Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars played exactly like a team that’s about to fire its head coach

The Lions had no mercy and Doug Pederson’s about to have no job.

On Friday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported the Jacksonville Jaguars were one loss away from firing head coach Doug Pederson. This was not surprising. After an impressive 2022 debut, Pederson spiraled into the same pit of despair over which the Jaguars claim dominion.

His one chance to save his job, seemingly, came down to a game against the NFC’s best team on the road. As a 13.5-point underdog. With Mac Jones as his starting quarterback.

Things went roughly as expected, though Jones’s offense wasn’t the biggest problem in Jacksonville’s Week 11 52-6 implosion against the Detroit Lions. Instead, that honor goes to a defense that gave up 645 yards of total offense.

That was just one of seven touchdowns Detroit scored in Week 11. Those came on their first seven drives. Drive number eight ended in a field goal. Drive nine, engineered primarily by Hendon Hooker and Sione Vaki, gained 54 yards in 11 plays before the clock mercifully ran out.

On one hand, this was an uneven matchup between a wildly talented team and an objectively bad one. The Jaguars had the league’s worst defense. The Lions had a top six unit capable of shredding you on the ground or through the air. With little resistance to either, Detroit head coach Dan Campbell executed a mercy killing on Pederson’s Jacksonville career by stomping his team into a puddle in both regards.

The Jaguars tried, but not really. This was a team hung out to dry. They were challenged by their ownership to rise up and save their head coach’s job if they truly wanted Pederson in the fold. They responded by taking a beating the likes of which hasn’t been seen in the NFL in more than four decades.

This was a silent vote of no confidence with a deafening effect. It wasn’t the mere outcome of a talent disparity or Jones’s presence behind center. This is a team that leaned into the skid knowing the only way out of the ice cave of defeat in which it’s been trapped is to go deeper into the crevasse and start over.

Thus, the Doug Pederson era likely ends not with a bang but with the volumeless screech of a black hole set down upon a bustling town. Pederson, should he be fired Monday, finishes his Jaguars career on a 3-14 slide owed partially to injuries to Trevor Lawrence, partially to the drafting and talent acquisition around him and partially to Pederson’s own inability to create something more valuable than the sum of its parts.

It’s a remarkable fall for a coach who’d began his Jacksonville career with a 17-11 run and one of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history. But it’s one his players quietly signed off on in the midst of a historic loss.

Lions lambaste spiraling Jaguars, 52-6

Lions lambaste spiraling Jaguars, 52-6

If the Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke era in Jacksonville ended on Sunday, it did so in history-making fashion.

The Lions (9-1) handed the Jaguars (2-9) their biggest loss in the franchise’s 30-year annals, with quarterback Jared Goff passing for four touchdowns and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs rushing for three scores in Detroit’s 52-6 triumph.

Jacksonville’s biggest loss before this weekend came in the club’s debut season, a 44-0 defeat in Detroit 30 years ago.

The media arm of the National Football League, NFL Network reported Saturday that the Jaguars could make a “dramatic move” by dismissing Pederson, their head coach, and Baalke, their general manager, following a loss to the Lions, potentially during Jacksonville’s Week 12 bye.

If Jaguars owner Shad Khan intends to base such a decision on this game, it would be difficult for anyone to come up with a counterargument.

Jacksonville’s offense was again inept without franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who missed his second consecutive game with a left shoulder injury.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones completed 17-of-29 passes for 138 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. Jacksonville’s rushing game garnered a mere 2.4 yards per carry over 17 tries.

The Jaguars finished drives in Lions’ territory only three-of-nine times, taking 59 and 35-yard field goals from rookie kicker Cam Little and blowing a late third-quarter series with Jones intercepted by Detroit safety Kerby Joseph.

Detroit, meanwhile, posted touchdowns on seven straight possessions, beginning on their 70-yard opening drive with a two-yard score by Montgomery. Five of the Lions’ scoring series went for at least 80 yards.

The Lions finished with a single-game franchise-best 645 yards offensively. They went 6-of-10 on third down and three-of-three on fourth down.

The Jaguars will return to action in Jacksonville in Week 13, set to host the Houston Texans (6-4) on Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. ET. Time will tell if Pederson and Baalke will be with them.

Jameson Williams hilariously channeled Marshawn Lynch on an electric TD vs. the Jaguars

Marshawn Lynch should be VERY proud of Jameson Williams.

Once upon a time, Marshawn Lynch captivated the NFL world with his electric “Beast Quake” touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 playoffs. The play became synonymous with Lynch’s NSFW celebration, where he grabs his groin while leaping backward into the end zone.

Young Detroit Lions star receiver Jameson Williams saw an opportunity to perfectly channel that famous moment against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

With the Lions already laying a beatdown on Jacksonville in the early third quarter, Williams took an intermediate pass and turned it into an electric 64-yard touchdown when he ran past the entire Jaguars defense. And as he crossed the plane, Williams leaped backward and recreated Lynch’s hilarious taunt.

It doesn’t get better than that:

Somewhere, you better believe that Lynch saw this Williams replay and smiled. As he should.

Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Find Jacksonville and Detroit’s inactive lists for Week 11 below.

Jaguars inactives

  • QB Trevor Lawrence
  • RB Tank Bigsby
  • OL Javon Foster
  • DL Maason Smith
  • DL Esezi Otomewo
  • LB Yasir Abdullah
  • CB De’Antre Prince

Analysis: The Jaguars ruled starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Week 11 on Wednesday, running back Tank Bigsby out on Friday and backup linebacker Yasir Abdullah out on Saturday.

Not on Jacksonville’s inactive list, importantly, is starting left guard Ezra Cleveland, who will return to action after missing the Jaguars’ last two games with an ankle injury. He was labeled questionable for the contest on Friday.

Lions inactives

  • TE Sam LaPorta
  • OL Colby Sorsdal
  • OL Christian Mahogany
  • OL Giovanni Manu
  • DL Al-Quadin Muhammad
  • S Loren Strickland

Analysis: Detroit’s most notable inactive player is starting tight end SamLaPorta, who was ruled out of Week 11 with a shoulder injury on Friday. The Lions otherwise scratched three reserve offensive linemen, one backup defensive lineman and one depth safety against the Jaguars.

Report: Jaguars could make ‘dramatic move’ after a loss to Lions

Report: Jaguars could make ‘dramatic move’ after a loss to Lions

A “dramatic move” by the Jaguars could be in store if Jacksonville loses to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport reported that the Jaguars could fire head coach Doug Pederson, general manager Trent Baalke, or both if Jacksonville loses to Detroit in Week 11, potentially during the team’s Week 12 bye.

Jacksonville would enter its week off with a 2-9 record on the season, riding its second four-game losing skid of the year.

“The Jaguars, mired in a miserable rut after losing four of their last five games, might be looking at another regime change for 2025, and sources say a dramatic move could come as soon as this week, pending the results of Sunday’s game against the Lions,” Rapoport wrote.

” … Inside the building, several sources say change, including the organization potentially moving on from Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, would not be a surprise. Based on several conversations, while Jaguars staffers are still working and grinding, there is a pall permeating the situation. A doom.”

Such a decision by Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who deemed the 2024 Jaguars “the best team assembled” in franchise history during the preseason, would not necessarily be made on a whim. Jacksonville has gone 3-13 since Week 13 last year; it missed the playoffs in 2023 after opening the campaign 8-3.

Jacksonville vs. Detroit will kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

The Jaguars will be without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence — the centerpiece of Khan’s optimism for Jacksonville, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the club in June — against the Lions, marking his second inactive game in a row as he nurses a left shoulder injury.

Mac Jones, who completed 14-of-22 passes for 111 yards and committed three turnovers in his first start with Jacksonville, last week against Minnesota, will fill in for Lawrence against Detroit.

Jaguars vs. Lions: Reads, odds, where to watch, stream and more

Jaguars vs. Lions: Reads, odds, where to watch, stream and more

The Jaguars will get a break from their long 2024 season next week when they go on bye. But not before they face arguably their biggest challenge of the campaign on Sunday, a road matchup with the red-hot Lions.

Find everything you need to know ahead of Jacksonville vs. Detroit below.

Jaguars (2-8) vs. Lions (8-1): Week 11

Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

When: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Stream: Fubo (start your free trial here)

Radio: 1010 XL/92.5 FM Jacksonville

Series history: Detroit leads, 5-3.

Last meeting: The Lions beat the Jaguars, 40-14, at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 4, 2022.

Odds (as of 10:00 a.m. ET Sunday): Lions -13.5 | Jaguars +13.5, per BetMGM. The over/under is 47 points.

Important stories

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

The Jacksonville Jaguars hope to pull off a significant upset as they travel north to take on the Detroit Lions in a matchup with plenty of disadvantages.

Jacksonville enters Week 11 with the projected No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to Tankathon. The Jaguars are 2-8 and coming off a defensive slugfest of a loss against Minnesota without franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is out again this week with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

Head coach Doug Pederson will not have a ton of edges against the Lions. Jaguars Wire looks at a few key matchups that will be critical against the Lions on Sunday afternoon.

Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Detroit’s secondary

This is a big moment for the rookie receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the better wide receivers in the league this year, an impressive feat for a rookie. Now demanding double-coverage, per Pederson, Thomas will face an uber-talented Lions secondary that will likely continue that trend this weekend.

Thomas’ strength is his vertical game but he is much more than that as a receiver. He has developed into an all-around playmaker who threatens all three levels of the field with his speed, agility, fluidity and route running.

The challenge in Detroit will be taking on cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold and safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

There is an argument that Branch has had a defensive player-of-the-year-worthy season. And while Detroit’s defense has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (244.2) in the NFL this season, it also gives up the third-fewest passing touchdowns per game (0.8).

If Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor manufacture touches for Thomas, the Jaguars could find themselves in scoring positions more often. Thomas is bound for his true workhorse game and this week could be the one.

Jacksonville DE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Detroit OT Taylor Decker

Despite last week’s loss to Minnesota loss, Jacksonville edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen got the better of former teammate Cam Robinson, tallying eight pressures and forcing quarterback Sam Darnold into some rough decisions with the football.

According to Next Gen Stats, Hines-Allen leads the Jaguars in pressures and will line up opposite Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, whose pressure rate ranks in the bottom ten among players at his position at 10.6%.

This is one of the few Achilles heels on Detroit’s offense and there aren’t many of them. Decker is an overall sound tackle but arguably the weak link on the best offensive line in the NFL.

Hines-Allen has been a handful this season and has been continuously worthy of the contract extension that secured him as a true franchise cornerstone on a lowly team. A big day from the former Kentucky standout could keep this game a competitive one through all four quarters.

Jacksonville’s coaching vs. Detroit’s coaching

If you have watched any football between these two teams, it is clear there is a sizeable advantage. If not, this game features a Lions coaching staff that has one of the best offensive minds in the NFL in Ben Johnson, and a defensive coordinator who has his defense playing competitive football in Aaron Glenn.

Not to mention, Detroit is led by Dan Campbell, one of the most respected head coaches in football. It would be fair to expect him to get the most out of his players.

The Jaguars have been under a microscope for most of the season. After entering the season with playoff expectations, those expectations aren’t likely to be met unless they pull off a miraculous run in the final seven games.

If Pederson and the rest of his staff want to tone down the noise about their futures in Jacksonville, they must coach the best games of the season or at any point of their Jaguars tenure.

Last week, there were glimpses of the Jaguars generating more pressure with more blitzes. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen must coach a perfect game in this instance and find a way to force Lions quarterback Jared Goff into bad decisions for the second straight week.

Offensively, as stated in the aforementioned key matchup, having the game plan around getting the ball to Thomas is critical. Travis Etienne Jr.’s return to health helps with the loss of Tank Bigsby. Leaning on Thomas and Etienne will ease the pressure on backup quarterback Mac Jones.

It may seem like a tall task against one of the best coaching staffs in the league headed by Campbell, but the Jaguars have pulled off miracles under Pederson before. They could do it again in Detroit.

Jaguars make pair of practice squad promotions for Week 11

Jaguars make pair of practice squad promotions for Week 11

The Jaguars promoted wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. and linebacker Anthony Pittman from their practice squad to the active roster via standard elevation on Saturday for Jacksonville’s Week 11 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

The Jaguars also ruled rookie running back Keilan Robinson, who is currently designated to return from the injured reserve, out of the contest.

Jones signed with Jacksonville’s practice squad on Oct. 29. A third-round NFL draft pick by Chicago in 2022, Jones appeared in 27 games and made two starts with the Bears before being released on Oct. 26.

Jones logged 12 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown, 19 rushing attempts for 165 yards and one score, and averaged 26.7 yards per kickoff return over 29 tries with Chicago.

Pittman signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and carved out roles as a depth linebacker and special teamer with the Lions for five seasons, recording 12 total tackles, one defended pass and one forced fumble.

Pittman signed with Washington this offseason but was released during the Commanders’ preseason roster cutdown. He joined the Jaguars’ practice squad on Oct. 7.

Jaguars rule LB out vs. Lions

Jaguars rule LB out vs. Lions

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a late addition to their Week 11 injury report and will be without linebacker Yasir Abdullah against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the club announced on Saturday.

Abdullah will not travel with the Jaguars to Detroit as he nurses a hamstring injury.

Jacksonville’s fifth-round, No. 136 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Abdullah has emerged as a key special teamer and carved out a role in the Jaguars’ linebacker rotation this season after playing minimally as a rookie.

Abdullah has logged 17 total tackles, of which three were recorded on special teams, in nine games this season.

The Jaguars officially ruled quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Tank Bigsby out against the Lions on Friday. Jacksonville also deemed running back Keilan Robinson, left guard Ezra Cleveland and defensive lineman Maason Smith questionable for the game.

Jacksonville vs. Detroit will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, at Ford Field.

Jaguars vs. Lions: Final injury reports, game statuses

Jaguars vs. Lions: Final injury reports, game statuses

Find Jacksonville and Detroit’s final injury reports and initial game statuses for Week 11 below.

* indicates upgraded status from the previous practice 

^ indicates player is designated to return from injured reserve 

Jaguars injury report

  • RB Keilan Robinson^ (toe) — full
  • RB D’Ernest Johnson (hamstring) — limited
  • WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) — limited
  • WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
  • OL Brandon Scherff (knee) — limited
  • OL Ezra Cleveland (ankle) — limited
  • OL Blake Hance (knee) — limited
  • DE Josh Hines-Allen (shoulder) — limited
  • DT Maason Smith (ankle) — limited
  • CB Tyson Campbell (shoulder) — limited
  • S Daniel Thomas (hamstring) — limited
  • QB Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder) — did not participate
  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — did not participate

Jaguars game statuses

  • RB Keilan Robinson: QUESTIONABLE
  • OL Ezra Cleveland: QUESTIONABLE
  • DL Maason Smith: QUESTIONABLE
  • QB Trevor Lawrence: OUT
  • RB Tank Bigsby: OUT

Analysis: After Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson ruled starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Week 11 on Wednesday, Jacksonville announced Friday that running back Tank Bigsby would not play against Detroit, either.

Pederson said Bigsby was slated to practice Friday after being sidelined Wednesday and Thursday, That did not end up being the case as Bigsby was a nonparticipant for the final session of the week.

Jaguars starting left guard Ezra Cleveland enters the matchup questionable. Pederson said Cleveland “should be good to go” Friday, after missing Jacksonville’s last two games.

Lions injury report

  • OT Taylor Decker (shoulder) — full*
  • DT Brodric Martin^ (knee) — full
  • LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) — full*
  • CB Carlton Davis (hand) — full
  • CB Emmanuel Moseley^ (pectoral) — full
  • TE Sam LaPorta (shoulder) — did not participate
  • LB Ben Niemann (ankle) — did not participate
  • S Ifeatu Melifonwu^ (ankle) — did not participate

Lions game statuses

  • LB Ben Niemann: QUESTIONABLE
  • TE Sam LaPorta: OUT
  • DT Brodric Martin: OUT
  • CB Emmanuel Moseley: OUT
  • S Ifeatu Melifonwu: OUT

Analysis: Star Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was ruled out against the Jaguars after missing each day of practice this week with a shoulder injury. Backup linebacker Ben Niemann joined the injury report Friday with an ankle injury.