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Jaguars can't get going offensively in sloppy 17-9 loss to Chiefs. Here are our takeaways
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- Jaguars can't get going offensively in sloppy 17-9 loss to Chiefs. Here are our takeaways
The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) didn't take advantage of three first-half turnovers by the Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) and paid for it, falling 17-9 at EverBank Stadium on Sunday.
With 4:23 remaining in the contest and the Chiefs leading 17-9, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had one more shot to tie the game on fourth-and-10 from the Chiefs' 16-yard line.
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Lawrence's toss toward the back of the end zone in the direction of receiver Calvin Ridley would be for naught though, falling incomplete.
Jacksonville didn't get the ball back as the Chiefs ate up the remainder of the clock, taking a few kneel-downs to end the low-scoring game.
Coming off a sloppy Week 1 win over the Colts, the Jaguars discovered quickly they wouldn't get away with that against the defending Super Bowl champions.
After the game, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson stated simply that the loss comes down to implementation.
"We just gotta execute the plays, execute what we see. It's something that we all have to be accountable for, myself included and make sure we get it corrected," said Pederson, later adding that "we all need to do better, starting with me."
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The Jaguars last defeated the Chiefs on Nov. 8, 2009. They had dropped the last seven games against Kansas City, including the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs last year. That extends to eight after Sunday.
Game recap: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Though they practiced on a limited basis throughout the week with ankle injuries, both center Luke Fortner and right guard Brandon Scherff were deemed available and active in Sunday's game. Both players were injured during the team's Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts .
Rookie defensive lineman Tyler Lacy also made his NFL debut Sunday, active for the first time after working through a hip injury suffered during the preseason.
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Jacksonville listed four players as inactive prior to the contest including rookie safety Antonio Johnson, rookie receivers Parker Washington and Elijah Cooks and running back JaMycal Hasty .
Jaguars offense struggles to get much going in loss
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) tackles Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) during the first quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
The Jaguars' season began up and down against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. The team's offense got off to a slow start before pulling away for a 31-21 victory.
This week, the team's slow start continued and they never really got going.
"We were in too many second-and-long [situations] and then turned into third-down situations," said Pederson. "As an offense, you can't put yourselves in those situations too many times, it's not favorable to do that. We gotta take a look at the tape and figure it out."
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Jacksonville accounted for just two third-down conversions due to penalties, none converted by the offense of their own volition during the first half. They failed on five other attempts.
Jacksonville's offense accounted for just 135 total net yards in the first half with 44 yards on the ground and 91 yards through the air. The team's leading rusher last week, Travis Etienne , accounted for just 25 first-half yards on the ground. He finished with 40.
Lawrence finished the first half 12 for 20 for 101 yards. He was sacked twice for a loss of nine yards. Lawrence's most-targeted receiver was Christian Kirk with six targets and four receptions for 21 yards before the break.
"We're better than that and we're a better team [than what Jaguars showed Sunday], we're a better offense than that," Lawrence said after the game.
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"I think that's what's disappointing is when you know what you're capable and the guys that we have, whether it's upfront, myself, the running backs, receivers, we got so many weapons we gotta be able to put points on the board and score and that's just, it's kind of embarrassing."
Lawrence ultimately finished the game 22 of 41 passing for 216 yards. He was sacked a total of four times. Kirk finished as the team's leading receiver with 11 catches for 110 yards. After leading the team in receiving yards last week, Calvin Ridley finished with just two catches for 32 yards.
The Jaguars' first third-down conversion on their own volition came during the fourth quarter with around five minutes remaining in the contest. They finished 3-of-11 on third down, including the two third-down conversions via penalty.
Jacksonville finished the game with just 273 total net yards.
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Jacksonville also went 0-for-2 in the red zone and 0-for-1 in goal-to-go situations.
Chiefs-Jaguars gets off to sloppy start with four first-half turnovers
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) bobbles the ball in the backfield as wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) looks on during the first quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville's defense and special teams units took note of senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton's offseason slogan: think takeaways during the first half with Kansas City.
Jacksonville ended the first half collecting three turnovers, including two fumble recoveries, one on defense and one on special teams, and an interception by safety Andre Cisco .
The Jaguars netted just three points off of those turnovers, scoring on a 32-yard field goal by Brandon McManus .
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Jacksonville also turned the ball over in the first half.
After recovering a Chiefs fumble, Jacksonville gave the ball right back with a fumble of their own with 10:57 remaining in the first half. In total, there were three turnovers within four plays at that junction of the game with the final turnover by Cisco with 9:51 remaining in the first half.
Jacksonville also turned the ball over on downs with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. Kansas City drove down the field, scoring their first touchdown of the game, going up 7-3 with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Jags quickly marched down the field and notched a 49-yard field goal by McManus to make it 7-6 at the break.
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"Defense kept us in this football game, created takeaways," Pederson said, adding that it was up to the offense to execute off of turnovers. The Jaguars ended the game with just three points off of turnovers.
"It's just execution. You've got to do better, you've got to execute. Too many guys on offense, veteran players, we all need to do better."
Jawaan Taylor called for five penalties in return to EverBank Stadium
In his return to Jacksonville, Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor wasn't as lucky as he was last week when it came to penalties pre- or post-snap.
Taylor was called for five penalties, including two holding calls, two false starts and an illegal formation.
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Taylor was the subject of national attention in the league's season-opener as the Chiefs took on the Lions. It was said he was false-starting on several plays but was not called. The NFL was informed of Taylor's actions and made it a point of emphasis this week as a result.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid sad that he wanted to give the veteran right tackle a breather.
"I took him out for a couple of plays, you know, just to step back because it's home," Reid said of Taylor, who is from Florida and played with the Jaguars for four years.
"Not only home, but it's also where he played and you know, just step back and let's get you back out there. He had some big blocks down later in the game."
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Jaguars defense slows down Patrick Mahomes , handles Travis Kelce
Sep 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) drops back to pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Sunday's contest much was made about Kansas City's Mahomes-Kelce connection. In two games against Jacksonville last year, Kelce accounted for 20 receptions for 179 yards and three touchdowns.
Sunday, Kelce logged just four catches on seven targets for 26 yards and a touchdown. Despite the touchdown, he was largely ineffective against Jacksonville's defense.
Mahomes completed 28 out of 40 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The Chiefs' ground game really didn't factor into the contest much with Isiah Pacheco as the Chiefs' leading rusher with 55 rushing yards on seven carries. One of his rushing attempts went for 31 yards.
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Josh Allen leaves, but returns to game with shoulder injury
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) escapes Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) during the third quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
One of the team's bright spots a week ago, outside linebacker Josh Allen, left the game with a shoulder injury late in the third quarter.
He was ruled questionable to return, staying on the Jacksonville sideline for much of the fourth quarter.
Allen returned with just over four minutes remaining in the game, but his shoulder injury is something to monitor moving forward.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars struggle on offense in 17-9 loss to Kansas City Chiefs
