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Jaguars commit unforced errors, drop third-straight game in 23-7 loss to Ravens on SNF
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- Jaguars commit unforced errors, drop third-straight game in 23-7 loss to Ravens on SNF
With no room for error during the final month of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) committed far too many mistakes against the Baltimore Ravens (11-3), losing 23-7 on Sunday Night Football.
As was the case at home for Jacksonville this season, the Jaguars couldn't overcome their gaffes, resulting in another loss to drop to 2-5 at EverBank Stadium this year.
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Postgame recap: Jaguars drop third straight, lose to Ravens on Sunday Night Football
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence fumbled the football twice, his first coming on the team's fourth drive of the game. Lawrence simply dropped the ball while scrambling, giving the Ravens the football and resulting in the first touchdown of the game.
Lawrence finished 25-of-43 for 264 yards and one touchdown. His leading receiver was Jamal Agnew , who had two catches for 70 yards and a TD.
Lawrence led Jacksonville in rushing with 41 yards. Travis Etienne totaled just 31 rushing yards on 10 carries.
After the game, Lawrence entered the NFL's concussion protocol, the result of a hit he took late in the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) fumbles the football during the second quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
The loss drops Jacksonville to 8-6 on the season, now tied with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans within the AFC South.
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Thanks to tiebreakers, the Jaguars hold the lead over both squads, but it won't take away the sting of losing in their first SNF appearance in 15 years.
The Jaguars last appeared on Sunday Night Football in 2008 when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers , another AFC North team, 26-21.
Jacksonville entered Sunday night's game looking to lock up a winning season, which would give them back-to-back winning seasons in 2022-23 for the first time since the 04-05 seasons. That will have to wait until at least next week.
If they can hold on, this could mark the first time ever the Jaguars would win back-to-back AFC South titles. They've won it twice (2017 and 2022) since the realignment in 2002.
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All of that will have to wait, too.
Jaguars commit multiple unforced errors en route to scoreless first half
During an uneventful first half, the Jaguars ended four drives deep in Ravens territory, resulting in zero points.
After punting on the team's first drive of the game, the Jaguars missed two field goals, fumbled and ended the half at the Baltimore five-yard line as time expired.
On the fourth drive of the game, Jacksonville marched to the Ravens' 23-yard line before Lawrence inexplicably dropped the football during a scramble, turning the ball over to Baltimore.
The final misfortune for Jacksonville occurred as the team looked to score its first points of the night. With 30 seconds left, Lawrence completed a deep throw down the left side of the field for 36 yards to the Baltimore five-yard line.
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Without timeouts, Lawrence and the Jaguars' offense rushed to the line of scrimmage as seconds ticked off the clock. Instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock, they decided to try a play, a pass to Parker Washington inbounds that took all of the remaining time off the clock, leaving Jacksonville scoreless to end the first half, trailing Baltimore 10-0.
Jamal Agnew gets Jaguars on the board with 65-yard touchdown catch
Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew (39) runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
After missing the last four games because of a shoulder injury, Jaguars receiver Jamal Agnew was activated off of the team's reserve/injured list.
After opening his practice window this week, the Jaguars opted to activate the veteran wideout and he responded in kind, catching a deep shot from Lawrence, running it the rest of the way for a 65-yard score, the Jaguars' first points of the game.
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It was Lawrence's longest TD throw of his career and Agnew's longest touchdown reception of his career. Agnew had a 66-yard rushing touchdown in 2021, his first year with the team.
Brandon McManus misses two field goals in first half
Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Brandon McManus (10) attempts his first of two first half field goal attempts. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida Sunday Night, December 17, 2023. The Jaguars trailed 10 to 0 at the half. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
With two missed kicks in the first half against Baltimore, McManus failed to provide Jacksonville with much-needed points during the first half.
After his second missed kick, a 55-yard kick, McManus has failed to score on four out of his last five attempts.
At halftime, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson offered his analysis of what had transpired in the first half and didn't mince words about his team's kicking situation.
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"We gotta make our kicks, No. 1, and we can't turn the ball over in the red zone," said Pederson. "So, it's really about us and what we're doing. We're executing fine, defense is playing good, keeping us in this game."
Rayshawn Jenkins , Jaguars defense stymie Lamar Jackson , Ravens offense in first half
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Jacksonville's offense struggled to finish drives, the defense had other plans.
The Jaguars' defense began the game forcing Baltimore to punt thrice while surrendering just 10 points during the first half.
On the Ravens' third drive of the game, safety Rayshawn Jenkins read Ravens QB Lamar Jackson's eyes perfectly, cutting off the route for an interception and giving Jacksonville its first and only turnover of the game.
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Jacksonville's defense held the Ravens to just 166 total yards in the first half, including 47 rushing and 119 passing. Jackson finished the half 11-for-16 for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
It wasn't until the second half and the fourth quarter that the Ravens couldn't be stopped, taking up much of the second half in terms of time of possession.
In all, the Ravens possessed the football for 34:19 compared to the Jaguars' 25:41.
Jackson finished the game with pedestrian passing numbers, completing just 14-of-24 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. On the ground, Jackson accounted for 97 rushing yards with the bulk of that yardage coming in the second half.
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Jackson accounted for just 30 rushing yards in the first half.
The Ravens finished the game with 386 yards and a 42-percent third-down conversion rate. Their 251 rushing yards are by far the most allowed this year with the majority of the yards coming in the second half.
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 lose to Baltimore Ravens 23-7 on Sunday Night Football
