JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – They finished strong last week and have shown bursts throughout the season, but the Jaguars need to find a way to start games better on offense.
The Jaguars have had their lulls this year before halftime, something that they need to fix beginning with Sunday’s game at Houston (3-5). Jacksonville (5-3) has an opportunity to sweep the Texans for the fifth time in franchise history (2005, ’09, ’13 and ’17) and deal their faint AFC South title hopes perhaps a killer blow.
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Can they keep that second half momentum from the win over the Raiders going, or will the opening half be Jacksonville’s undoing again?
Without an NFL-record 68-yard field goal by Cam Little as time ran out in the second quarter, Jacksonville would have been scoreless through the first 30 minutes against the Raiders in Week 9. The offense put up 27 points after that, including scoring on six consecutive possessions for the first time since a Dec. 10, 2000, game against Arizona. But slow starts have been an issue this season. Against a team better than the Raiders, that could have been an issue they couldn’t have recovered from.
“I think if we didn’t turn it over down on the one, two-yard line last week, I think the start was probably where we were at. Obviously, three-and-out on the first drive and then got it going a little bit there,” Coen said. “So, I think we were on our way to starting faster than we had been. And so ended up not working itself out, but the ability to be balanced is what you’re hunting up though, absolutely.”
Jacksonville ran well in the second half and in overtime behind Travis Etienne, but Coen said the team needs that balance and not just load up in bursts.
The Jaguars have struggled to marry the run and pass game most weeks this year. The passing offense has been plagued a well-publicized issue of dropped passes. Trevor Lawrence has a league-leading 30 dropped passes this season, according to Pro Football Reference. Jacksonville traded for receiver Jakobi Meyers this week, and he should be the team’s No. 1 pass catcher this week as the Jaguars look for help at that position.
Jacksonville’s offense will be without receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who is nursing a sprained ankle suffered during last Sunday’s overtime win over the Raiders. Even during a difficult season for Thomas, his presence on the field opens things up for the offense. Meyers, Dyami Brown and Parker Washington will be the team’s top pass catchers this week.
“I think you can obviously still do it within schematically as well, but it hurts. B.T. he can roll, and he rises to playing against these guys he has in the past and had a huge moment for us in that game last time to seal that victory,” Coen said.
“So, not having him is a big deal for us and those guys are going to continue to have to step up again this week and go make some dirty, grimy, contested plays and that’s the kind of game it’s going to have to be.”
Thomas has struggled, and so too has free agent signee Brown. He suffered a concussion in the last game but has been practicing this week. Rookie Travis Hunter is on injured reserve and will miss his second of at least four games against Houston.
Jacksonville has a couple things to keep an eye on.
Edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen is tied with Tony Brackens for the most sacks in franchise history (55), so his next one will break the mark. Linebacker Devin Lloyd is also expected back. He’s missed a couple games with a calf injury, and was having a Pro Bowl-type of season before that.