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Jacksonville Jaguars: Expectations much lower after bye week

By Larry Brake

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Doug Marrone of the Jacksonville Jaguars watches the action during the game against the New York Jets on September 30, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Doug Marrone of the Jacksonville Jaguars watches the action during the game against the New York Jets on September 30, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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The expectations for the Jacksonville Jaguars are much lower going forward after the bye week.

Since Doug Marrone has become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, they have divided the season schedule into four quarters. They won 2018’s first quarter with great team performances. The second quarter was a total disaster which has lowered the expectations going forward.

Injuries have decimated the Jaguars offense. They have really struggled to find any kind of offensive momentum throughout the season. Most of all, they can not run the football. Last season, Jacksonville led the NFL in rushing by averaging 141.1 yards per game. This season, they are averaging 95 yards per game. T.J. Yeldon leads the team with 334 rushing yards.

Blake Bortles is second with 261 rushing yards. Bortles has helped move the chains with his timely scrambles, but has fumbled the ball. The Jaguars defense is staying on the field too long and getting wore out.

Dante Fowler has been dealt away. Taven Bryan will need to step up. Hopefully Bryan will prove to be the better first round draft selection. At least Jalen Ramsey is playing at a high level.

Injuries are beginning to catch up on the defensive side of the ball. There were five defensive players on the Week 8 injury report. Three of them were cornerbacks.

Jacksonville’s next four games are against Indianapolis (twice), Pittsburgh, and Buffalo. They have two home games and two road games. By the way, the marquee home game against Pittsburgh, has moved out of primetime to a 1:00 p.m. ET slot.

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Jacksonville has to figure out a way to win all four games, if they want a chance at the playoffs. My oh my, how the expectations have changed since January. The Jaguars thought they were Super Bowl bound, after week 2, but now are trying to find a way to win a game.

Actually, if Jacksonville can’t defeat Indianapolis, Buffalo and Indianapolis at home, then they should prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft. If they win those three games, they will have a 6-6 record.

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