By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – Over the past week, everyone’s feelings about the Jaguars’ state went from thinking about how to afford playoff tickets for a long postseason run to worrying about how to afford holiday gifts.
The majority of thoughts about the postseason have taken a U-turn. The possibilities of not having their franchise quarterback have had the effects of a lingering New Year’s hangover.
It all began with the city abuzz about the Jaguars with playoff intensity and free Jaguars attachable flags for all. If you were arriving any time inside the pre-game two-hour window, you know what I meant with the streets stocked with people and cars like any typical downtown New York City day.
The media types, including myself, were figuring out when the Jags would clinch a playoff spot and their road to the Super Bowl.
It ended with a thump in the night about the future of franchise savior Trevor Lawrence and a sense of urgency about their playoff hopes.
Is the team in deep trouble, or is this a premature assumption? We’ll find out in the next two weeks.
The Jags did a remarkable job to present their first “Monday Night Football” appearance since 2011, especially with their illuminating lights and the fans’ pregame lighting ceremony.
There was plenty of optimism in the air about the Jags ready to elevate themselves to the role of top contender in the AFC, heightened when a 57-yard Cincinnati field goal attempt dinked off the middle cross in the opening quarter.
From there, the Jags drove 51 yards on seven plays in the opening drive capped by Tavis Etienne’s four-yard scamper around the end for a 7-0 lead.
Everbank Stadium was rockin’, and I turned to my colleague and told him it was going to be a good night for the home team.
That certainly was one of only a few.
The respected Jags’ defense didn’t have an answer for backup quarterback Jake Browning, who dissected them for 354 yards completing a stellar 32-of-37 attempts in making his second career start. Let the phrase “second career start” sit with you for a few seconds.
It developed into a back-and-forth tussle that still would have likely still been in doubt if Lawrence didn’t leave the game with his eventual high-ankle sprain. Again, the Jags didn’t have a pass rush and added one sack since an opening-drive one.
As for Lawrence, it is unlikely we see him Sunday in Cleveland, but stranger things have happened. Maybe the Jags’ medical team can conjure a remedy in time.
The game in Cleveland now becomes more intensified, notably after the anticipated win Monday night with a healthy Lawrence.
Jacksonville will bring their 8-4 record to Cleveland Sunday to face a banged-up Browns’ team. Suddenly, the 8-4 mark doesn’t give them much elbow room with both the 7-5 Colts and the 7-5 Texans on their heels.
The Jags also have another home showcase next Sunday night against Baltimore. In their favor, they do have two wins over the Colts and a split with the Texans. Also, they have games against Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee – all away, though, – left.
Then there is backup quarterback C.J. Beathard, who did drive them to a game-tying field goal in their 34-31 loss to the Bengals, and he completed 9-of-10 passes for 93 yards. Beathard is a seasoned veteran, but he doesn’t have Lawrence’s tools.
If Lawrence is done for the season, it is now on the defense and offensive coordinator Press Taylor to draw up an imaginative alternative behind Beathard and Etienne. Based on their remaining schedule and overall talent, a 11-6 record and an AFC South crown is still within reach.
Still, Monday night was enthralling from the beginning, and the attachable flags were a nice touch.
Despite the see-saw of the game, everyone was confident until we all gasped when Lawrence went down.
Now, everyone hopes they won’t be waving a flag of surrender.
(Photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher)
