Observations on the first half of the game Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
The Jacksonville Jaguars went into halftime with a big deficit, trailing the Buffalo Bills 34-3 at halftime.
So what did we see in the first half between the Jaguars and the Bills? We analyze it below.
Jaguars continue to have starting difficulties
The Jaguars have struggled with fast starts for years, but in Week 1 the team seemed to have turned things around. They hit the ground running and punched the Miami Dolphins in the face to take a 17-7 lead.
Last week, the Jaguars faltered and punted on their first drive before allowing the Cleveland Browns to march down the field and go on a long touchdown drive. On the next drive, the Jaguars were three-and-out.
This time, things went even worse. The Jaguars allowed the Bills to march down the field and score a touchdown. And once again, the Jaguars were left with three wins.
This time, however, the Jaguars let the Bills score again, and they were down 13-0 before Trevor Lawrence even got on the field for a second time. Slow starts will continue to be this team’s undoing until they find a solution.
Injury to Jarrian Jones causes further problems in the secondary
The Jaguars came to Buffalo with issues in the secondary, with both Tyson Campbell and Darnell Savage injured. Not only are the Jaguars forced to fill their positions with young players, but they are also the Jaguars’ two best defensive backs.
And on the first drive of the game, things became even more challenging when Jarrian Jones, who replaced Savage in the slot, injured his shoulder.
Despite the Jaguars missing three cornerbacks, Josh Allen dominated the Jaguars in the first half, completing 22 of 28 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns.
There is no help in sight at this point in the season, and the Jaguars’ depth woes have emerged early as a critical problem for the defense. Campbell will miss at least the next two games, and the return of Savage and Jones is uncertain.
The Jaguars’ passing game is broken
The Jaguars continued to struggle with their passing game in Week 3. A week after the Jaguars managed just 16 yards passing in the first half against the Bills, they managed just 40 yards at the two-minute warning on Monday.
The Jaguars just looked like their offense was claustrophobic. While the Bills had no problem playing open receivers, gaining yards after the catch, and Josh Allen making one big play after another, the Jaguars were unable to convert all of those points.
But the blame goes beyond the scheme and the coaching.
Mistakes like dropped passes and slips while running after the catch occurred, and Trevor Lawrence threw one of the worst interceptions of his career when he missed a free Brian Thomas Jr. while trailing 20-3. The Jaguars currently appear to have one of the worst passing games in the NFL.
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