The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the first month of the 2018-19 NFL season with a win.
The New York Jets visited “Sackonville” with a four winning streak over the Jaguars; the streak ended as early as the first half because of the Jaguars defense.
Blake Bortles threw two touchdown passes along with a career-high 388 yards passing. The Jaguars defense allowed 178 yards, ten first downs and recorded its first safety since 2014 to the visiting the Jets.
“(The defense) played incredible again today,” Bortles said. “There were some sloppy parts of the game that we’ve got to clean up, but to give them some points to go play with the lead was good.”
The Jaguars defense has received the praise from last season up to now, as they should. However, the Jaguars offense kept the defensive players legs fresh adding a balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
Jaguars finished with 503 yards of total offense, including a 67-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief.
“We are underrated,” Moncrief said. “We know that we are going to get a lot of man coverage coming, we just continue win.”
Bortles also found T.J. Yeldon wide open for a 31-yard score in the second quarter.
Jaguars are back in the win column after an unorthodox 9-6-division loss to the Tennessee Titans, where they managed just two field goals. Jaguars finished a three-game homestand.
The Broadway way show presented by the Jets staring rookie quarterback Sam Darnold did not have plenty of fanfare. Darnold was harassed and sacked three times. The rookie held his own, but Jaguars defense is flat out talented. Darnold was 17 of 34 passing for 167 yards. Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell combining for 26 yards rushing is not worth a Broadway ticket.
“It always helps when you are able to shut down the running game, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. “It helps when you can get some type of lead, we were obviously prepared.”
Jacksonville has bounced back well after losses during head coach Doug Marrone’s tenure in “Sacksonvile,” they are now at 8-1. Jaguars defense did not allow a score in the first half, the score 16-0.
Yeldon had 18 carries for 52 yards; he did not start the game. It was running back Leonard Fournette, who re-injured his strained right hamstring. Fournette missed the last two games while trying to get back to full speed, but tweaked it during his return. Fournette ran 11 times for 30 yards before leaving the game for good in the first half.
Jacksonville goes where Bortles who had a 23-yard run leads them. They were consistent reminiscent of the Patriots game; however, three turnovers and nine penalties were concerning.
The beat goes on; the Jets host the Denver Broncos next Sunday. The Jaguars: kickoff the month of October at Kansas City.
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