DETROIT, Mich. – This was as rough as it gets.
The Jaguars on Sunday lost to the Detroit Lions, 52-6, at Ford Field in a game so one-sided that it was as difficult to analyze as it was pointless to do so.
The Lions are one of the NFL's best, strongest and most dominant teams and they played like it. The Jaguars at 2-9 are not one of the best teams and they did not play like it Sunday.
The Lions scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions. The first time they didn't score a touchdown was the series after quarterback Jared Goff left the game, so they essentially scored a touchdown every time they really tried to score a touchdown. They pushed the Jaguars off the ball easily. Lions receivers ran open to an alarming degree.
The highlight for the Jaguars: Rookie kicker Cam Little's 59-yard field goal on the game's opening possession that tied the franchise record for longest field goal.
It wasn't good after that. It actually was as bad as you can imagine.
Let's get to it …
Scott from Jax in DelaNowhere
Is this franchise cursed, O-man? I would hate to see anyone on this Jags unit go, but it's abundantly clear that changes need to be made. But where?
The Jaguars are not cursed, but they're a bad team right now – as evidence by a slew of close losses this season, and further emphasized by a listless loss Sunday in which they were dominated in stunning fashion. I expected the Lions to win. I was surprised at the level of dominance. That was historic, disturbing stuff. There were various reports leading to this game that changes could be made. Those reports mentioned General Manager Trent Baalke and Head Coach Doug Pederson. Those reports often accompany 2-9 starts, and blowout losses such as Sunday make that noise louder. That's the nature of the NFL. Stay tuned.
Steve from Sunroom Couch
Dear, John. How about that 59-yard field goal?
Good eye. Little capped the first drive with a 59-yard field goal that tied the franchise record held by Josh Scobee (2010) and Josh Lambo (2019). My sense is that record won't stand much longer, and that Little will break it multiple times in his career. He's impressive.
Jason from Maryland
This game shows just how important talent evaluation is.
The Lions absolutely looked like a team that was bigger, stronger, faster, more physical and just a lot better than the Jaguars. That's a problem.
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
Can we just rewind to December 2022? I hate 2024.
Fair.
Michael from Saint Augustine, FL
John, this is what quitting looks like.
I'm a staunch believer that NFL players rarely quit, though Sunday looked pretty close at times. I also think fatigue and discouragement played a role in Sunday's performance, particularly on defense. But Sunday absolutely looked like a team had little faith from early on that it had a chance. That can sap a whole lot of desire from a team very, quickly.
Pradeep from Bangalore, India
Hi, John. Right now Jaguars are a national shame. Disoriented defence and non-functional offence. I am ready for midseason coaching change.
The Jaguars are not a national shame. This is because the nation doesn't care about 2-9 teams that play as poorly as the Jaguars did Sunday. As for how fans feel locally … they can feel pretty much however they want after Sunday. All's fair right now.
Cliff from ORANGE PARK, FL
Wow, sure looks like some of our guys are at a walkthrough while Detroit is at full speed. I don't think the whole team has quit but would you agree there seems to be an abnormal difference in team speed today?
Yes. And while I agree that whole teams don't quit, teams that are focused and ready to play don't allow touchdowns on their first seven possessions.
Jason from Port Orange, FL
Zone, Perhaps I missed him because Arik Armstead was so bad on that first defensive drive, but why is Josh Hines-Allen not on the field? Is he hurt, or do we just not want our two best defensive players on the field at the same time?
This was the much-ballyhooed, rarely-ignored, sometimes-spellchecked First Email of the Game. It's a rotation thing.
Matt from Neptune Beach, FL
In 25 years, this is the most embarrassed I've ever been to be a Jags fan. The coaching, effort and execution are awful. Can they invoke the Mercy Rule in the second quarter?
No, they can not.
Mike from Neptune Beach, FL
Besides the defense's inability to cover or tackle and the lack of creativity and execution by the offense, what do you see as the Jaguars biggest problem?
The defense's inability to remotely come close to coming close to stopping the run in the first half Sunday was an issue.
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