By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
TAMPA – This one wasn’t merry and bright, and it left us with the sense of some empty wrapped presents around the Christmas tree.
The Jaguars were supposed to end the three-game losing streak against a mediocre quarterback and team and enjoy some Christmas cheer. Heck, they watched the Colts and Texans both lose their games before the kickoff in Tampa. There was the one-game cushion they needed to wrap up the division.
Instead, it was another dismal performance in a 30-12 defeat, and another pound of your fist on a table.
Since their bye week Nov. 5 when they were among the elite with a 6-2 mark, the Jags have dropped five of their last seven.
Elite can quickly revert to mediocre. There is a fine line between the two, and the Jaga may have given us a false sense of the former. Maybe this Jags’ team simply falls into the mediocre category. The Jags may have hit their high-water mark for the season.
The debacle in Tampa wasn’t as close as the score. It simply was an afternoon of bad football at a bad time. Head coach Doug Pederson said the sense of urgency wasn’t there, and he was right.
Tampa scored on its first five possessions, and Mayfield looked like Joe Montana in his prime completing 18-of-23 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns at halftime.
At that point, ball game over. All you wanted to do is keep Trevor Lawrence healthy. The Jags had some flashes, but they weren’t coming back from a 30-0 deficit.
As for Lawrence, he had another gallant effort, but the franchise quarterback hasn’t been the same since he incurred his high ankle sprain against the Bengals three weeks ago. On top of that, Lawrence now may have some shoulder injuries to add to the ankle, knee and concussion that have plagued him over the past three weeks.
Lawrence has trouble throwing off the right foot, evident by some more errant throws and two bad interceptions. He did manage to run for a team-high 29 yards.
Yet. Lawrence still has had trouble holding onto the football, as he has fumbled five times and lost three over the past four games. As a team, the Jags have 10 turnovers in their past four games.
But this collapse isn’t totally on Lawrence, even though he has his share of the blame.
Travis Etienne couldn’t get out of his own way with only 12 yards on six carries, and he has averaged three yards a carry during the losing streak. The holes Etienne had to run through early in the season have vanished.
Then there is the once vaunted Jags’ defense. Over the past four games, they have allowed an average of 29.5 points per contest, and the secondary doesn’t seem to have any answers.
Fortunately, the Jags control their own playoff destiny. If they win out, the Jags have the tiebreaker over the Colts. Houston doesn’t appear to be in the mix over the final two games.
The 2-13 Carolina Panthers come to Everbank Stadium next Sunday, and the Panthers posted 30 points in a last -second 33-30 loss to the Packers. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw for 312 yards in the defeat.
Remember, the Bank hasn’t been the hospitable home for them, as the Jags are 2-5 in the backyard this season.
Pederson turned the team around last year at midseason for a memorable run that ended in the inevitable loss to the Chiefs. Still, the miraculous Chargers’ comeback was supposed to be the catalyst that would pull the team from the depths of mediocrity.
Now, they need a win over Carolina and a win at Tennessee to maintain their elite status.
