PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – This was messy, sloppy – and yes, disappointing.
The Jaguars entered Sunday feeling deservedly good about themselves and alone in first place in the AFC South. They exited it tied for first in the division following a 29-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. It was a game defined as much as anything by cold, wet conditions – and by sloppiness and mistakes.
The Jaguars lost because they couldn't stop the run and because quarterback Trevor Lawrence committed five turnovers – four lost fumbles and an interception.
This loss doesn't mean Lawrence is bad. It doesn't mean the Jaguars are bad. It doesn't mean the season is over. It means they're 2-2 with both losses to NFC teams and both losses on the road, and it means they lost to an unbeaten Eagles team that currently is one of the NFL's best.
Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins afterward said there's "no panic." And there shouldn't be. The in-box perchance doesn't agree. Oh well.
Let's get to it …
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Mark that down as a very bad game for Trevor. The team was overall manhandled by the Eagles, but Trevor looked especially overwhelmed by the gravity of the game.
I didn't see Lawrence as overwhelmed by the gravity of the game. This game didn't have significantly more gravity than Weeks 2 or 3 against the Indianapolis Colts or Los Angeles Chargers and he played very well in those games. I saw him perhaps not handle the wet conditions very well and he certainly must protect the ball better than he did on his final sack/fumble.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
Lost by eight team to the best team in the league in a driving rain on the road. They'll be fine and right the ship next week. Deep breath.
Good eye and good perspective. I fear you may find yourself a lonely soul in these parts for a day or two. The in-box is angry this day my friends, like an old man trying to … well, do something.
Joe from Caton, NY
Now that's the Jags I know!
This is clever, I suppose – and if people were waiting excitedly to say this after any sort of Jaguars loss following two consecutive impressive victories, that's certainly their right. And I know from experience not to try to make logical points to frustrated fans following a bad loss. But this is not the same old Jaguars. They lost in tough conditions on the road Sunday to a really good team. Their quarterback had five turnovers. I don't expect that to happen again any time soon. It certainly doesn't mean they suck. Maybe it's the same team you know, but it's a lot different from the one I've watched the last few seasons. Even on a day such as Sunday.
Lynn from Mandarin
Trevor Lawrence is terrible. No Good. Very Bad Day.
Stop it. For your own sake.
Crash from Glen St. Mary
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.
And sometimes a young team gets in a situation it doesn't handle very well. It felt like there was an element of that Sunday – rough conditions, a good opponent, on the road, playing a physical offensive line, a bad stretch in the second quarter. The Jaguars actually handled that bad second quarter pretty impressively and looked like they might get back in the game in the second half. Then Lawrence threw an interception in the red zone. It was that sort of day. It doesn't mean it's going to be that kind of season.
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ
O-man, how many turnovers does it take for Lawrence to be taken out of the game and replaced with someone, anyone else?
A lot more than five.
Tom from Nocatee
Pick Sixco?
This was the much-ballyhooed, sometimes rain-soaked, always-lucid First Email of the Game – and it understandably came moments after Jaguars safety Andre Cisco returned an interception early in the first quarter for a 59-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. All was right in Jaguars Land, and all stayed right through the quarter. It changed after that. A lot.
Mikayl from Tampa
I can't help but to feel we were outcoached. With the weather why did they not run the ball many more times? Also, was James Robinson hurt? Why wasn't he in more? Philly seemed to adjust, while we just didn't. I just can't help to feel that between this game, and the Washington game we should be 3-1.
It's always coaching in the NFL.
Mike from Port Charlotte, FL
Jags fan in SWFL… took a direct hit from Ian! House is destroyed, no power barely any gas but driving somewhere to watch the Jags today!
This had nothing to do with the game. I included it because life is more than football games and more than my bad attempts at humor in this space. Stay strong, Mike. Seriously.