JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in a 2024 Week 10 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Beyond frustrating. The Jaguars' offense has struggled at times this season, but it reached perhaps its most-frustrating level Sunday. With Mac Jones making his first start in place of injured starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars pieced together a nice drive on their second drive to take a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. But the offense struggled mightily after that and finished with 143 total yards – the fifth-lowest total in franchise history. "It's one of the Top 5 defenses in the NFL, so they're going to challenge the quarterback," Jones said. "We actually did a good job of the hard stuff. The easy stuff just wasn't good enough by me. We have to play better and it starts with me." Jones completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions – and he committed takeaways on each of the team's final three drives, losing a fumbled snap and throwing interceptions on the final two possessions. "It's not one person or one man," Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "It's a team sport." The offense also failed to take advantage of opportunities, managing two first downs on the three possessions after the defense's three interceptions off Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. A tough, tough, tough day.
2. All they could do. The Jaguars have lost their last three games to NFC opponents – and while the defense struggled at times to get off the field against a solid Minnesota offense, credit to the unit for keeping the team in the game against an NFC contender. Defensive end Travon Walker registered his seventh-and-a-half sack of the season, and the defense recorded a season-high three turnovers – all interceptions off Darnold throwing to All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson. "I told the defense they played a great game," Jones said. "I have to put a better product out there to help us win." The Vikings dominated time of possession to a staggering degree – 42:19-17:41, the highest differential in the NFL this season – and dominated statistically in a way that belied the final score. The defense stayed gutsy and gritty Sunday, and probably deserved better than yet another frustrating outcome. "The defense obviously did an outstanding job," Pederson said. "To hold that team to four field goals gives you a chance."

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. They just made plays. The Jaguars' defense isn't great, and every relevant statistic from the first nine regular-season games backs that statement. But on Sunday, facing a powerful and explosive Minnesota offense, they just lined up and played – and the result was three interceptions, including one in the end zone and one on the goal line that kept the home team in the game. They also forced field goals instead of touchdowns, even after a fourth-quarter fumble by Jones, which kept it a game worth watching. That the Jaguars couldn't finish the job wasn't anywhere close to being entirely the fault of the defense. On a Sunday when the defense needed to help a backup quarterback, the unit more than held up its end of the bargain. The defense played inspired football, despite being on the field longer than any other NFL defense in any other game this season. That was important to see with a trip to Detroit on tap next Sunday – and with an explosive Lions offense waiting at Ford Field.
2. One drive just wasn't enough. That's all the offense could muster. The positive was it came in the first quarter, when the Jaguars offense had been mostly ineffective the last month and caused them to fall behind the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. The rest of the game was incredibly tough to watch as the Jaguars' offensive line struggled to move the Vikings in the run game, couldn't give Jones enough time in the pocket – and with the offense never seeming to know the whereabouts of rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The most likely reason the offense never got anything going on Sunday was the absence its most explosive player. The Jaguars had plenty of attention focused on Jefferson and yet Darnold kept looking for him. Their final three drives Sunday ended with turnovers, making it an unwatchable offense beyond the 3:44 mark of the first quarter.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. Takeaways don't mean much without complementary football. The Jaguars' defense has struggled in many facets this season, but they were able to force multiple turnovers Sunday. The Jags intercepted Darnold three times, yet not once could Jacksonville's offense capitalize on the extra possessions. The defense kept Minnesota out of the end zone completely and only allowed four field goals on the day. However, the Jaguars offense' scored a touchdown in the first quarter and never even got close to scoring again after that. Put this loss squarely on the shoulders of the offense.
2. Familiar faces mean fireworks. It didn't take long for Jaguars edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen to get the best of his former teammate, left tackle Cam Robinson. Hines-Allen used a straight up bullrush to push past and through Robinson in the first quarter but couldn't finish with a sack on Darnold. Robinson's day didn't get much better from there as he was called for three costly penalties in this game. One of them was a late hit on safety Darnell Savage after Savage intercepted Darnold. Robinson – who played for the Jaguars from 2017 until being traded two weeks ago – lowered his shoulder into Savage after the Jags safety was already out of bounds on Jacksonville's sideline. Robinson's former teammates were immediately seen surrounding the left tackle and letting him hear it. It's safe to say there's still no love lost between Robinson and the Jags.