues the wind conditions could provide for the rookie, and it feels like a victory will be even harder to acquire.

The best way for the Jaguars to establish a foothold in this game will be on the ground with star rusher James Robinson. The undrafted free-agent running back has undoubtedly been the brightest spot on the offense all year— and that needs to continue. If he’s able to establish a rhythm early and dictate the pace of this game, it would help Luton tremendously as well as the defense by keeping Rodgers on the sidelines.

Pressure Aaron Rodgers

The only way the Jags are going to force Rodgers into mistakes is by pressuring him early and often. Rookie defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is really coming into his own as the season progresses and the team will be hoping he can continue his success and create opportunities for Josh Allen.

It has been widely documented that the Jaguars are struggling to get pressure off the edge so far this season, with a league-worst eight sacks on the year. However, the team has been getting pressure on a more consistent basis as of their last few games (ranked 25th), but still need to get the quarterback on the ground. If that changes today and Jacksonville defenders are able to get their hands on Rodgers they will find it easier to slow down the Packers’ offensive unit.

Double team Davante Adams, every down

Rookie cornerback CJ Henderson did not enjoy last week against Will Fuller, getting scorched for a 70-plus yard touchdown on a play that does not cover the ninth-overall pick in much glory. With his recent struggles in mind, it would be wise for Todd Wash to assign some help when it comes to covering Davante Adams.

Adams’ 2020 tape is asserting him as one of the elite-tier receivers in the NFL and he’s probably looking forward to the opportunity to pick on a rookie defensive back one-on-one. If this team wants to slow the Packers down, then they have to find a way to slow Adams too, which is easier said than done.

Jags RB James Robinson scores fifth rushing touchdown of the season vs. Texans

James Robinson continued his dominance Sunday by acquiring his fifth rushing touchdown of the season as the Jags faced the Texans.

After the Jacksonville Jaguars had an impressive deep connection between sixth-round rookie quarterback Jake Luton and receiver D.J. Chark, the Jaguars were able to acquire another touchdown in the second quarter. This time it was from their star rookie tailback James Robinson, who was able to pound one in from the 1-yard line.

Robinson is making quite the case for Offensive Rookie of the Year as the undrafted phenom out of Illinois State University acquired his fifth rushing touchdown of the year against the Houston Texans and his seventh touchdown overall.

After a 1-yard score from Texans running back Duke Johnson, the Jags found themselves trailing by a score of 20-13 after Houston’s last drive. However, Jags place kicker Josh Lambo was able to answer back with a 59-yard field goal before the half, putting the score at a 20-16 figure.

Jags RB James Robinson up for Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week

Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson entered Week 7 in a little bit of a slump, but answered it with the best game of his young career. He finished Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers strong despite the Jags losing, …

Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson entered Week 7 in a little bit of a slump, but answered it with the best game of his young career. He finished Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers strong despite the Jags losing, accumulating career highs of 22 carries, 119 rushing yards, and two touchdowns (one of which was a TD reception).

As a result, Robinson has found himself on the Pepsi Rookie of the Week ballot.

This marks Robinson’s second time making the ballot as he was also placed on it for Week 4 after the Jags’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He didn’t quite have the numbers he put up Sunday, but was able to garner 75 rushing yards over 17 carries while also accumulating 32 yards as a receiver.

Robinson continued to break barriers for an undrafted rookie, accumulating the most receptions of any undrafted running back in NFL history throughout seven games. He also posted the most yards from scrimmage of any undrafted player throughout the same timeline along with several other notable feats on the day.

Robinson has been nothing short of spectacular for the Jags after he had to become their RB1 Week 1. After Sunday’s game, he exited Week 7 third in rushing among rookie running backs with 481 yards. The only rookies with higher rushing totals are Clyde Edwards-Helaire (505) and Jonathan Taylor (367), both of whom were drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Postgame analysis: Jags offense shows some life, but defense comes up short vs. Chargers

The Jags offense had a better showing Week 7, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to stop the Chargers strong offensive surge from winning the game.

The Jacksonville Jaguars came up short in yet another trip to face the Los Angeles Chargers on the West Coast, ending their Week 7 game with a score of 39-29. The loss moved the team to a 1-5 record while the Chargers acquired their second win of the 2020 season.

Week 7’s battle was one that was a little on the wacky side, having it’s up and down moments, but the Jags at least made it watchable for their fans. Their offense in particular had some highlight moments, despite the questionable play at quarterback courtesy of quarterback Gardner Minshew II.

The star for the Jags in Sunday’s losing effort was undoubtedly running back James Robinson, who finished the game with an impressive stat line of 22 carries for 119 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. He also contributed a touchdown reception along with four catches for 18 yards.

While the Jags didn’t win, the rookie further proved he’s an ascending star in the league. His performance on Sunday gave him the most receptions of any undrafted running back in NFL history throughout seven games. He also posted the most yards from scrimmage of any undrafted player throughout seven games along with a few other notable feats on the day.

Robinson’s efforts (along with a few others) ultimately gave the Jags a second quarter surge to put the game at 16-14 heading into the half. That momentum carried into the third quarter as safety Daniel Thomas blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.

Before the third quarter could end, the Jags’ defense was able to answer more adversity with a 28-yard Chris Conley touchdown reception, putting the score at 27-22 in favor of the Jags. The pass was Minshew’s best of the day as he dropped it in the bucket for Conley to hit in stride. The Jags also went for a successful 2-point conversion afterward, putting the game at a score of 29-22.

Unfortunately, the defense gave up an easy touchdown to receiver Jalen Guyton on a 70-yard bomb up the sideline from rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. The Jags also had a fumbled kickoff return by receiver Dede Westbrook, which set the Chargers up for an eventual rushing touchdown by Herbert for five yards.

At the 6:26 mark of the fourth quarter, the Chargers were also able to kick a field goal, which put the score at its final figure.

Overall, this loss probably should be pinned on the Jags’ defense, which once again allowed over 30 points. They also allowed over 480 yards once again, which made for some very difficult circumstances. Add in a key turnover on special, which was the only one of the day, and the Jags had the perfect recipe for another loss.

Thankfully, the team will now get to rest after their tough battle in Los Angeles as their bye week is now here. Once they return for Week 9, they will have a divisional game against the 1-5 Houston Texans on Sunday, Nov. 8.