By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
MIAMI GARDENS – Somehow, you could see this coming.
In the end, it again was about the Jaguars closing the door. And again it fell upon the offense.
For the first half and most of the third quarter, the Jags had you feeling good about your Sunday, especially with a seemingly 14-0 dominant lead over Miami. The host Dolphins were sluggish and couldn’t find their rhythm.
Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence was given protection and he was finding receivers in the flat and down field.
New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s schemes kept Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in check, and the signal caller’s inconsistency helped.
It looked like a great opening-day win over Miami. You could see all the positive vibes from the summer begin to come together.
Second-year back Tank Bigsby had a banner day with 73 yards – a 26-yard burst- and first-round pick receiver Brian Thomas caught a 14-yard touchdown dart from Lawrence in the back of the end zone among his four receptions for 47 yards on the day.
Leading 17-7, Travis Etienne was headed toward the end zone with the apparent game-clinching touchdown until he was stripped of the ball and lost it.
Momentum changer..possibly game over.
In the short time that followed it proved to be. Miami would score 13 unanswered points in a 20-17 victory.
Tagovailoa found Tyrek Hill behind the Jags’ secondary on the next play for an 80-yard touchdown and the momentum shifted.
Their efficient track became derailed. There also was the stumper of head coach Doug Pederson going for a fourth-and-one from his own 32. Huh?
There also was the Jags’ final drive in which Etienne predictably ran up the middle on first down and then Lawrence was sacked on consecutive plays stepping up into the pocket. He threw only 21 times on the day, which is another head scratcher.
On their final drive, the Jags could have opened with a pass to Etienne in the flat to hopefully get him down field quickly. Yet, the offense produced just four first down in the second half.
Agonizingly, you watched the Dolphins matriculate 31 yards methodically down the field to set up Jason Sanders for a 52-yard winning field goal, a situation in which he previously was successful in his seven other attempts beyond 50 yards in win situation.
It was yet another heart-breaker that could have been a season-changer. And it wasn’t necessarily on the defense that did a better-than-credible job by allowing two touchdowns.
It’s time for Lawrence to open up his game and also get Bigsby some more carries.
Putting the finger pointing aside, the Jags now have to rebound to face Cleveland in their home opener at the Bank Sunday. Fortunately, the Browns were dismantled by the Cowboys, 33-17, in their Dawg Pound.
Browns’ quarterback DeShaun Watson was a literal punching bag, as he was sacked six times, pressured eight times, hit 17 times,and intercepted twice.
With Cleveland heading into town this weekend, the stage appears to be set for the Jagsa against a reeling Browns’ team.
Last year, the Jags dropped a hard-fought 17-9 decision to the Chiefs in their home opener, and then were shocked by the Texans, 37-17, the following week at the Bank.
The Jags can’t afford a letdown here, as they travel to Buffalo for a Monday night clash and then to Houston for a battle with the Texans. CJ Stroud connected with Stefon Diggs for two scores in their 29-27 win over the Colts Sunday, and there probably will be plenty more of those to come.
This Sunday, the Jags should have a chip on their shoulder, but they will still need to shut the door.
