The Jaguars lost 20-13 to the Denver Broncos at Empower Field in Mile High after surrendering a double-digit second-half lead. The Jaguars had opportunities to win but did not make the key plays needed to preserve control. Jaguars senior writer John Oehser described the result as an opportunity lost and said the team must respond.
Second-half execution changed the game
Head coach Liam Coen said the Jaguars “never could get in sync in the second half.” That assessment matched a game in which the Jaguars moved from controlling the action to struggling as the Denver Broncos played well enough to take control. Oehser said the loss was not a reason for panic, but the Jaguars did not play well enough to finish the game.
Oehser also placed the result in the context of the NFL’s difficulty. “The NFL is hard,” he wrote. “Nine-game winning streaks can make us forget that.” The Jaguars had played at a high level for an extended stretch, but that did not eliminate the need to adjust and make decisive plays against Denver.
Missed opportunities hurt the Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence threw an interception, according to Oehser’s discussion of the game. Brian Thomas Jr. also failed to make at least one catch he probably should have made, creating another missed opportunity for the Jaguars. Oehser said he did not see hesitation from Thomas but acknowledged the drop.
The most significant Thomas play came with the game tied 13-13 and a little more than 10 minutes remaining. On first-and-10 from the Broncos 38, Thomas did not make the catch, which would have given the Jaguars a first down. The play led to a question about whether rookie Josh Cameron should receive more snaps.
Oehser said Cameron would play if the Jaguars believed he was a better option than Thomas. He also discussed the pressure facing the offensive line against a Denver Broncos pass rush he identified as one of the NFL’s best. Oehser wrote that Lawrence might have fared better with more time to throw, while noting that the game required adjustments and perseverance.
Jaguars must respond
Oehser wrote that the Jaguars had chances to win but should not be described as having deserved the victory because they did not make the necessary plays. The loss combined a disappointing result with a second-half decline after Jacksonville had built a double-digit lead. The next response is now important for the Jaguars.
“Momentum got away and when momentum gets away, it can be hard to get it back,” Oehser wrote. That was his explanation for why the Jaguars struggled when the game reached its decisive stage. The Jaguars must now respond after allowing the Denver Broncos to shift the game in their favor.
FSB Take
The Jaguars had control of the game but could not sustain it after halftime. Lawrence’s interception, Thomas’ missed catch and the team’s failure to get in sync in the second half were central details in the 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Oehser identified the response as the most important next step. The Jaguars now have to regain their momentum after letting a double-digit lead slip away at Empower Field in Mile High.
Source: Original report