Jaguars Struggling To Take Advantage of Opportunities To Win | The Day After

Sep 30, 2024 at 05:06 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – Moments matter, and they're really mattering for the Jaguars these days.

Doug Pederson on Monday said a major reason the Jaguars remain winless through four games was what happened – again – in the biggest moments in Houston on Sunday.

The Jaguars had multiple chances to win. They didn't take advantage.

"We talk about finish a lot; you have to finish," he said.

Pederson, in his third season as the Jaguars’ head coach, spoke to the media Monday – a day after a 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. He discussed multiple topics, particularly a frustrating end to the Jaguars' 2024 AFC South opener.

The Jaguars forced punts on the Texans' first five second-half possessions, but missed multiple chances to take a double-digit fourth-quarter lead. Houston drove 69 yards on nine plays in the final minutes for quarterback C.J. Stroud's one-yard game-winning touchdown pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale with :18 remaining.

"You have to finish the play," Pederson said. "You have to finish the series, the quarter, the half – the game, ultimately. Really, yesterday, that was our breakdown was the end of the game."

Pederson added, "Those are things, again, that have kept us from winning these games."

The Jaguars have lost nine of 10 games dating to last season, with three of the four losses this season – at Miami (20-17), home against Cleveland (18-13) and Sunday – decided in the final 18 seconds.

"They're disappointed like I am," Pederson said of the Jaguars' players. "They're frustrated like I am. Things just aren't carrying over from practice to the games, and that has been our Achilles' Heel this first month of the season."

Pederson also on Monday discussed quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who completed 18 of 33passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. Lawrence also missed at least two open receivers for potential touchdowns – wide receiver Gabe Davis in the end zone in the first quarter and wide receiver Christian Kirk deep downfield in the third quarter.

Lawrence following the game said, “I have to hit those,” and added, "We have to capitalize. When we have the game in our hands, we have to go win it. You're not going to hit them all but you have to hit more than I did today. I have to be better for my teammates and I understand that."

"He's seeing the field well," Pederson said of Lawrence. "We're just not hitting. Those are plays we just have to make. He would stand up here and tell you the same thing, so I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that.

"He knows he has to make those throws. Those are NFL big-time throws. We just have to keep working. He does it in practice during the week.

"The more we keep working at it, better chances of hitting the future."

Pederson on Monday also addressed:

Season-long issues offensively on third down. The Jaguars have converted 11 of 44 third downs this season, including four of 12 Sunday. "That's not good enough," Pederson said. "That's something we have to take a look at. We have to be better there."
An offensive line that had struggled at times during the first three games. "I thought [Sunday] was their best game," he said, adding that tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison played "much better" than they did in a loss to the Buffalo Bills the week before. "They were physical," he said. "I thought both tackles played good. Protection for 99 percent of the game was really good."

NOTABLE

Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol after sustaining an injury Sunday, Pederson said. Pederson on Monday also discussed multiple players who missed Sunday's game: Tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), safety Darnell Savage (quadriceps) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee). Lloyd missed Sunday after being added to the injury report last Thursday. "He had a contusion the week before," Pederson said. "He went to warm up prior to the game and just felt like he couldn't give a 100 percent, so we put him down." Pederson said he is hopeful Savage can play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after missing the past three games, and added that Engram is "day to day" entering the week. "We'll see where he's at here in a couple of days," Pederson said of Engram, adding that running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) and Harrison (ankle) should be fine after sustaining injuries Sunday.