MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Senior writer John Oehser examines Head Coach Doug Pederson's postgame press conference following the Jaguars’ 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in a 2024 Week 1 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday
1. Head up. The Jaguars' loss Sunday turned on two third quarter plays, plays that created a 14-point swing and gave the Dolphins momentum they never lost. The first play: Running back Travis Etienne's fumble into the end zone after a 10-yard run to the Dolphins 3, with safety Javon Holland recovering for a Miami touchback and Dolphin's possession at their 20. The play came with 2:19 remaining in the third quarter and the Jaguars leading 17-7. The second play came on the next play when Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa passed 80 yards to wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a touchdown that reduced the lead to 17-14 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. "It takes a little wind out, but guys battled," Pederson said, adding of Etienne: "I just told him keep his head up. He's a good player. We're going to give him the football a lot this season. It's Week 1. Learn from it and we'll be better."
2. Simple goal, simple answer. Pederson said a decision made on the first play of the fourth quarter Sunday was for a simple reason – that he wanted to gain a first down. The Jaguars at the time led 17-14, with the Dolphins having cut the lead to three with Hill's touchdown. The Jaguars gained nine yards on their first two plays of the ensuing series, then faced fourth-and-one at their 32 as the quarter ended. Etienne started left on fourth down, then crossed back and was tackled for a two-yard loss by cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller. Dolphins' kicker Jason Sanders missed from 42 yards on the ensuing series. "It was trying to stay on the field," Pederson said. "Really just wanted to stay on the field. Execute the play, stay on the field. It turned into a good situation because they ended up missing the field goal there. But no, just wanted to stay on the field."
3. Big-time rookie. Pederson lauded the play Sunday of rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who turned in an impressive NFL regular-season debut with four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Thomas' 14-yard acrobatic, toe-tapping touchdown reception from quarterback Trevor Lawrence gave the Jaguars a 14-0 second-quarter lead. Thomas also set up the Jaguars' first touchdown when he beat Ramsey deep and forced a 40-yard interference penalty for possession at the Dolphins one. Etienne's one yard run on the ensuing play gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead. "I thought he did some good things," Pederson said. "Game is not too big for him, and great touchdown catch obviously there in the first half and did some good things. Played tough and physical in the run game, as well."
4. Solid debut. Pederson also praised the Jaguars' defense, which registered three sacks and held a team that finished second in the NFL in scoring in 2023 to 20 points. The Dolphins had 400 yards offense Sunday, with 80 coming on Hill's touchdown reception and 63 coming on a pass from Tagovailoa to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. "I thought they did a nice job today," Pederson said of the defense, which was playing its first game under coordinator Ryan Nielsen. "You take away two of those explosives and one fumble on offense, it's a different ball game. It's a team game, the defense played well and kept us plugging away in the second half at least."
5. Good start. Pederson, too, said he liked what he saw from the Jaguars' running game Sunday. Running back Tank Bigsby rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries, with the Jaguars as a team rushing for 128 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. "I am encouraged by that," he said. "There's something there to work with and build on. We'll improve each week. We'll keep getting better."
6. Pederson on Lawrence, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown Sunday: "I thought he did some good things in the first half. He saw the field, did some good things. I think in the second half, our lack of execution offensively – it wasn't just one person. It really comes down to our third-down conversion in this football game and not staying on the field. I thought Trevor played a good game. We'll look at it, make the corrections and get ready for next week."
