The Jaguars (2-6) could not keep up with the Packers (6-2) on Sunday, falling 30-27 yet only holding or tying the lead for six minutes and 25 seconds during the matchup.
Jacksonville nearly pulled off a second-half comeback despite experiencing a slew of injuries to its starting lineup. But Green Bay, which lost starting quarterback Jordan Love early in the third quarter due to an injury of his own, responded each time the Jaguars pulled control of the game within reach, finishing with a walk-off field goal.
Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the loss below.
On how the Jaguars’ locker room is after the close loss and all the injuries:
DOUG PEDERSON: “They’re devastated. They’re heartbroken. They’ve battled their tails off. They fought until the end quite frankly. That’s all I can ask for. But I also want them to understand too that these games come down to about two plays, three plays. Can’t give the ball away like we did late deep in our own end. We didn’t tackle very well defensively. There are some things that we need to clean up and continue to clean up if we want to get back on track.”
On quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s 87-yard drive to tie the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I think, yeah, he did a nice job. I give credit to those receivers and those tight ends and the offensive line. Those guys, they made plays for him, right? Now, he made some really good throws and all of that, but those guys that were playing at the end of the game when you are down your top three receivers and you’re playing in your 12 personnel for the rest of the game, that’s tough. But the guys battled their tails off. Got us back to tying this football game with a chance to potentially win it there late. Hats off to those guys.
On what the Jaguars’ defensive strategy was at the end of the game and if they meant to let the Packers score:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Look, I mean, the only way for us to get the ball back was to make decision that could let them score. They’re going to be in church mode. It was almost inevitable. You are playing the game, and you’re trying to do what you can to save time, get as much time back on that clock as you can. They did a great job. We would have done the same thing. Get the first down. You go down, make your opponent — in this case myself — burn your last time-out. Things of that nature. Honestly, it’s smart on both sides to play it that way.”
On wide receiver Christian Kirk’s injury:
DOUG PEDERSON: “On the injuries, guys, I haven’t talked to Ferg [Vice President of Player Health and Performance Jeff Ferguson] yet. I came straight in here, but I’ll probably have something later and know more tomorrow when I get the updates.”
On Lawrence shaking off a fumble before the 87-yard drive:
DOUG PEDERSON: “That’s our sport, right? It’s that mental toughness I talk about with the team. We can’t turn the ball over that deep. Obviously we know that, but the resilient part of that is how we battle back and got ourselves in position to tie the football game. That’s the mindset. That’s the mindset we have to have in the first quarter. That will be something that we can I think learn from moving forward.”
On if Pederson thought of going for a two-point conversion at the end:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Not with the time remaining. If there was maybe 20 seconds or less potentially go for it there, but with the amount of time that was left in the game and a couple of time-outs, no, kick it and tie it.”
On how disappointing it was to see the Packers have a big offensive play at the end of the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Well, I mean, it’s disappointing that we gave up that. I look at it too. It shouldn’t have necessarily come to that, but again, it just goes back to what I said too, right. You never know which two or three plays are going to be the ones that decide football games. You just have to be ready. Make the ones that come to you and credit them. They hit it, and put them in position to win the game.”