Winners and losers from the Jags’ 41-17 loss vs. the Bears

The Jags may have lost big to the Chicago Bears, but they won big in terms of the 2021 draft.

Just as they have since Week 2, the Jacksonville Jaguars came out on the losing end Week 16. The loss marked their 14th straight game, this time to the Chicago Bears by the score of 41-17. With the loss, the Bears now have won the last three out of four matchups against Jacksonville and have helped cement the Jags with having the worst record in the NFL.

With their latest loss, the Cardiac Cats have not tasted victory since their season opener against their AFC South rivals in the Indianapolis Colts. Through multiple quarterback changes and key injuries, the Duval County faithful have not seen a win for quite some time and it’s been pretty hard to watch. The team allowed 40 points for the second time this season and have lost their last three games by double-digits.

In another demoralizing blowout, it’s hard to tell who truly stood out, however, there were the good spots along with the bad. Here are the winners and losers from the Jaguars Week 16 matchup against the Bears:

Winner: LB Joe Schobert

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars linebacker Joe Schobert had an active day in the midst of an offensive onslaught from the Bears. He finished the game with eight total tackles, one sack, a pass deflection, and an interception on a poorly decided throw by Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

Schobert provided a solid day in helping to slow down the run as Bears running back David Montgomery averaged 4.1 yards per carry. While that’s a good figure, much of his yards came off a big 26-yard rush.

On a day where the entire defense was completely gashed, the former Pro Bowl linebacker did well in making his presence felt during the game.

Loser: DT Taven Bryan

With a defense filled with injuries, 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan has not been heard from much.

An absolute afterthought on defense at this point, Bryan finished the game against the Bears with only one tackle and has not had more than 20 snaps in a game in the past three weeks. With the defense needing some kind of spark, the Jags have used undrafted rookie free agent defensive tackle Doug Costin in his place who has been much more effective as he finished with four tackles including one for loss.

As Bryan’s snap share dwindles, it could mean the end of his tenure soon in Jacksonville.

Loser: safety Josh Jones

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

We went with a second loser here because we wanted to save the best for last.

As for Josh Jones, Sunday was a rough day for him. In the first half, tight end Jimmy Graham was able to beat him for a touchdown pass on a slant route. Graham also beat him in the second half on a wheel route (loss his footing) that resulted in a touchdown, too, and there were moments in between where the veteran safety struggled.

Jones started his career in Jacksonville on a high note and was one of the standouts of their Week 1 victory, garnering a 70.3 Pro Football Focus grade. That came after a strong training camp that made the team confident enough to trade safety Ronnie Harrison to the Browns. However, since that moment it hasn’t been pretty and he currently holds a grade of 47.3 via PFF.

Winner: The Jacksonville Jaguars and their fanbase

How can a team that has done so much losing be winners? Well, the answer to that question was revealed this Sunday after the brutal loss from the Bears.

The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has been a huge topic this year as it has been regarded by many experts as one of the most quarterback-talented drafts in a long time. The race for the highly-coveted pick came down to the Jaguars and the New York Jets and was decided after the Jags’ loss against the Bears.

Both are teams that are trying to press the reset button on their current quarterback situation. That made the 2021 draft the perfect one to get the No. 1 pick, as Clemson Trevor Lawrence seems to be on the verge of declaring. As many know, that’s a huge deal because many draft pundits have deemed him the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.

Despite their loss Sunday, the Jets handled business on their end and won their second consecutive game. As a result, the Jags will have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

If Lawrence declares, Jacksonville could soon have their franchise quarterback in due time. Needless to say, that would be an incredible boost to a fanbase that has seen nothing but despair and failed quarterback selections over time.

Outside of an incredible 2017 season, the Jags fans have seen nothing but constant losing as they are 53-122 since 2010. If the Jaguars are able to successfully have Lawrence in a teal uniform, the fans will hope that he can finally be the one to turn around the misfortunes that have constantly plagued the franchise.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Postgame analysis: Jags get demolished by Bears, but win Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes

The Jags endured another beatdown Sunday but the sting didn’t last long as they acquired the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars kept it competitive in the first half against the Chicago Bears as they entered the half with the score at 13-10. However, the wheels fell off in the second half, and the result was a 41-17 beatdown.

The third quarter, in particular, was when the Bears came to life. With the first drive of the second half going to them, the Bears started things off with an 11-play drive of 77 yards. The drive was one that mostly featured former Jags receiver Allen Robinson, who was on fire for most of the game and finished the day with 10 catches for 103 yards. Once they found themselves in the end zone, quarterback Mitch Trubisky then took matters into his own hands and ran one in for six.

The next two Bears drives were also good for touchdowns. The drive that followed Trubisky’s touchdown mostly featured running back David Montgomery, who touched the ball five times in the eight-play drive. When the Bears got in striking range, he scored with a tough 6-yard score, which put the score at 27-10.

During the next drive, it only took Jags veteran quarterback Mike Glennon two plays to give the Bears the ball back as he threw a pick to linebacker Roquan Smith. The pick was his second by Smith, who played lights out on the defensive end.

Two plays later, Trubisky was able to hit tight end, Jimmy Graham, on a wheel route where he was able to get behind safety Josh Jones. The score then moved to a 34-10 figure with over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Jags couldn’t get much going in their next drive, either, and ended up punting the ball once again. The Bears then answered with a nine-play drive for just under 50 yards. Running back Artavis Pierce was the one to ultimately end it by getting in on the success of the run game with a 3-yard score. Kicker Cairo Santos then connected with the point after attempt late in the fourth quarter to put Chicago up 41-10.

A few drives later, Glennon would connect with receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. with a nice pass where he split the safeties to put the game at its final score of 41-17.

Ultimately, the Bears finished with 391 total yards on the day while the Jags had 279. Glennon finished the process 24-of-37 for 211 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. Running back Dare Ogunbowale, who started with James Robinson out, led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 71 yards.

In terms of receiving, D.J. Chark led the way with four catches for 62 yards. He also snagged one of the Jags’ two touchdowns in the first half with a highlight toe-tap reception on Bears rookie Kindle Vildor.

Defensively, cornerback Greg Mabin led the way with 10 tackles but they mostly came as a result of Robinson having his way with the secondary. Linebacker Joe Schobert wasn’t too far behind him with eight total tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, and a pick.

In the end, the score marked another embarrassing loss at home for Jacksonville, but the sting of getting ran out of their own stadium for the fans would only last for a little while. Moments later, the New York Jets, who played the Cleveland Browns, would eventually win their second consecutive game and hand the Jags the No. 1 overall pick.

With the Jags losing to the Bears and the Jets winning, the Jags could tie Gang Green’s record at the end of the season, but they won’t be able to surpass them as one game remains. If both the Jags and Jets finished with 2-14 records, the league’s tiebreaker rules would reward the Jags the No. 1 overall pick.

Of course, that put the Jags in the driver’s seat to draft Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is thought to be the next Andrew Luck-type prospect. Now, fans of the Jags will have to endure the wait as he makes his decision, but many believe he will enter the draft.

As for the current Jags roster, one game remains and it will be against their divisional rivals in the Indianapolis Colts. The game will be a must-win for Indy as they try and land a wild-card spot, which means the Jags could potentially spoil things with a win. Kickoff for that game will be on Sunday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. EST.

Will the Bears-Jags Week 16 game be on TV in your area?

The Jags’ coverage area for Week 16 won’t be great down south but will be great near the Chicago area as the Bears try to make the playoffs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2020 home schedule will conclude Sunday as they host the Chicago Bears Week 16. Unlike the Jags, Chicago will come into the game with postseason aspirations and in control of their playoff destiny after the Arizona Cardinals failed to register a win against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.

As for the Jags, they will continue to fight as they have all season even if they aren’t in postseason contention. However, it will be an uphill battle as they will be without their top offensive weapon, James Robinson, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

As they typically do on Sundays, the Jags’ game will kickoff at 1:00 pm EST today. Per 506 Sports, those who live in the yellow shaded areas will be able to see the game.

On the call this week will be Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) and Rich Gannon (color commentary).

The Bears will enter Sunday’s game with a 4-3 all-time record against the Jags. The teams last met in 2016 when Gus Bradley was the Jags’ head coach, and the team was able to defeat Chicago on the road by a score of 17-16.

When it comes to games at TIAA Bank Field, the Bears have been good the winning two of three. The last meeting between the two in Jacksonville was about eight years ago (2012) when Mike Mularkey was the team’s head coach. Chicago was able to win that game handily by a score of 41-3.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags QB Mike Glennon expected to start vs. Bears

The Jags have declared a starter for Week 16’s game against the Bears.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the week with a competition at the quarterback position and it appears a winner has been declared. Veteran Mike Glennon will be the one to take the field as the team’s QB1 against the Chicago Bears — a team he used played for.

The #Jaguars will start QB Mike Glennon tomorrow vs the #Bears.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 26, 2020

The Jags’ decision comes after Gardner Minshew II started in their last game against the Baltimore Ravens. The team was unable to get going both on offense and defense, which reflected in the final score (40-14).

Minshew’s stat line didn’t necessarily look bad on paper when looking at his completion rate 22-of-29 (75.9%), but there wasn’t much explosiveness to the offense as he finished with 226 passing yards and two second-half touchdowns. He also had a fumble in the game, which was caused by former Jags’ defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Sunday’s game will mark Glennon’s fourth start as a Jag. He started in the three games before Week 15’s game but was benched Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans. He’ll enter this week with a 61% (61-of-100) completion rate on the season for 600 yards, three touchdowns, and three picks.

Winners and Losers from Jaguars vs. Falcons

In another disappointing defeat here are the winners and losers from the Week 16 match-up against the Falcons.

After coming off of an intense come from behind victory last week in Oakland, fans thought maybe this was the turning point for the Jacksonville Jaguars to get back on track the last two weeks of the season. This unfortunately was not the case as the team lost another game by a double-digit margin, as they fell to the Atlanta Falcons 24-12.

In another disappointing defeat here are the winners and losers from the Week 16 matchup against the Falcons:

Winners

Leonard Fournette

I’ve got to give it to Leonard Fournette, he has been nothing but reliable, consistent and productive in 2019. This offseason, Fournette took a look at himself in the mirror and dedicated himself to the game. He spent some time in Wyoming, preparing himself mentally and physically for the upcoming season and it has worked wonders for the star running back. In 2019, Fournette has gone on to lead the team both in receptions and total yardage.

He’s simply been remarkable. From the talk of much frustration from fans to a fan-favorite, Fournette certainly has put his money where his mouth is. Despite the issues of the Jags’ offensive line Fournette currently is fourth in the league in total yardage, with an astounding 1,674 yards from scrimmage. Against the Falcons, he was once again electric as the back totaled 105 yards on 18 touches. He’s been arguably the team’s best offensive player and figures to be a focal point of the offense going forward.

Tre Herndon

Once again, I have to give credit where credit is due. Herndon hasn’t been a top tier cornerback this season and the Jags can’t expect that out of a player rushed into a starting line-up after replacing one of the best in the game. However, Tre Herndon has exceeded all expectations set for him. Against 2016 All-Pro Matt Ryan and future Hall of Famer Julio Jones, Herndon was able to nab an under thrown deep ball from Ryan, recording his third pick of the year.

Amazingly, Herndon currently leads the team in interceptions and has proved he deserves a shot to be the team’s No. 2 corner going forward. He still has a lot to learn, but I truly believe Herndon can be a impactful long-term starter for this team.

Losers

Gardner Minshew II

Following the conclusion of the game, I was surprised I was able to come up with two deserving winners from such a disappointing game against the Falcons. The scary part is that the three most important figures in the Jacksonville franchise are listed as losers this week.

In a seemingly never-ending prove it game for Gardner Minshew II, the young gun-slinger was only able to connect on just 13 of his 31 passes for under 200 yards. And while the offensive line play wasn’t the best, he’s found ways to be more productive in the past.

The passing game never seemed to get going and it led to a dismal 12-point performance from the offense. Minshew has certainly played better than we all could have ever hoped for in 2019, however, Minshew must show enough to warrant the spot as the 2020 starting quarterback for Jacksonville. Sunday, he wasn’t able to do that.

Doug Marrone and Dave Caldwell

This one had to sting for Doug Marrone and Dave Caldwell. Before the game, it was reported that both were likely to retain their jobs with the franchise, but a sixth double-digit loss in the last seven weeks certainly doesn’t help their cause. The team is struggling mightily and the staff and front office have one game left to show that they deserve to be spared by owner Shad Khan.

Admittedly, Marrone has been dealt a difficult hand this season no doubt. Some of his best players have been missing for a large part of the season and his quarterback went down in the first ten plays of the season, but that doesn’t mean this season should be dismissed. The team has struggled and there must be accountability for the poor play that the fans have witnessed all season long.

The good, the bad, and the ugly from the Jaguars’ 24-12 loss to the Falcons

The Jacksonville Jaguars unfortunately acquired their seventh double-digit loss season under owner Shad Khan after falling to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. It was a game in which the Jags got off to another slow start and had to play from behind, which clearly isn’t a strength of theirs. In the end, the Falcons ended up covering the spread of 7.5 with ease, winning the game by a score of 24-12.

All of that said, lets take a look at the good, bad, and ugly moments from Sunday’s game against the Dirty Birds:

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The good: CB Tre Herndon

In a game where there wasn’t a lot of positives, cornerback Tre Herndon definitely brought his A-game. He was very active Sunday against the Falcons, accumulating three tackles, two pass deflections and a pick on the day.

In the play in which Herndon got the interception, quarterback Matt Ryan was trying to hit Julio Jones deep after a roll out, but Herndon came to help out veteran corner A.J. Bouye and high-pointed the ball. It marked his third of the year and he now leads the team in the category.

Herndon has been gaining confidence since becoming the Jags starter in Jalen Ramsey’s place. That said, he’s made a case to be a starter in 2020 at the cornerback position as there is still plenty of room for him to further develop.

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Postgame analysis: Jags acquire another double-digit loss season after falling to Falcons

The Jags struggles on defense continued against the Falcons and it resulted in their tenth loss of the season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t able to feed off the momentum they had last week in Oakland and fell to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday by a score of 24-12. The game marked their fifth double-digit loss since the bye week as the Jags fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and could never recover. It also gave them their seventh double-digit loss season with Shad Khan as owner.

There were issues all over the place, but the defense probably was the biggest one as they allowed quarterback Matt Ryan and company to have success at will. The veteran had 384 passing yards on the day, 166 of which went to Julio Jones, and 82 of which went to Austin Hooper.

Coming into the game, we mentioned how strong the Falcons’ passing game was and they showed why they were the NFL’s fourth-ranked team through the air. Jones especially couldn’t be stopped even with the Jags’ best cornerback, A.J. Bouye, on him.

The Jags also didn’t fare well against the rush. The Falcons’ top rusher on the day, Brian Hill, had seven carries for 66 yards, which was good for a whopping average of 9.4. Their second-leading rusher, Devonta Freeman, had 13 carries for 53 yards (4.1-yard average) on the day and a touchdown.

The Jags also didn’t have a strong day on offense. They were only able to garner a total of 288 total rushing yards in comparison to the 518 the Falcons had. Gardner Minshew II finished the day with 181 passing yards and a touchdown, which went to receiver Chris Conley. The touchdown pass marked the third consecutive scoring connection between the two as they linked up for two touchdown passes last week against the Oakland Raiders. However, it ultimately proved not to be enough.

The Jags now have one game left on the season, which will end what has been a catastrophic year. That game will take place at TIAA Bank Field at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

Jaguars vs. Falcons: Week 16 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big change this week in the personnel department when the relieved Tom Coughlin of his duties, which means Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell are now fighting for their jobs. Standing in their way will be the team Caldwell formerly worked for in the Atlanta Falcons, who also have a 5-9 record but have been on fire as of late.

With a lot on the line for the personnel members of both teams, here are our predictions for Sunday’s game:

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Falcons 31, Jags 17

These two teams have endured similar seasons in the sense that they’ve failed to meet expectations and have identical records of 5-9. However, it’s clear the Falcons are the better team and they’ve shown it in their last two games taking out the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. They’ve also been a little more competitive than the Jags as of late. All of that in mind, I could see their hot passing defense having their way with the Jags’ defense by utilizing the quick passing game and making the Jags play from behind.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Jags 24, Falcons 23

The Jaguars are headed up the road for a quick trip to face the Falcons. Both teams will enter the game 5-9 and both are coming off surprising wins last week. This matchup is a pick em game at best as both teams have been underwhelming this year and inconsistent. Luckily for the Jaguars, the Falcons haven’t been the best at running the ball this year only averaging 81 yards per game. Hopefully, the defense can keep the Falcons at that average and not near the 140 yards they normally give up on the ground. I could see the Jaguars finding a way to steal this one thanks to a last second field goal.

Daniel Griffis (@GriffisNFL): Falcons 27, Jaguars 16

The Jaguars got the monkey off their back last week against Oakland, ending a five-game losing streak. After struggling mightily earlier in the year, Atlanta has come on strong late, defeating the 49ers last weekend. I think this will be a fun game to watch. DJ Chark Jr. is closing in on 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns and Gardner Minshew II will have more opportunities to prove he is the 2020 starter. That said, I still believe the Matt Ryan led Falcons come away with this one.

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Falcons 29, Jaguars 19

The Falcons are coming off of two big wins against the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers and it’s clear they want to finish the season strong. I expect a huge game out of Matt Ryan. The Jaguars’ offense will possibly have a tough time against a ball-hawking Atlanta defense that has played better as of late.

How to watch, stream, listen to Jags vs. Falcons

The Jaguars and Falcons have meet a slew of times in the preseason, but Sunday will be the seventh time it’s happened in the regular season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be coming off a week in which they were the talk of the league due to the firing of Tom Coughlin. However, they must quickly put the event past them and focus on a hot Atlanta Falcons team that has won their last two games.

The Jags will enter Sunday’s game after coming off a victory of their own, which took place on the West Coast against the Oakland Raiders but the Falcons will present a much bigger challenge. With Matt Ryan leading the way, the Jags’ pass-rush is going to have to be on their A-game as the Falcons’ offense is fourth in passing.

One thing that could help the Jags is the fact that receiver DJ Chark Jr. is trending towards a return Sunday. That should help the Jags tremendously as it was clear Gardner Minshew II missed him last Sunday despite having success with Chris Conley and Keelan Cole.

Here is how fans can tune in to the action as the Jags take on the Falcons Sunday afternoon:

Game Information

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons

Streaming

fuboTV (try it free)

Jaguars official smartphone app for select affiliate markets

Television

Action News FOX30 (locally)

Radio

1010XL AM and 92.5 FM (flagship) Jaguars Radio Network

Sirius: Jaguars internet channel 814 (feed channel 814) Falcons internet channel 801 (feed channel 81)

Extras

Connect with us on Twitter (@TheJaguarsWire) and Facebook

Follow our comrades over at Falcons Wire

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Jaguars remain 7.5-point underdogs with slight change to the over/under

The Jags’ still are viewed as big-time underdogs to the red-hot Falcons.

Not much has changed on the wagering side when it comes to the matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons.

According to BetMGM, the Jaguars are still 7.5-point underdogs heading into Sunday’s game against the Falcons. The only thing that has changed slightly is the over/under which is now set at 46.5 points. That represents an small increase from the earlier total of 45.5 points from the beginning of the week.

As for the money line, the Dirty Birds are down as -334-point favorites, meaning that a bettor would have to place a $334 wager to win $100. The Jags are on the money line as a +260-point underdog, which means that a wager of $100 would win $260.

Both teams not only share identical records at 5-9, but they also share the same record against the spread at 5-8 meaning that both teams have been tough to bet on this season.

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