I don’t want to get too ahead of myself here. Afterall, it was one week and one game the Jacksonville Jaguars have won. But given the static that has been a buzz all over TIA Bank Field all offseason and the way the team came from behind, that sound you heard following the 27-20 win over Indianapolis was a collective exhale of sorts.
This is by no means a finished product, but the there are a few pundits who have changed their tunes this Monday and Tuesday. Especially when it comes to quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Matt Verderame of FanSided.com had this to say as he came out with his weekly quarterback rankings on Tuesday. Minshew rose to 20th on his list.
“Minshew moves up a few spots, but doesn’t get the vaulting treatment. Yes, he completed 95 percent of his throws,” he wrote. “Yet most all. but five of his 20 attempts were within seven yards of the LOS. That said, two of his touchdowns were beautiful throws deep down the right side. Well done.”
We shall see how Minshew does this weekend in another AFC South dogfight, this time against the Tennessee Titans.
Personally, I am more worried about how the defense looks trying to stop Derrick Henry than I am concerned if the offense can move the ball down field.
The Jaguars aren’t the only team that turned a few heads this weekend as Washington also won in head coach Ron Rivera’s debut. The NFL might become that yo-yo each week where teams continue to find the right footing early in the season.
What this does is make for exciting football in a season that still might have some hiccups due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even with the come-from-behind win over the Colts on Sunday, analysts are being cautious with their review of the Jaguars. Dan Hanzus of NFL.com hasn’t given this organization much breathing room this offseason and continues to see this team inching forward along with Minshew, but still has plenty of work to do.
“The 27-20 win over the Colts featured opportunistic play by the defense (two key interceptions) and beautifully efficient play by Gardner Minshew, who finished the day 19 of 20 for 173 yards and three scores,” Hanzus adds. “Minshew spread the ball around to 10 different Jaguars receivers and played under control, while his counterpart, Philip Rivers, forced the action. Could Minshew actually play himself into a long-term future with Jacksonville as the starter? String together a few more games like this and he just might.”
Those are the words other national media members should remember. And with that, the Jaguars should work to improve their weaknesses that are still glaring. The run defense was so much better on Sunday, but the Colts did not have a bulldozer of a running back on the field. The offensive line gave up four sacks. The pass protection needs more consistency.
The Jaguars will rise and fall by its defense this early season. It falls on defensive coordinator Todd Wash’s shoulders. Phillip Rivers still threw for 363 passing yards in a losing effort. The screen pass hurt this team all afternoon. Corrections must be made.
Jacksonville comes into this game anywhere from a 9.5 to a 10.5 underdog, which tells you the confidence betting lines have in Tennessee’s ability to run the football at home. Being an underdog should suit the Jaguars just fine. Winning two games before heading home to face the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night would make for an interesting start to this season.
Could this team be the kind of one from 2017, only a little less talented? Possibly. But it will take more than a game or two to determine where this team stands amongst the other rosters not only in the AFC South but in the NFL.
