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What's wrong with Jacksonville Jaguars? Penalty problem reaches new heights among 10 thoughts
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- What's wrong with Jacksonville Jaguars? Penalty problem reaches new heights among 10 thoughts
Five minutes remained in his team's 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams when the television broadcast captured Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen looking to the ground and simply shaking his head.
It was that kind of Sunday for Coen at Wembley Stadium, where his team delivered their first clunker of his first season in charge.
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What might have Coen been thinking about? Well, take your pick. Pass protection. Pass rush. Penalties. Drops . The flight home. Myriad possibilities.
Here are my 10 thoughts on Rams -Jaguars:
1. Misleading achievement
Each Sunday around 9 p.m., the NFL sends out an email called "Seven From Sunday," a list of statistical highlights. It noted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw all five of his touchdowns against the Jaguars' "blitz," most by a quarterback in the Next Gen Stats Era (2016).
A major caveat is required, though. Stafford's touchdown passes measured 5, 2, 1, 31 and 1 yards and the Rams used six, eight, eight, seven and eight pass protectors against the Jaguars' five, five, six, six and seven pass rushers. It wasn't like the Jaguars had free runs at Stafford. Also, those goal-line throws were get the snap and throw it.
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Stafford was dynamite, yes, but the Rams also made sure he was in a good spot to throw.
2. Leaky pass protection
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven times for the second consecutive week . Via my watch, the time (in seconds) when Lawrence was in trouble or sacked were 3.31, 4.65, 6.33, 2.41, 6.15, 2.91 and 3.20 seconds.
The Rams rushed five on their first sack, but then four players on the final six sacks. I booked "coverage" for 1 1/2 sacks, "team" for two sacks, center Robert Hainsey for two and right tackle Anton Harrison for 1 1/2.
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3. Penalty problems reach height
The Jaguars were called for 13 penalties totaling 119 yards (including off-set and declined penalties, the total was 20). It was their third game of at least 10 penalties this year. Compare that to none in 2003, 2009-11, 2014 and 2023-24. Unacceptable stuff. This has to be about player accountability. Which player, captain or non-captain, can get through to their teammates?
It was the sixth game in team history with at least 13 penalties and 119 yards and the first since 2019. The yards were the most since 115 against Chicago in December 2020.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis had three penalties, including the rarely seen (in fact, I had never seen it) double penalty for pass interference and facemask on the same play.
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4. Third down woes
The Jaguars have sunk to 30th on third down (32.9%) after going a woeful 3 for 15 against the Rams. It was the fifth game in team history in which they had at least 15 third down plays and three or fewer conversions and first game since October 2012.
The Jaguars had seven third-down plays in which they needed at least 10 yards (1 of 7). Even on third-and-short (1-3 yards), they weren't very good (2 of 5).
A lack of effectiveness on third down plus the score getting out of hand equaled six fourth-down plays (2 of 6), tied for second-most in team history (the Jaguars went 2 of 8 in last year's loss at Buffalo).
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5. Many yards, few points
The Jaguars had 358 yards and seven points, the second time in team history they have achieved that benchmark (422 yards and six points in a 2022 loss at Houston ).
The offense had a season-high four drives of at least 10 plays (but scored no points on those possessions) and had a season-best seven explosive pass plays (gain of at least 16 yards).
Among their 12 drives, the Jaguars reached Rams territory eight times and managed only the seven points. That's a remarkable achievement.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Kyren Williams of Los Angeles Rams (#23) is pushed out of bounds by Ventrell Miller of Jacksonville Jaguars (#51) during the NFL 2025 game between Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 19, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
6. Encouraging game for No. 41?
The Jaguars' pass rush is broken (one sack in the last three games), but let's get positive for a second. Maybe defensive end Josh Hines-Allen found something against the Rams. I booked him for three knockdowns and one pressure; his sack was negated by penalty.
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The Jaguars rushed five or more on 22 of Stafford's 41 drop-backs.
7. Takeaway drought
It was nice while it lasted. The Jaguars, without a takeaway in the last two games , fell out of the league's pole position in takeaways and turnover differential.
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Entering Monday night's games, Chicago leads with 16 takeaways (15 in the last four games) and a plus-11 differential. The Jaguars are second with 14 takeaways and a plus-8 differential.
The Jaguars weren't going to continue the pace they set with 13 takeaways in the first four games, but one in the last three games won't cut it.
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8. Fourth down error
The tone was set on the Rams' opening drive. They faced a fourth-and-3 at the Jaguars' 16. Linebacker Ventrell Miller was at the line of scrimmage and so keen on blitzing, he didn't see running back Kyren Williams running to the right flat instead of staying in pass protection. It was too late when Miller hit the brakes to turn around. Williams gained 9 yards. The Rams scored three plays later.
9. Numbers of note
The Jaguars' defense has forced nine three-and-outs in the last two games. … The average distance of Lawrence's touchdown passes this year is 13.6 yards compared to 18.6 yards for Jaguars opponents. … Reserve offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen played six snaps in a jumbo (six linemen) package. … Receiver Parker Washington led the skill position players with 68 snaps (out of 77) … A quiet game for defensive end Travon Walker , who played his second game with a club on his right wrist (18 snaps, no pass-rush disruptions).
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10. Ups & Downs
Ups:Receiver Travis Hunter played a season-high 67 offensive snaps and had eight catches for 101 yards and his first touchdown. … The Jaguars actually tackled well (only misses were Lewis and safety Andrew Wingard ).
Downs:The Jaguars had three dropped passes (Washington, tight end Johnny Mundt and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ). ... Kicker Cam Little missed his fourth field goal and was wide left for the first time this season. … Wingard had another tough go with two penalties (one was a bad call) and 31-yard touchdown pass allowed. … Pass rush (again) and pass protection (again).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars penalty problem reaches new heights in London
