Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars

Legendary Jaguars RB Fred Taylor a semifinalist for 2025 HOF class

Legendary Jaguars RB Fred Taylor a semifinalist for 2025 HOF class

Not much has gone right for the Jaguars this season. Perhaps the Pro Football Hall of Fame can help them end the year, and 30th anniversary as a team, on a good note.

Legendary former Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor was one of 25 “Modern-Era Players” named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Wednesday, the organization announced.

It marks the sixth consecutive class in which Taylor has been named a semifinalist; he advanced to the round of 15 modern-era finalists for the first time last year.

Among the nominees, Taylor is tied with former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne for the fourth-most semifinalist nods. Former St. Louis Rams (and one-year Jaguars) wide receiver Torry Holt leads the group with 11; former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson are tied for second with nine.

Taylor, Jacksonville’s ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Florida, spent 11 seasons with the Jaguars and holds the franchise’s all-time rushing yards record with 11,271. He also rushed for 62 touchdowns and caught 286 passes for 2,361 yards and eight touchdowns with the club.

Taylor’s 11,695 career rushing yards, of which 1,299 were compiled with the New England Patriots between 2009-10, are the 17th most in league history. Every eligible running back ahead of Taylor on the list is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

The candidate pool for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was cut from 167 “modern-era players” to 25 on Wednesday, including six first-year eligible players: Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and offensive lineman Marshall Yanda, Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Find the 25 semifinalists below.

  • Eric Allen, CB — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25)
  • Jared Allen, DE — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25)
  • Willie Anderson, T — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25)
  • Anquan Boldin, WR — 2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25)
  • Jahri Evans, G — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2023-25)
  • Antonio Gates, TE — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2024-25)
  • James Harrison, LB — 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2023-25)
  • Rodney Harrison, S — 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021, 2023-25)
  • Torry Holt, WR — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 11 – 2015-2025)
  • Luke Kuechly, LB — 2012-19 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Eli Manning, QB — 2004-2019 New York Giants | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Robert Mathis, DE/LB — 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25)
  • Steve Smith Sr., WR — 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25)
  • Terrell Suggs, LB/DE — 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Fred Taylor, RB — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2020-25)
  • Earl Thomas, DB — 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Adam Vinatieri, PK — 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Hines Ward, WR — 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2017-2025)
  • Ricky Watters, RB — 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020, 2022-25)
  • Reggie Wayne, WR — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2020-25)
  • Richmond Webb, T — 1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
  • Vince Wilfork, DT — 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25)
  • Steve Wisniewski, G — 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2014, 2025)
  • Darren Woodson, S — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2025)
  • Marshal Yanda, G/T — 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)

Could Bill Belichick be eyeing a coaching job with this AFC team?

Is Bill Belichick eyeing another AFC team?

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is still believed to have an interest in coaching in 2025. According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, one team that could particularly be of interest to the legendary coach is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Belichick hasn’t coached since splitting with the Patriots back in January. He was passed over in the initial wave of head coaching hirings. Since then, he has kept busy, appearing on multiple television programs and speaking at clinics.

“Belichick certainly has his eye on this Jacksonville opening,” Russini said on “Scoop City” podcast. “This is an organization that has tons of respect for Belichick. They’ve got a good relationship already. … When you think about what they’re looking for and need there, it starts to make sense. This is a team that’s looking for structure. They’re looking for good situational football. They’re looking for a coach that can maximize talent, specifically on defense. They’ve got solid-to-good guys on their defense.

“The things they’re looking for make sense. But the question that I’m gonna have about how the Belichick situation is gonna work is what is going to be the power dynamic? Is he gonna get the keys to the castle? If they’re gonna give him unilateral control, like allow him to do that, why wouldn’t he go there?”

Of course, this would all hinge on Doug Pederson being fired and the team offering Belichick the job.

It’s a hypothetical situation with many interesting storylines. For one, Mac Jones is currently the backup quarterback for the Jaguars. Belichick spent a first-round draft pick in 2021 on Jones, in an attempted Patriots rebuild that failed to work.

But would Belichick actually agree to not having total control of the team in terms of personnel? It would be one of the biggest stories in 2025 if things unfolded that way.

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Jaguars move WR Gabe Davis to, RB Keilan Robinson from IR

Jaguars move WR Gabe Davis to, RB Keilan Robinsion from IR

The Jaguars moved starting wide receiver Gabe Davis to and rookie running back Keilan Robinson from their injured reserve on Tuesday, ending the former’s season and beginning the latter’s.

Davis was ruled out for the season with a reported meniscus tear, suffered in Jacksonville’s Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions, by Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday.

“He is going to miss the rest of the season. It is confirmed, this morning,” Pederson said. “Gosh, I hate it for him. He’s battled through some injuries this season but he was in good spirits today when I saw him. But he’ll miss the remainder of the year.”

Davis finished his first season with the Jaguars having caught 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March after posting 163 receptions for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns over four years with Buffalo to begin his NFL career.

Robinson, Jacksonville’s No. 167 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, has yet to play a down with the Jaguars after missing the preseason with a toe injury and being placed on injured reserve in August.

Over four seasons of college playing time, his first with Alabama and final three with Texas, Robinson rushed 116 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 35 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns, averaged 23.5 yards per kickoff return and scored two special teams touchdowns.

NFL Network evaluates Jaguars NFL draft needs for potential No. 1 pick

NFL Network evaluates Jaguars NFL draft needs for potential No. 1 pick

Jacksonville slipped back into possession of the No. 1 selection in the 2025 NFL draft after losing to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, and its crippling Week 12 defeat against the Detroit Lions further entrenched the Jaguars into the top of the picking (not a typo) order.

There remain seven weeks of regular season NFL action to determine which non-playoff teams pick where.

But, in the event the Jaguars hold the top spot, NFL Network analyst Chad Reuter on Monday broke down Jacksonville’s biggest positional needs and analyzed arguably their biggest priority, improved protection for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Biggest needs: CB, S, WR, OT, DT

Week 12 opponent: BYE

Remaining strength of schedule: .333 (32nd)

The Jaguars should be evaluating offensive tackle prospects in the top half of the draft as they look to protect Trevor Lawrence. Right tackle Anton Harrison and backup Javon Foster, a fourth-round pick this year, are the only true OTs under contract beyond this season with Walker Little headed for free agency.

NFL draft declarations have yet to begin pouring in from college football. But of anticipated prospects, four currently own first-round marks on the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board: LSU left tackle Will Campbell, Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and right tackle Cameron Williams, and Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery.

The Jaguars are certain to be connected with star Colorado two-way player. cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter Jr., throughout the draft process so long as they maintain the top pick. He is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft pool.

Doug Pederson distances from Shad Khan’s preseason Jaguars commentary

Doug Pederson distances from Shad Khan’s preseason Jaguars commentary

Jaguars owner Shad Khan jinxed himself.

Ahead of Jacksonville’s 2024 training camp and preseason, Khan addressed the team and explicitly stated his expectations for it to win football games, implicitly demanding the Jaguars emerge as legitimate contenders in the NFL playoff picture.

The club released Khan’s commentary in a documentary before the campaign kicked off.

“About a month ago we celebrated the city’s partnership with the Jaguars and the approval of funding for the new stadium of the future. So, I met with the reporters and the discussion obviously quickly turned to football and I was quoted, ‘For us, winning now is the expectation,’ ” Khan recalled.

“So really I [have] been looking forward to tonight to set the record straight. I was not misquoted. And let me just repeat, winning now is the expectation. Make no mistake, this is the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars, ever. Best players, best coaches. But most importantly, let’s prove it by winning now.”

What, or who, gave Khan that impression is ambiguous. The 2024 Jaguars, now 2-9 and in early possession of the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, had yet to conduct a padded practice at that point, though they had led all NFL teams in total offseason spending by over $100 million.

But Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson made two things clear Monday: It wasn’t him, and he isn’t sure who gave Khan that idea.

“I don’t know,” Pederson said. “I’m not privy to those conversations that Shad has or who he’s talking to. I don’t know. I can’t answer that.”

Pressed further about whether or not it was he who offered such lofty praise, Pederson swiftly shot down the notion.

“No,” he said while appearing to shake his head.

Pederson, who added that he spoke with Kahn shortly after Jacksonville’s franchise-worst, 52-6 loss to Detroit, understood where the long-time owner of the franchise was coming from, though.

“I mean, going into the season you’ve got high expectations, obviously, for your football team, as you should,” he explained. “Everybody does. Start of camp, start of the regular season, and rightfully so.”

The Jaguars have come nowhere near that mark, however, as they find themselves in the thick of their second four-game losing streak of the year.

Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke exhausted significant resources this offseason, not only expenditures but also spending nine NFL draft picks, a plethora of moves that likely influenced Khan’s encouraged opinion about the Jaguars.

But Baalke was not building upon a performance that should have inspired Khan. After opening the 2023 season 8-3 with firm control of the AFC South, the Jaguars went 1-5 in their final six games and missed the playoffs, leading to an aggressive offseason approach in 2024.

The plan backfired. The Jaguars were the first team to be eliminated from contention for a No. 1 playoff seed this season, when the final whistle blew in Detroit on Sunday, per NFLplayoffscenarios.com.

Expressing appreciation for the timing of Jacksonville’s Week 12 bye, especially after its loss to Detroit, Pederson commended Jaguars players for working through the wear and tear of 11 consecutive games and stated the embarrassing performance did not represent the team’s ability or lack thereof.

He believes the week off should benefit the Jaguars, allowing players to refresh and coaches to recalibrate their approach before their final six games.

“My hat is off to those players because of what they battle through,” Pederson said.

“And so, yeah, you can criticize me all you want, point the finger at me. That’s fine because that’s where it starts. But for the players, they put their best foot forward every single day. Yesterday was not who we are.”

Doug Pederson confirms Jaguars WR Gabe Davis is out for the season

Doug Pederson confirms Jaguars WR Gabe Davis is out for the season

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Monday that starting wide receiver Gabe Davis suffered a season-ending knee injury in Jacksonville’s 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 11.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning that Davis is believed to have suffered a meniscus tear against the Lions on Sunday. The extent of the tear had yet to be determined, although Rapoport indicated such knowledge would be gleaned when Davis undergoes surgery.

“He is going to miss the rest of the season. It is confirmed, this morning,” Pederson said. “Gosh, I hate it for him. He’s battled through some injuries this season but he was in good spirits today when I saw him. But he’ll miss the remainder of the year.”

Davis nursed a knee injury throughout the offseason, his first with Jacksonville after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, which lingered into the campaign. It paired with Davis hurting his shoulder in the Jaguars’ Week 3 loss to his former team.

Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, has caught 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns with the Jaguars. He has logged 163 receptions for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career.

Jacksonville has now lost two starting receivers to a season-ending injury this year. Slot receiver Christian Kirk went down with a broken collarbone in the Jaguars’ Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Jaguars snap counts and splits vs. Lions

Jaguars snap counts and splits vs. Lions

The Jaguars exhausted most of their resources in their 52-6 loss to the Lions in Week 11, deploying all but two players, backup quarterback C.J. Beathard and practice squad call-up wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., amid the bludgeoning.

Find Jacksonville’s team-wide snap counts and playing time splits against Detroit below.

Jaguars offense

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 17: Mac Jones #10 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a pass in the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

OL Anton Harrison: 48 (100%)

OT Walker Little: 48 (100%)

OG Brandon Scherff: 48 (100%)

QB Mac Jones: 48 (100%)

OG Ezra Cleveland: 47 (98%)

WR Brian Thomas Jr.: 45 (94%)

C Mitch Morse: 39 (81%)

TE Evan Engram: 36 (75%)

RB Travis Etienne Jr.: 36 (75%)

WR Parker Washington: 28 (58%)

WR Gabe Davis: 26 (54%)

TE Brenton Strange: 24 (50%)

WR Devin Duvernay: 14 (29%)

TE Luke Farrell:14 (29%)

RB D’Ernest Johnson: 13 (27%)

C Luke Fortner: 9 (19%)

WR Tim Jones: 4 (8%)

OG Blake Hance: 1 (2%)

Jaguars defense

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 17: David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field on November 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

S Darnell Savage Jr.: 78 (99%)

LB Devin Lloyd: 71 (90%)

CB Tyson Campbell: 71 (90%)

LB Foysesade Oluokun: 65 (82%)

DE Travon Walker: 57 (72%)

S Andre Cisco: 52 (66%)

CB Jarrian Jones: 49 (62%)

CB Ronald Darby: 47 (59%)

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter: 44 (56%)

DT DaVon Hamilton: 43 (54%)

DE Josh Hines-Allen: 43 (54%)

CB Montaric Brown: 40 (51%)

LB Ventrell Miller: 37 (47%)

DT Tyler Lacy: 36 (46%)

DT Jordan Jefferson: 35 (44%)

DE Arik Armstead: 33 (42%)

S Antonio Johnson: 29 (37%)

DE Myles Cole: 27 (34%)

LB Chad Muma: 12 (15%)

Jaguars special teams

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions talks with head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Lions defeated the Jaguars, 52-6, at Ford Field on November 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

LB Chad Muma: 24 (92%)

LB Caleb Johnson: 24 (92%)

S Andrew Wingard: 24 (92%)

S Antonio Johnson: 19 (73%)

TE Brenton Strange: 18 (69%)

WR Tim Jones: 16 (62%)

LB Anthony Pittman: 16 (62%)

TE Josiah Deguara: 16 (62%)

LB Ventrell Miller: 14 (54%)

WR Devin Duvernay: 9 (35%)

TE Luke Farrell: 9 (35%)

LB Foyesade Oluokun: 8 (31%)

DE Travon Walker: 8 (31%)

CB Ronald Darby: 8 (31%)

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter: 8 (31%)

DT DaVon Hamilton: 8 (31%)

CB Montaric Brown: 8 (31%)

DE Josh Hines-Allen: 7 (27%)

S Daniel Thomas: 7 (27%)

LS Ross Matiscik: 7 (27%)

P Logan Looke: 7 (27%)

K Cam Little: 4 (15%)

OT Anton Harrison: 2 (8%)

OT Walker Little: 2 (8%)

OG Ezra Cleveland: 2 (8%)

C Luke Fortner: 2 (8%)

OG Blake Hance: 2 (8%)

DT Tyler Lacy: 2 (8%)

OT Cole Van Lanen: 2 (8%)

Report: Jaguars WR Gabe Davis believed to have suffered meniscus tear

Report: Jaguars WR Gabe Davis believed to have suffered meniscus tear

Jaguars starting wide receiver Gabe Davis is believed to have suffered a meniscus tear in Jacksonville’s 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 11, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

Davis is expected to undergo surgery to treat the injury, per Rapoport, although it is currently unclear if a partial or full repair will be necessary. The former would leave the door open for Davis to return to play this season; the latter would likely end his campaign.

Davis signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with the Jaguars this offseason after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills.

He has played through nagging knee and shoulder injuries in his first season with the Jaguars, having missed only one game but exited multiple through Week 11.

Davis has logged 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville, bringing his career totals to 163 catches for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Lamar Jackson (!), Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins and the grossest NFL quarterbacks of Week 11

Week 11’s two most disappointing quarterbacks squared off in Pittsburgh and it was… kinda great?

Lamar Jackson does not enjoy facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He may get excited for it. He may fully understand the gravity of one of the game’s best rivalries. But there’s no team in the NFL he’s been worse against. His 5:8 touchdown:interception ratio and 66.7 passer rating are both career worsts against any opponent he’s faced as a pro.

That held true in Week 11 when he traveled to the former Heinz Field for a familiar struggle. Jackson had one of his worst performances of the season Sunday. Was he the week’s most disappointing quarterback?

Fortunately, we’ve got a metric that can help figure that out.

Using the advanced stat expected points added (EPA) can gauge how much a quarterback brings to the table compared to a typical player. By comparing each passer’s Week 11 EPA against their 2024 average to date we get a better picture of just how frustrating their performances were. And we can find both of those thanks to The Athletic’s Ben Baldwin and his incredibly useful stats sites RBSDM.com and HabitatRing.com.

This is a metric that gauges disappointment based on what we’d typically expect. Will Levis had a negative EPA in Week 11 while losing to the Minnesota Vikings, but he pretty much always has a negative EPA, so he missed the list. Who was the worst? There were several candidates but only one man can truly call himself the grossest quarterback of Week 11.

Please bear with me for any Twitter embed issues. Our editing software has become a whole problem on that front the past few weeks. Rest assured, if there’s a play alluded to in the text it’s worth clicking through to see if it didn’t make it into the article itself.

5. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars

David Reginek-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: -7.7

Week 11 EPA: -11

Difference: 3.3 points worse

via habitatring.com
I’m beginning to think Bill Belichick wasn’t Mac’s problem.

4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 6.1

Week 11 EPA: 0.1

Difference: 6.0 points worse

Daniels was once again fine — his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles could have even been encouraging for a typical rookie quarterback. But that’s not what Daniels is; he’s an immediate star who put up MVP caliber numbers his first half-season in the NFL.

On Thursday, he was stymied by an Eagles defense that his evolving into a terrifying presence. Since its Week 5 bye, Philadelphia has only allowed more than 20 points once. Their -0.235 EPA allowed per play over that stretch is best in the league.

That doesn’t explain this interception, however.

With Terry McLaurin bracketed, Daniels only threw four passes that traveled more than 10 yards downfield in Week 11. He completed as many to Reed Blankenship as his own teammates.

3. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 2.7

Week 11 EPA: -6.8

Difference: 9.5 points worse

For the second straight game, Cousins was kept out of the end zone and threw an interception. That was a difference maker in a close loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. But in Week 11 he got boat raced by Bo Nix, which feels so, so much worse.

Cousins struggled against a top three passing defense that’s getting an All-Pro season from Patrick Surtain II and a Pro Bowl-ish emergence from Riley Moss. Together, they limited Atlanta’s top downfield targets — Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts — to six catches and 97 yards on 14 targets. Half of his 18 completions came within one yard of the line of scrimmage.

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 11.3

Week 11 EPA: 0

Difference: 11.3 points worse

Well, that’s not going to help Jackson’s back-to-back MVP argument. The dynamic dual-threat quarterback was capably wrangled by one of the defenses that knows him best. The Pittsburgh Steelers limited him to 253 total yards and, impressively, a sub-50 percent completion rate at Acrisure Stadium.

Granted, that wasn’t entirely his fault:

Still, this was a departure from the dynamic downfield passer who’d been able to hit his targets in stride and lead wideouts to big gains after the catch. He threw seven deep balls and only one was caught — and that was by Steelers rookie Payton Wilson in an absurd play.

This led to an overall neutral performance. Jackson, statistically, didn’t add anything to the Ravens’ offense. He didn’t take anything away, either. That doesn’t make him the worst quarterback of Week 11, but it does represent a disappointing performance from the MVP front runner.

1. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 4.5

Week 11 EPA: -13.7

Difference: 18.2 points worse

Well, this is unusual. The grossest quarterback of the week faced off with the runner-up and still managed to escape with a win. Even after he did this!

Wilson had his typical moon ball success with George Pickens for a 37-yard gain, but was otherwise short on explosive plays. He averaged just 4.1 yards per dropback, factoring in a single rushing yard on four attempts and four sacks taken.

Wilson was pressured significantly less often than Jackson (29 percent to Jackson’s 43 percent) but still managed to find trouble. This was a throwback to the Broncos version of the Pro Bowl quarterback. Pittsburgh won regardless because there’s no franchise in the league better suited to survive mediocre passing. Could this be an omen of things to come?

Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ historic loss vs. Lions

Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ historic loss vs. Lions

The Lions delivered the Jaguars their worst loss in franchise history on Sunday, a 52-6 beatdown in which Detroit scored touchdowns over its first seven drives while Jacksonville managed only two field goals in 60 minutes.

Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the game below.

On what Pederson said to the Jaguars in the locker room after the loss:

DOUG PEDERSON: “It’s difficult to find words because everybody is so disappointed, frustrated, angry. It’s the emotion of how much you put into the week and then playing like we did, so it’s just frustrating. Our break, obviously, comes at a right time. Our guys need some time away, they need to refresh, recharge. Coaches, players, but we do need to take, I think, the first part of the week and really reflect and go back and study as coaches to see what’s been good and what hasn’t been good. So, that’s the great opportunity that we have. Six games left and it’ll be exciting because most of those, I think four of the six, are division games and still an opportunity there.”

On if Pederson thinks the Jaguars defense is fatigued:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I feel like it’s been a long season, 11 games, two weeks in London obviously, and travel and whatnot. I did and I do, and I think the guys need a break. But I’m sure if you ask them, they probably feel tired. They feel drained a little bit and they need to refresh and get ready to go.”

On if Pederson thinks this is his last game coaching the Jaguars:

DOUG PEDERSON: “You know what, I can’t control that and you know – listen, I’ve been around this League a long time and if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen obviously, but at the same time, I still have a job to do and that’s to get ready for a good division opponent here in two weeks.”

On if Pederson anticipates the coaching staff changing over the bye week:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I don’t know yet. Something I have to think about and it’s just – it’s hard. It’s hard to put it all on, I think, one person. I think coaches have to look at themselves, we have to look – I have to start there, look at myself and obviously the staff and what are we doing, how are we preparing our players, and then same way with the players, right? They have to look at themselves and be critical of themselves and then make the changes, make the corrections that we need to get better. So, I’ll process a few things and – but I’m glad that we have the bye right now though.”

On how formidable the Lions’ offense was:

DOUG PEDERSON: “It’s a good team, yeah, they’re rolling. They’re playing well. [Lions QB] Jared [Goff]’s playing really good and it’s – you can see how this teams really come together, all three phases are playing well. So, credit what [Lions Head] Coach [Dan] Campbell’s been doing and really getting these guys to buy in and play well.”

On Pederson’s expectations for the rest of the season:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I mean there’s always that possibility, but I don’t think so, not with this group. I think this group will continue to respond and do the things necessary to prepare for a football game. I don’t – I’ve never sensed that with this group and don’t anticipate that.”

On whether Pederson feels the Lions took the heart out of the Jaguars or if the defense was just fatigued:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I think it’s the latter, honestly. I think the fact that we’ve been on the field way too long defensively the last four weeks and that’s a combination of offense has to do their part which hasn’t been able to do. Stay on the field and score points and we haven’t been able to do that and that’s what we have to look at there too. But I think there is some of that fatigue there of playing a lot of snaps in these last couple of weeks.”

On Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence having a good chance to play coming off of the bye week:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I mean we’ll see. We’ll see how he does during the week of this bye and see where he’s at. I’m not going to commit right now obviously. We still have a ways away, but we’ll see. We’ll see how he does this week, and we have time, so we’ll figure that out.”

On if the first two weeks of the Jaguars’ season set the tone for the rest of the season:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I think I look at that and I have looked at that and I have thought about that and sometimes it’s interesting how a play or two here or there can kind of change the course of a season. That’s so early in the season though that you still have time to fix it. So, it’s hard to maybe say it was just that, but some of the mistakes still being made just have to be fixed, have to be corrected. But again, it’s not a lack of effort or physicality or nothing like that. We just need – this team needs a break.”

On what the Lions defense did to keep the Jaguars’ offense out of the end zone: 

DOUG PEDERSON: “Nothing, they just played their scheme. They just played their defense, it’s a good defense. They played fast today, and they did a nice job, and we got in that high red area, they did a nice job of just holding us to three there a couple of times. But they just played their deal.”