The Jaguars (2-8) had every opportunity to upset the Vikings (7-2) at home on Sunday, with Jacksonville’s defense intercepting Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold three times.
However, Jacksonville’s lethargic offense failed to generate any points following those turnovers. After quarterback Mac Jones turned the ball over three times himself in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars ultimately fell to the Vikings, 12-7.
Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s third-consecutive defeat and eighth loss of the 2024 season below.
On Pederson’s assessment of the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I thought defense did an outstanding job with the type of firepower they have on offense. I know there was yards, time of possession, but to hold that team to four field goals, it gives you a chance. Obviously we had the drive in the first quarter, touchdown drive and then after that, we couldn’t stay on the field. Credit Minnesota on what they did defensively, Coach Flores [defensive coordinator Brian Flores], they did their stuff. And we didn’t overcome a few things. Had a couple of setbacks on first down. Had too many seconds and longs. But this game is not about one person or one man. It’s a team sport, and we just didn’t do enough today.”
On what kind of feedback QB Mac Jones gave him about his two interceptions:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Honestly, we’ve got to watch the tape tomorrow, watch it with them, the players, get feedback, because I didn’t necessarily speak to them after. The two change of possessions like that, we were right back on defense, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him at that time.”
On if Pederson received any feedback from Jones in the locker room postgame:
DOUG PEDERSON: “He’s hurting. He’s taking it hard. I just told him, it’s again it’s not about one guy. This is a team deal and offensively we didn’t do enough around Mac — and I’m not — listen, it takes 11 guys.”
On why it was difficult for Jacksonville to get its wide receivers involved against Minnesota:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Minnesota did a nice job. They showed, if you watch the game, they showed a lot of six up, seven up, which they do. Play a lot of Cover 2, spin out to Cover 2, a lot of cloud stuff. Then, of course, the pass rush. So it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge. And we obviously have to do a better job when we see that kind of stuff and execute. As coaches, we can prepare a little better there and help our guys out. But I credit what they did.”
On what Pederson’s level of disappointment is this season given the Jaguars are 2-8:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Never expected to be here. We had five or six games, they’re one-score games. It’s hard. As a team, as coaches, we’re making it hard, too hard. And the guys are frustrated, and they should be; and they’re angry, and they should be because we all are. But we have to channel it in a positive way and get ready for another one.”
On how to get WR Brian Thomas Jr. involved and if Minnesota played more cloud defense:
DOUG PEDERSON: “They did play it more. I mean, this is a Cover 2 defense. And they did a lot of that today. Then, again, their pass rush did a nice job. Got some pressure on Mac, made him scramble early, and then so it’s a combination of both. It’s what they did schematically to us and then just our execution offensively.”
On what was supposed to happen during the play in which Jones threw his second interception:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m not going to go through the details of the play because you guys wouldn’t figure it out. But we’ll look at the tape tomorrow and we’ll make those corrections.”
On if Pederson is shocked that the Jaguars moved the ball so well during the beginning of the game but not throughout the whole game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I wasn’t shocked during the game. That’s what we’re expected to do. I think as the game progressed, it just got seemingly worse, right, first down, run the ball, we got behind the chains. Second and long. It just got harder offensively. That was the frustrating part, I think, just not staying positive on first down because you go back to that drive, that’s what we did. We were able to stay on the field and stay positive on first down.”