After defeating the Dolphins two weeks ago, there was a lot of optimism for the Jaguars(1-6) as they traveled to Seattle to play the Russell Wilson-less Seahawks, who were on a three-game losing streak.
However, even without Wilson, the Seahawks(3-5), led by backup quarterback Geno Smith(20-24, 195 yards, three touchdowns(one rushing), had no problems with Jacksonville as they defeated them 31-7 at Lumen Field.
“Just disappointed, Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer said postgame. “Obviously, we’ve got to play better; we’ve got to prepare better. I didn’t see that coming. I saw a good week of practice; guys were fresh off a bye week. We got down 14-0, and we got out of a . . . we’re not built to just be a throw team, and we got out of the run game, and then the penalties were nonsense. I don’t know if it was the noise or what was the problem. But we’ve got to get that corrected.”
Jacksonville had a hard time on offense and did not score until late in the fourth quarter when they scored a meaningless touchdown. The Jaguars were sloppy and committed 12 penalties. According to Meyer, this game was a step back for the team.
“I felt like every week we made great strides,” Meyer said. “I thought the team got better and better and better. Today was a step back. We tried to build on the momentum of the win because we played pretty decently in London, and offensively Trevor had one of his better games, and offensively we played better, and defensively we played better. We just went backward. On the positive, we held them to 60 some (rushing) yards, got three sacks – our defense just kept swinging. Just placed in horrendous field position. The defense hung in there against some talented receivers and talented players.”
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was 32/54 for 238 yards with a touchdown and interception, agreed with Meyer that Sunday’s loss to Seattle was a step back.
“Guys that are open and not giving them a catchable ball, I think that’s all on me. So there was three right there. And then guys just making plays when you need to make plays. That’s me on the third and fourth down, that’s receivers on some catches, it’s everybody. [Offensive] line, running backs, tight ends, everybody. We took a step back, I think, in making the plays that we need to make as far as just, good teams do that and good players do that. It all starts with me…
“I think it just goes to show if you don’t come out ready to play and you don’t play well; this can happen to anybody on any week. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you just have to play well, and we didn’t. It’s not concerning; for me, it’s not. Because I’m in that locker room, I’m with all those guys and see how hard they work, how they prepare. I know probably from the outside looking in, it might be. But it’s not concerning; it’s just we played like crap today. That’s going to happen every now and then, but we can’t let this happen again, for sure.”
Jacksonville was without one of their key weapons in RB James Robinson(heel) for most of the game, but this was a very winnable game. However, the Jaguars are a work in progress, so moments like these will happen. Jacksonville will try to bounce back next week when they host the Bills
