The good, the bad and the ugly from the Jaguars’ 34-16 loss vs. Lions

There isn’t a lot to smile about in the Jags’ locker room, but Keelan Cole has been a bright spot for the team.

The wheels continued to fall off for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they have lost their fifth-straight game by falling to the Detroit Lions by a score of 34-16. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 1-5 and continue to have a firm grip on last place in the AFC South. The Jaguars have fallen apart on defense allowing thirty points per game in their five losses. The Jags last win came in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts where they won 27-20.

While things have continued to get ugly for the Jaguars, there were some positives mixed in with the negatives to take away from the game. Here are the good, the bad, and the ugly moments from Week 6’s matchup:

The good: Have a day, Keelan Cole

While the offense has had some stagnant moments, one player that has stood out in the past few weeks is fourth-year wide receiver, Keelan Cole.

Cole finished Sunday’s game with a career-high of 143 receiving yards on six catches. He failed to score in the game but he has been a favorite target of quarterback Gardner Minshew II lately. The figures he was able to garner Sunday put him at three receiving touchdowns on the year, in addition to 362 yards and 27 receptions.

With star wide receiver D.J. Chark Sr. struggling to consistently stay on the field due to various injuries, Cole has done a tremendous job of stepping up and being a reliable source of offense.

The bad: Gashed on the ground…again

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

While the offense has not fared great, the defense has been substantially worse especially on the ground.

The Jaguars came into Sunday’s matchup against the Lions with the No. 30 ranked run defense, which was allowing 136.6 yards per game while Detroit came into it with the league’s worst run defense allowing 170.3 yards per game. However, it was the Lions who got the better end of the ground game as they finished with 180 yards rushing. Lions rookie running back D’Andre Swift had a career game as he diced the Jags defense to the tune of 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Jaguars running back James Robinson could not take advantage of a great matchup as he finished with only 29 yards on the ground but he did manage to sneak in a receiving touchdown.

The Jaguars’ defense has allowed 100 yards rushing in every game except their Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts. It appears Todd Wash’s defense has not adapted to the struggles of the opponent’s rushing attack as the linebackers have continued to take poor angles and opposing running backs continue to find themselves in the second level of the defense.

The Jaguars’ defense is not trending on getting better anytime soon so it looks like this may be a long season on that side of the ball for Jags fans to endure.

The ugly: The slow departure of Minshew Mania

Another game, another lackluster performance from Gardner Minshew II.

This was a game that was primed for Minshew to prove that he is the answer to the quarterback misery that Jacksonville has faced, however, he’s come up short as of late. Minshew finished Sunday’s game against the Lions with 25-of-44 passing for 243 yards, one touchdown, and an interception.

Minshew has not been what fans would call “awful,” but his play has not elevated the team into a competent offense. The Jaguars have failed to score 20 or more points in two straight games with Minshew averaging only 5.8 yards per attempt in those games. The Jags’ games against the Lions and the Houston Texans were premium matchups for Minshew to take advantage of, however, he and the Jags offense failed to do so.

The Jaguars have been a horrible first half team this season. When looking at their last three games, they’ve only been able to come away with touchdowns twice (once against both the Bengals and Texans). Their total average for those games is 7.7 points per game in the first half, which explains a lot. While the Jaguars have noticeably played better in the second half, it’s still not enough to translate into wins as they are always trailing for the season.

The jury is still out on if Minshew is a franchise quarterback, especially after he has not taken advantage of weaker defenses and key matchups. While all of the Jaguars’ struggles can’t be blamed on Minshew, he has not solidified his position as the future signal-caller for years to come in Duval.

If the losing continues, the Jaguars might be looking to the upcoming draft to search for their next quarterback.

Postgame analysis: Jags make it five-straight losses after flat showing vs. Lions

The Jaguars looked lifeless in their Week 6 meeting agains the Lions, who were able to garner over 400 total yards on the day.

Despite the Detroit Lions having a lackluster season of their own, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t provide much of a challenge for their feline foes Week 6. In fact, they ultimately ended up embarrassingly falling to the Lions, with the final score being 34-16.

When looking at the score it goes without saying both sides of the ball struggled, but for the sake of this post, we’ll start with the offense. The unit scored under 17 points for the third time in four weeks. They also were only able to garner 275 total yards and a big reason for that was because of their ineffectiveness on the ground, where they exited the game with just 44-yards. That’s certainly not a number that will make fans happy, especially when considering the Lions were ranked 30th (170.3 YPG average) against the rush coming into the game.

When looking deeper into the issues on the ground, the Jags played from behind a majority of the game, and when they did run the ball, the run lanes simply weren’t there when the Jags went to star running back James Robinson. As a result, he ended the day with just 12 carries for 29 yards.

As for quarterback Gardner Minshew II, it was a rough day, especially in the first half. The second-year quarterback, in particular, had a very bad interception which was a deep attempt to D.J. Chark Jr. in the first quarter. The ball had very little velocity on it and ended up in the hands of Lions defensive back Duron Harmon.

From that point, Minshew’s day didn’t get much better as it was a struggle to get the offense going when the game was in range. He eventually finished the day 25-of-44 for 243 yards, a touchdown, and the aforementioned interception.

As for the defense, it was another day where they allowed just over 403 yards. They struggled to get off the field as the Lions registered a time of position figure of 35:57 to the Jags’ figure of 24:03. Regardless of what the source was, Matthew Stafford and company had little issues moving the ball.

As far as players go, running back DeAndre Swift looked to be the biggest problem for the Jags, ending his day with 14 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns. That was good for an 8.3 yard per carry figure.

As for the leader in receiving, Kenny Golladay led the way with four receptions for 105 yards (good for a 26.3 YPC average). Meanwhile, Stafford was 19-of-31 for 223 yards, one touchdown, and a pick.

With such a loss, one can’t help but think the Jags’ season is over at this point if they already didn’t. The team came off a three-game stretch where they lost to winless teams and were still flat. That said, many fans have voiced their displeasure and willingness to move on from coach Doug Marrone, but owner Shad Khan hasn’t indicated that he’s ready to do so — at least not before the season.

Regardless of who is the coach Week 7, the Jags’ next game will be on Sunday on Oct. 25. That game will take place on the West Coast against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are currently 1-4.

3 Jaguars to watch on defense vs. Detroit Lions

With the Jags desperately needing a win, it would be nice for CB Sidney Jones to continue his play from Week 5 to aid the defense.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the 1-3 Detroit Lions this afternoon in a game that could have huge long-term implications on both franchises. With both squads coming into this matchup with a single win on the year, a loss will undoubtedly move the looser closer to an eventual departure from their coaches.

After missing several starters in last week’s disappointing defeat to Houston, Jacksonville’s defense should be bolstered by the returns of Myles Jack and C.J Henderson, who were both dearly missed in that 30-14 loss.

The only major issue the Jaguars still have to deal with is edge-rusher Josh Allen. Allen was missing in last week’s defeat and didn’t practice on Friday and has been ruled out for a second straight week. With one of their most reliable playmakers potentially out again, here are three Jaguars to watch on defense against the Detroit Lions.

Sidney Jones IV

Sidney Jones IV came in from the practice squad after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles only three years after being a second round pick. A limited risk pickup with plenty of upside, Jones has shown already that he may have a long term future as part of the Jaguars’ defense.

In the loss last week Jones was arguably the Jaguars’ best player. On just 38 snaps, the 24-year-old had four pass breakups, three tackles and an interception. With D.J Hayden on injured reserve with a hamstring issue and Tre Herndon having to move inside, another strong performance from Jones could prove he is a piece the team can build around at the nickel spot.

K’Lavon Chaisson

K’Lavon Chaisson has had an up and down start to his NFL career. While he’s registered a sack this season, he’s still struggling to consistently win pass-rush reps. Todd Wash has openly said that he can only get both Chaisson and Josh Allen on the field in certain packages, which has led to limited snaps for the rookie.

However, in last week’s loss to Houston, Chaisson saw a huge increase in snaps thanks to Allen’s injury, but was unable to turn those reps into any meaningful production.

With Allen now ruled out, the focal point of the Jaguars’ pass rush will once again be the former LSU Tiger. Fans will be keen to see an upturn in fortunes for their team’s top-20 draft pick.

Dawuane Smoot

Where Chaisson struggled on Sunday, Dawuane Smoot absolutely shined. A third-round pick from 2017, Smoot has been used as a rotational lineman for the majority of his career, but really came into his own in the loss to Houston. He finished the day with a sack, one tackle for loss, and four quarterback hits.

The former Illinois University star was taken on Day 2 to be the long-term replacement for the ‘Mayor of Sacksonville’ Calais Campbell as the team’s big-bodied strongside edge rusher. With Campbell traded to Baltimore in the off-season, this year is when the Jaguars will really get to see what they have in their fourth-year pass rusher.

An unrestricted free agent after 2020, Smoot will be hoping for more games like last week’s as he gets closer to negotiating a contract extension.

Lions vs. Jaguars: 3 keys to a Jacksonville victory

With an extraordinary talent in James Robinson on their offense, the Jags must him accumulate 20+ carries if they want a Week 6 win.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Detroit Lions this afternoon and are hoping to stop their four-game slide before the team’s bye week. The Jaguars haven’t won since their Week 1 victory against Indianapolis, but this game presents a good opportunity for the team to get back into the win column.

Detroit has faced their own fair share of struggles to start the year, with one win in their first four games. NFL Media members have ramped up the pressure on Matt Patricia as he continues to struggle in his first gig as a head coach. Oddshark have now placed him as the second most likely head coach to be fired next and a loss against an underperforming Jags team might be the final nail in the coffin.

So, how do the Jaguars win this game? Well, here are three things they must do if they want to come out on top Week 6:

Run the ball often and efficiently

In the Jaguars only win this year they only asked quarterback Gardner Minshew II to throw the ball 20 times. Compare this to his minimum 40 attempts in the following four games and it becomes quite easy to see where the Jaguars offense is going wrong.

Rookie running back James Robinson has emerged as a genuine franchise back and potential rookie of the year contender. Use him. This team has been built toward running the ball consistently and effectively ever since Doug Marrone took over in 2016. The fact that Robinson hasn’t broken 20 rushing attempts in a single game yet is staggering.

If the Jaguars can work the ball on the ground early, the likelihood is that Minshew won’t be asked to save the game for the team later on, which is where things usually start to go wrong for the enigmatic signal-caller.

Blitz on early downs

Defensive coordinator Todd Wash seems to have an aversion to sending pressure on early downs, but this Jaguars defense will be too easy to pick apart if they don’t start to mix up the blitz package.

Against good quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson, the Jaguars stayed relatively safe when it comes to dialing up pressure. That allowed the opposition far too much time to pick apart the Jags’ young and inexperienced secondary.

With linebacker Myles Jack returning from injury, Wash should be more creative in his blitz packages to try and disrupt Pro-Bowl quarterback Matthew Stafford. Otherwise, it’s going to be another long day for the Jacksonville defensive unit.

Win the turnover battle

Last week the Jaguars did well on this front, picking off Deshaun Watson twice. Unfortunately, their offense coughed up the ball twice, too, giving the Texans their first two turnovers of the season.

The Jaguars need to limit individual errors which cost the team points. If the offense can keep the ball out of the opposition’s hands and move the ball effectively, it would help the defense and overall team in a big way.

Creating turnovers hasn’t been a huge cause for concern this season, with five picks in their first five games. Obviously, those numbers can always improve, and if the team is able to put Stafford under pressure early then there is a real chance they could force some bad decisions from him.

Lions vs. Jaguars: Week 6 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

Despite the Lions having just one win, there isn’t a lot of confidence in their opponents, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who also are struggling.

With no positive COVID-19 tests for the Jacksonville Jaguars (and league-wide), the Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions is a go. The game will be one between teams that should end up atop the draft order, though there is time to turn things around.

Both teams will come into the game with two wins combined, and a win could get some positive momentum going as we approach the mid-season mark. Here’s how the Jags Wire staff is feeling about what the outcome of the Battle of the Felines could be Sunday:

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Lions 27, Jaguars 24

The Jags and Lions will enter this game with hot seat staffs desperate for wins. Matt Patricia’s time with the Lions has been worse than Doug Marrone’s tenure in Jacksonville (23-32 record) as he’ll enter Week 6’s game with a 10-25 record as their head coach.

As for the teams, both have suspect defenses, especially against the run. That said, the team that does that the best likely will win the game, however, Jay Gruden hasn’t shown that type of commitment to the run. That said, I could see the Jags dropping Gardner Minshew II back over 30 times, which actually might play into Patricia’s hand as the Lions are at least decent against the pass (No. 11).

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Lions 31, Jaguars 24

Detroit is off to their own slow start after giving up a few leads early on this season. Matthew Stafford also appears to be somewhat off his game thus far. Well, as Jaguar fans we all know that the best way to remedy your quarterback’s struggles is to play against Todd Wash’s defense.

Following three straight losses, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to believe that the Jaguars can right this ship anytime soon. A solid portion of the fanbase would prefer they continue to lose, anyway. Well, they’ll get their wish as Matthew Stafford and T.J, Hockenson will carve this defense up. I expect solid performances from James Robinson and Laviska Shenault, but the Jags will still fall.

Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis): Lions 28, Jaguars 17

The Jaguars are in, well, a slump. The offense and defense are both struggling and some recent injuries have derailed an already thin roster. Hopefully, with the return of some key players this week against the Lions, the defense can slow down an ever-consistent Matthew Stafford. The Jaguars need to return to the run-game and take some stress off the right arm of Gardner Minshew if they hope to win this one. Start FAST!

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Jaguars 33, Lions 28

The Jaguars need a bounce back after dropping four straight games. With the defense slowly but surely returning to health and cornerback Desmond Trufant for the Lions out, there will be a lot of passing yards from both quarterbacks. Jaguars come out on top in a must win matchup.

Will Frost (@willfrost_): Lions 34, Jaguars 21

Realistically, the loser of this game should probably leave their head coach on the tarmac. Both teams have been overwhelmingly disappointing so far this season, which makes it a winnable game for both sides.

Linebacker Myles Jack and cornerback CJ Henderson being back should help the Jaguars’ defense improve from last week, but Matthew Stafford is far too good of a quarterback to struggle against their lackluster pass-rush. If he’s given time (as most opposing quarterbacks have been so far this year), it could get ugly fast.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Lions 34, Jaguars 31

The Jags return home and look to finally put an end to their four game losing streak as they host the 1-3 Lions. Both teams have underperformed and are facing scrutiny from their fanbases. Adrian Peterson has found a home in Detroit and somehow managed to keep Father Time at bay. While he is expected to see limited duty, that just opens things up for D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson to have solid days on the ground against a team that has struggled. Somehow this game turns into a shootout due to poor defense on both sides and Stafford proves he still has enough left in his tank and wins a close one.

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

The Lions and Jags will be looking for their second wins of 2020 when they face each other Sunday, which would be huge for both coaches.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to end their four-game losing streak against a Detroit Lions who also have just one win to their names. They will also play a team who they don’t have a lot of history against with just six meetings against each other.

When both teams take the field there could be a lot of tension on the sidelines as coaches Doug Marrone and Matt Patricia appear to be fighting for their jobs at this rate as both were viewed as hot seat candidates coming into 2020. Marrone will enter Week 6 with an unimpressive 55-23 record as the Jags’ coach while Patricia will enter it with a 36-10 record. That said, a win won’t really make those figures much better, but would provide some relief on what has been a disappointing season for both coaches.

Here is how fans can watch, stream and listen to Sunday’s battle at TIAA Bank Field:

Game Information

Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

FuboTV (try it free)

Television

Action News CBS 47 (locally)

Radio

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

Sirius: Jaguars internet channel 814 (feed channel 230), Lions internet channel 810

Extras

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