JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Jacksonville
Hi, KOAGF. Hard to believe we were three plays from winning: Two missed field goals and a touchdown reversed due to a penalty away from the play. As good as Kansas City looked, only three plays. As frustrating as it was to watch, only three plays.
This view is perhaps a wee bit rosy. The Jaguars indeed cost themselves at least 10 points with very avoidable mistakes in a 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, but the Chiefs' offense is potent enough that it's fair to think they might have scored late had they needed points. Still, your point as a lot of merit. This was a game Sunday the Jaguars maybe could have won and absolutely should have made more competitive. They scored just seven points on five first-half possessions in Chiefs territory. They recovered a game-opening onside kick and forced three turnovers – and only scored seven points off those opportunities. It's very difficult to get so few points in those situations. It was yet another game in a long line of many this season in which the Jaguars made game-turning mistakes at key times. They continue to be close and continue to be frustrated – and frustrating. It's pretty much the theme of the season.
Amy from Jacksonville
What I saw Sunday was a team that played really hard. Give it a year.
What you saw Sunday was a team that continues to show it is better than it was a season ago, though not yet good enough – or able to make enough big plays in big moments – to win consistently. My sense is they have a good chance to improve in that area as quarterback Trevor Lawrence continues to grow and as the team gains continuity/experience around him. That will be the hope, anyway.
Jensen from Lake Jackson, TX
John, we should have won this game. Missed kicks happens, especially when it's cold, but with the called-back touchdown, 13 points were left on the field. This team is close. I have hope for the future.
Fair.
JR from The Squatchlands
Well, we won the turnover battle and the fourth quarter, so there's that. But it would have been cool if our offense scored another touchdown or two. It seemed like we held our own for the most part. Obviously a win would have been a lot ask, but how to you feel the team performed overall?
I feel the Jaguars had a rather expected game – one that was in line with how they have played much of the season. They didn't get enough significant pressure defensively and they didn't cover well enough, flaws that will be exposed in a big way when you play a quarterback with as much arm talent and mobility as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Even with Sunday's defensive shortcomings, the Jaguars made enough plays defensively and on special teams – and played well enough at times offensively – to have multiple opportunities to make the game competitive. They failed to take advantage of those opportunities, causing what could have been a much closer game – or even a victory – to be a loss. That's a story that as run through pretty much every Jaguars loss this season. How did the Jaguas perform Sunday? Competitively most of the time. Well enough to like the direction of the franchise. Well enough to be frustrating. So again … about what you would expect from the '22 Jaguars to date.
Mike from Cartersville (AKA Trevortown), GA
They have games like Sunday's and I think about how they could have drafted Justin Jefferson but didn't and took Laviska Shenault Jr. a little later. Having drafts like the 2020 draft will make it very difficult to be competitive in the NFL.
Fair.
Joe from Duval
Why is the No. 1 pick dropping into coverage? I thought he was gonna learn one thing at a time.
I assume you're referencing Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, being in coverage at times Sunday. Yes, the Jaguars want Walker playing just one position for now. That's outside linebacker, which usually means rushing the passer in passing situations. But rookies still must play the defense and there are certain situations in this defense where outside linebackers drop in coverage.
James from Socorro, NM
NFL teams that cause three turnovers while committing zero are 22-1 this year. The Jaguars are truly unique in how they find ways to lose games.
I understand the frustration, but I don't know that Sunday's loss was all that unique. They had opportunities. They weren't quite good enough to take advantage. They had trouble generating significant pressure and had issues in coverage. It's a pretty familiar song.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Measuring-stick game huh? Well, Jags solidified their NFL JV squad status!
Fans have the right to feel how they feel and assess how they choose. Does losing by 10 to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road mean a team has "solidified their NFL JV squad status?" If that's how you feel and assess … sure, I guess.
Aaron from Atlantic Beach, FL
What happened to Josh Allen?
Allen, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, tied for the team lead in tackles Sunday with seven and he also had a quarterback pressure. This game in a very real sense is representative of Allen's season; he has been good much of the time, very good at times and he has generated significant pressure. But Allen spoke before the season of wanting to be an elite, difference-making impact player. He has not been that as a pass rusher and that's the expectation.
JT from Palm Coast, FL
I'm not sure how the Jags can pay Josh Allen. He is a good player that will command great player pay. He is more often than not MIA in games this year. I'd like him on the team next year, but on a much cheaper contract.
Stay tuned.
Mike from Port Orange, FL
How can the coaches not fine or punish the two offensive tackles who each had another day of looking okay, but each had a driving killing penalty which cost the team.
It's professional football, you don't fine players for penalties in the course of a game and you don't "punish" them. If you have better player, you start the better player. Otherwise you coach them and prepare for the next opponent.
Mark from Crescent Beach
Too many bust of draft picks on defense for Jags to turn it around. The two defensive end picks will set us back just as bad as if we missed on a quarterback. Allen is just not good. Sad that Baalke has missed so bad on these picks!
General Manager Trent Baalke was not with the Jaguars when they selected outside linebacker Josh Allen. Criticize Allen. Criticize Baalke. Criticism is part of the job in professional sports. But can we at least be sort of right and sort of fair? A little?
Steve from Jacksonville
The question is this: Do they have to spend more first-round equity on a pass rusher? Can we all admit that Walker is a good kid and good player, but taking Hutchinson was probably the smarter move?
The Jaguars' pass rush hasn't been effective enough this season. Walker is not yet developed as a pass rusher. That doesn't mean the Jaguars should have selected Aidan Hutchinson No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft instead of Walker. That's not to say that never will be true. It is to say we're nowhere near close to knowing that 10 games into Walker's rookie season.
Scott from Mid Atlantic
No question O-man, just want to say that the Jags make me miserable and hate football. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels as such.
Perhaps not.
Rob from St Augustine, FL
Someone's gotta explain that "muffed punt recovery rule."
You're referencing a first-quarter play Sunday on which the Jaguars appeared to recover a "muffed" punt in the end zone. It's (relatively) easily explained. While Kansas City did touch the ball before the Jaguars' recovery, the Jaguars were the first team to touch the ball after Logan Cooke's punt. Once the kicking team touches the ball first on a punt, the returning team can touch the ball without risk because the returning team always will get possession on the play. Maybe it's not "easily" explained, but officials were correct to give Kansas City possession at the 20.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Not a bad performance from T-Law. I'm sensing progress.
Good eye. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 29 of 40 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions Sunday. He had a passer rating of 106.1, his second consecutive game over 100 and his fifth such games this season. He was consistent Sunday and accurate for the most part. He held the ball too long a time or two, but his decision-making for the most part was good – and he overall was good the entire game. He indeed is progressing and that's what you want if you're the Jaguars.
