OVERVIEW …
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Jaguars had chances, and they certainly had fight.
What they also had was turnovers – far too many, in fact – and partly because of that, the result was a third consecutive week without a victory.
Blake Bortles threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, but Jacksonville committed four key turnovers to help the opportunistic Kansas City Chiefs hold on for a 19-14 victory over the Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Jaguars (2-6), after scoring just before the four-minute mark to cut the lead to five, had a chance for a game-winning drive. But Bortles' 4th-and-3 pass from the Chiefs 32 to wide receiver Bryan Walters was incomplete.
That was the first play after the two-minute warning. The Chiefs (6-2) ran out the clock.
Bortles completed 22 of 41 passes with an interception, and the Jaguars' offense produced 449 yards in its first game under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
But the Jaguars' turnovers led directly to 13 Kansas City points and a 36-yard Chiefs punt return led to another field goal.
The Jaguars outgained the Chiefs, 449-231, but the Chiefs won the turnover statistic by forcing four takeaways and committing none. The Chiefs entered the game plus-nine in turnovers, second in the NFL. The Jaguars entered minus-eight in the category, 30th in the NFL.
The Chiefs led 10-7 at halftime, but pulled away with third-quarter field goals of 51 and 24 yards by Cairo Santos to lead 16-7 entering the fourth quarter. A 36-yard field goal by Santos pushed the lead to 19-7 with 10:20 remaining.
The Jaguars had a chance to pull to within a score midway through the fourth quarter, but running back Chris Ivory fumbled into the end zone just before breaking the plane of the end zone. Cornerback Marcus Peters recovered in the end zone for the Chiefs' fourth takeaway.
A 13-yard pass from Bortles to running back T.J. Yeldon cut the Chiefs' lead to 19-14 with 4:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars force three and out on the ensuing possession.
The Jaguars' first three turnovers all came in their own territory, enabling the Chiefs to maintain momentum throughout a game in which Jacksonville played better offensively than it had in back-to-back one-sided losses to Oakland and Tennessee.
Kansas City's lone touchdown came on a 23-yard pass from quarterback Nick Foles to wide receiver Albert Wilson with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter. That came two plays after Chiefs tight end recovered a fumbled punt by Jaguars wide receiver Bryan Walters at the Jaguars 23. That marked the third consecutive game the Jaguars fumbled a punt, with Rashad Greene and Marqise Lee losing fumbles on punts the last two weeks.
The Jaguars missed an opportunity on their ensuing drive when wide receiver Allen Hurns dropped a perfect pass from Bortles inside the Chiefs 5. The drop came on 4th-and-1 from the Chiefs 30.
An interception thrown by Bortles cost the Jaguars early in the second quarter, with linebacker Ramik Wilson recording Kansas City's NFL-leading 12th interception. That led directly to a 26-yard field goal by Santos.
It was Bortles' 10th interception of the season.
The Jaguars put together one of their better drives in recent games to close the first half, pulling to within 10-7 when Bortles passed one yard to wide receiver Allen Robinson. That touchdown pass came with :02 remaining in the second quarter and gave the Jaguars their first first-half road points of the season. The Jaguars had been outscored 68-0 on the road in the first half this season to that point.
Robinson finished with seven receptions for 76 yards.
Santos' 51-yard field goal with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter came four plays after cornerback Steven Nelson recovered a fumble by Yeldon. The Jaguars had outgained the Chiefs 244-138 at that point but trailed 13-7.
PLAYER OF THE GAME …
Ivory, running back. There were a few players from whom to choose on this one Sunday, but Ivory was the choice because he turned in the team's best rushing performance of the season. Ivory, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason, was key to a vastly improved running game. He rushed for 107 yards on 18 carries, including a 42-yard first half run that tied his longest run of the season. He rushed for 83 yards on 10 first-half carries.
OFFENSIVELY …
The Jaguars were notably better running in Hackett's first game as offensive coordinator. The Jaguars rushed for a season-high 205 yards, including 132 yards rushing in the first half. They entered the game ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing 72.6 yards per game. The Jaguars finished with 25 first downs and had 221 yards and 14 first downs in the first half.
DEFENSIVELY …
The Jaguars held Kansas City to 231 yards and 10 first downs but did not force a turnover. The Chiefs had 126 yards and six first downs in the first half.
SPECIALLY …
Walters' fumble on a punt return was a huge momentum swing early and marked the third consecutive game in which the Jaguars had lost a fumble on a punt return. Kicker Jason Myers missed a 54-yard third-quarter field goal. A 36-yard punt return by Tyreek Hill set up the Chiefs' third goal.
INJURY UPDATES …
Jaguars running back Denard Robinson sustained a first-quarter back strain and returned to the game before halftime. Wide receiver Allen Hurns sustained a third-quarter ankle injury and returned on the ensuing series.
Hurns later left after sustaining a concussion, and linebacker Myles Jack left the game with a hip injury in the fourth quarter.
Jared Odrick as expected was inactive Sunday. The veteran defensive end was deactivated an hour and a half before kickoff with a foot/ankle injury. The Jaguars' six other inactives were all healthy scratches: Quarterback Brandon Allen, wide receiver Rashad Greene, tight end Neal Sterling, running back Corey Grant, offensive lineman Bryce Harris and defensive tackle Richard Ash.
NOTABLE …
*The difference in the Jaguars' offense from one week to the next was noticeable quickly. The Jaguars finished the first quarter Sunday with 116 yards, including 81 rushing. They had 60 first-half yards against the Tennessee Titans a week ago.
*Wide receiver Marqise Lee capped a solid first half of the season with another productive day, catching four passes for 184 yards.
