JACKSONVILLE – The mistakes were simply too much.
As a result, the Jaguars turned a game they could have won and certainly could have kept close into a seventh loss in eight games to start the 2014 season.
With rookie quarterback Blake Bortles throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, a stifling early defensive effort wasn't enough on Sunday for the Jaguars, who lost to the Miami Dolphins, 27-13, on a sun-splashed October afternoon in front 65,633 at EverBank Field.
Bortles completed 18 of 34 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, but turnovers told the story of his fifth NFL start.
Safety Louis Delmas returned an interception 81 yards for a Miami touchdown in the second quarter, and after Bortles lost a fumble later in the half, cornerback Brent Grimes' 22-yard interception return gave the Dolphins a 17-3 lead with 12:16 remaining in the third quarter.
The Jaguars had dominated statistically to that point, with the defense playing impressively for a fourth consecutive game.
The Jaguars outgained Miami for the game, 377-328.
Jaguars' running back Denard Robinson also had a second consecutive impressive game, rushing 18 times for 108 yards. It was his second 100-yard rushing game in as many weeks.
The Jaguars were hurt by special teams errors early. They drove into Dolphins territory on their first two drivers, with Robinson running effectively on the first drive and passes to Allen Robinson and Cecil Shorts III from Bortles moving the Jaguars quickly on the second.
But defensive end Olivier Vernon blocked a field-goal attempt by kicker Josh Scobee on the first drive, and a holding penalty on defensive tackle Abry Jones negated a 46-yard field goal on the second.
The Jaguars' defense was dominant early, holding the Dolphins without a first down until 3:12 remained in the half.
But that effort was negated by not only the special teams errors, but a key one by Bortles, who threw back across his body after rolling to his left on the first play of the second quarter. Delmas returned the easy interception 81 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Dolphins lead.
The Jaguars held a 132-3 total-yardage advantage at that point, and still held a 199-3 advantage after a 30-yard field goal by Scobee made it 7-3 with 6:28 remaining in the half.
An error by Bortles hurt again late in the half. With the Jaguars driving, he scrambled for a first down and fumbled as he was hit. Delmas recovered to give the Dolphins a first down at their 23.
When Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis converted from 43 yards late in the first half, the Dolphins led 10-3 at halftime despite the Jaguars holding a 219-56 advantage in total yards.
Grimes' interception return gave the Dolphins early second-half momentum before Scobee's 40-yard field goal made it, 17-6, Dolphins with 7:54 remaining in the third quarter. A 3-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill to Rishard Matthews gave the Dolphins a 24-6 lead with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter.
After a 29-yard field goal by Sturgis with 3:53 remaining, Bortles' 48-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with 2:18 remaining made it 27-13.
TURNING POINT
This came late in an error-filled, hard-to-figure first half for the Jaguars. The Jaguars squandered scoring opportunities early, then were still close even after Delmas' 81-yard interception return. The Jaguars had a chance to take the lead with a drive late in the first half. But after Delmas recovered Bortles' fumble at the Dolphins 23, Miami drove for a field goal and a 10-3 halftime lead. The Jaguars never got closer.
HIGHLIGHTS
1.Robinson continued to be impressive at running back for the Jaguars. He had a 41-yard run on a fake reverse early, and he became the first Jaguars back since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011 to have more than 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games. …
2.The Jaguars' defense was dominant early, holding the Dolphins to three first downs in the first half. Defensive end Ryan Davis and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks had sacks in the half. The Jaguars finished with three sacks and have 25 for the season. Davis finished with two sacks and has four for the season. …
3.When Miami's offense scored on Tannehill's three-yard pass to Matthews, it was the first touchdown allowed by the Jaguars' defense in 28 possessions. …
Images from the first half of the Jaguars Week 8 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
INJURY WATCH
Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel left the game with a concussion in the first quarter and did not return. Rookie Josh Wells replaced him and finished the game at left tackle.
The Jaguars started Dwayne Gratz and Demetrius McCray at cornerback after Gratz was made active 90 minutes before kickoff. He had been a game-time decision with a hip issue.
Toby Gerhart, the starting running back in Weeks 1-5, was active after missing two weeks with a foot injury originally sustained in Week 1. He played as a reserve behind Denard Robinson.
Dekoda Watson made his first start at Otto linebacker, moving into the lineup with J.T. Thomas moving to the middle to replace Paul Posluszny. Posluszny is out for the season with a torn pectoral.
Cornerback Alan Ball was deactivated 90 minutes before kickoff, as were wide receiver Mike Brown, running back Storm Johnson, guard Tyler Shatley, offensive tackle Sam Young and defensive end Andre Branch.
