LONDON – This was a bit too familiar.
It was a bit too frustrating and disappointing, too – with the Jaguars' annual London trip hardly beginning as they hoped and needed.
Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a huge game and the Jaguars' offense struggled through the middle of the game – all of which allowed the Bears to pull away for a 35-16 victory in front of 61,182 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday afternoon.
"We've got to play better all around," Head Coach Doug Pederson said, adding, "I take full responsibility, obviously, but we all need to be better."
Pederson added, "We didn't expect to be here in this spot. We have to find a way to get out of it."
The Jaguars (1-5), a week after beating the Indianapolis Colts in Jacksonville, lost for a 10th time in 12 games dating to last season. The Bears (4-2) out-gained the Jaguars 373-278, including 216-13 in a momentum-turning second quarter.
"We didn't make enough plays, didn't execute, and had just too many mistakes," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said, adding: "We have 11 more games. There's definitely a way back. Me pumping us up isn't going to do anything up here. We have to take care of business on our end. It's a long season and we have a lot of football left."
The Jaguars will play a home game against the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium in London next Sunday. Pederson called that game "must win."
"I would say so," he said. "I would say everything here on out, quite frankly. If we want to get back to playing the type of football we know we can play, you're going to have to win a lot of games moving forward. I would say these games moving forward are just that."
Pederson also said he believes he has the "full backing" of Owner Shad Khan.
"I was just with him," he said during his post-game media availability, "and I do."
Pederson added that he felt "defeated" after the team's second-widest margin of defeat this season.
"I feel for the players and the coaches," he said. "We work extremely too hard to be in this position. The guys don't quit. They keep fighting."
Williams, the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 23 of 39 passes for four touchdown passes with an interception on a Jaguars defense that has struggled against the pass in recent weeks.
Williams' two second-quarter touchdown passes to tight end Cole Kmet to turn a 3-0 Jaguars lead into a 14-3 Bears halftime advantage, with Williams starting the second half with a first-drive touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Williams' second touchdown pass to Allen in as many quarters all-but secured the Bears' victory seconds into the fourth quarter.
"It's a lack of a lot of things, but focus can be one of those," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said.
Lawrence completed 23 of 35 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, with his touchdown pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis – the first of Davis' two touchdowns Sunday – pulling the Jaguars to within two scores midway through the third quarter.
The Jaguars registered three sacks and a takeaway defensively Sunday – with a sack by Roy Robertson-Harris, one by defensive tackle Maason Smith and half sacks by Hines-Allen and defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo. Jaguars safety Andre Cisco intercepted a deep pass from Williams to wide receiver D.J. Moore at the Jaguars' seven with 5:10 remaining in the first half to keep the Bears' lead 7-3.
"We know we have a chance," Hines-Allen said. "The sense of urgency needs to pick up, the passion and love. The reason why we do the things we do needs to pick up a little bit more.It starts Tuesday once we get back to practice and focus on the Patriots."
Week 6 - Step by Step:
- Rookie kicker Cam Little's 30-yard field goal capped a 67-yard, 14-play drive on the Jaguars' first possession for a 3-0 lead with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter; Davis dropped a potential touchdown pass from Lawrence on the play before Little's field goal. The Bears converted one first down on their first two drives, with the Jaguars leading 3-0 after a quarter. The Bears converted no first downs in the first quarter, after which the Jaguars led 3-0.
- Kmet got open in the middle of the field and stretched the ball into the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown reception from Williams, giving the Bears a 7-3 lead with 11:07 remaining in the second quarter. Williams capped an 85-yard drive late in the half with a two-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Kmet crossing in the back of the end zone for a 14-3 lead with :13 remaining in the second quarter. The Bears took control in the quarter, registering 13 first downs to none for the Jaguars.
- The Bears continued to move easily on the Jaguars' defense after halftime, with Williams' third touchdown pass in Chicago's last four drives – a nine-yarder to Allen – pushing the lead to 21-3 with 11:22 remaining in the third quarter. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram's lost fumble after a 24-yard gain on the first play of the half set up the Chicago drive at the Jaguars 41. Davis' 21-yard reception capped the Jaguars' ensuing drive, cutting the Bears' lead to 21-10 with 6:02 remaining in the quarter.
- Williams passed three yards to Allen with 14:56 remaining in the game to push the lead to 28-10, with running back D'Andre Swift's one-yard touchdown run making it 35-10 with 12:29 remaining. Lawrence's five-yard touchdown pass to Davis trimmed the lead to 35-16 with 6:58 remaining,
Notable Moments:
- Engram, after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury, was among four Jaguars players active Sunday after being listed as questionable on the Friday injury report.
- The others were Davis (knee), safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring) and linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck). **The Jaguars’ inactive players Sunday**: rookie defensive end Myles Cole, rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster, offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, defensive lineman Tyler Lacy and defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter.
In-Game Injury Report:
- Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. sustained a third-quarter hamstring injury.
- Jaguars right tackle Anton Harrison sustained a fourth-quarter knee injury.
