The Jacksonville Jaguars

[jaxjaguar]

Today was only the second time in NFL history a team had only 1 penalty in the playoffs... The only other team? Patriots...

[MusicMan]

Honestly felt like we had the "deer in the headlights" look in the 4th quarter.

You knew New England was going to score, and we could not stop them.  Also, our 'Tom Coughlin' offense worked for 3 quarters but failed us in the 4th.

Our personnel is good enough to go all the way but would love to see some upgrades in the coaching staff, specifically the Offensive or Defensive co-ordinators. 

Unless I am mistaken NE loses both co-ordinators next year so maybe someone will best them.  Maybe us.............

Quick poll: Do you think we would have won if this game had been in Jacksonville?

[thelakelander]

^No, not if Gronk had stayed healthy. As a Dolphins fan, I've seen the events that played out tonight, quite often over the last 20 years. All TB12's 4th quarters play out that way. You literally have to bury them earlier. The dynamics of the game (like Pittsburgh) changed with that late first half TD. Being 10 points down with a whole quarter is nothing for the Patriots. Don't give up that late first half TD and there would have been a three score buffer to play with.

[MusicMan]

I was really angry when we took a knee at the end of the first half. I think there was 55 seconds and we had 2 timeouts.

There was time to get into filed goal range.  And Lambo has been incredible.  That just pissed me off...............

[TimmyB]

I was really angry when we took a knee at the end of the first half. I think there was 55 seconds and we had 2 timeouts.

There was time to get into filed goal range.  And Lambo has been incredible.  That just pissed me off...............

If you want to be angry, be angry at your coaching staff that allowed a delay-of-game penalty coming out of a time-out which took the Jags OUT of field goal range two minutes before that.  That was simply inexcusable.  An NFL team has HOW many coaches and not one of them noticed that a timeout was needed?

[Tacachale]

^Yep, you can't make dumb penalties and beat the Patriots. We just handed them that 2nd quarter TD. But going all the way down the line with the perennial Super Bowl contenders, after 2 playoff wins and a division title, is no fucking joke. We played like we deserved to be there. All we wanted for the season was some improvement at long last. They more than delivered.

[TimmyB]

^Yep, you can't make dumb penalties and beat the Patriots. We just handed them that 2nd quarter TD. But going all the way down the line with the perennial Super Bowl contenders, after 2 playoff wins and a division title, is no fucking joke. We played like we deserved to be there. All we wanted for the season was some improvement at long last. They more than delivered.

Couldn't agree with you more about the deserving part.  This was no "Cinderella" run; this was a very good team that showed a little of their inexperience at this level, against a team that has been there SO many times.  If they keep their hunger, this team will do very well next season.

[Snaketoz]

Thank you Jaguars for a great season.  Before the beginning of the season, many of us would have been happy with a .500 season.  You far exceeded that.  Learn from your mistakes and do even better next year.  You proved you deserved to be AFC South champions and in the AFC championship game.  So close!

[ben says]

Great season, far surpassed ALL of our expectations, period.

Yeah, there were some mistakes here and there (the knee at the end of the first half, for example), but overall, I think we went toe-to-toe with the league´s best. We showed we deserved to be there.

We could have won, but it is what it is.

I will say that Bortles was really damn exceptional. I wish he used his legs more, especially as the game started to shift in the Pats favor, but something tells me the play calls were limiting his ability to take off (no excuses, though).

Overall, I´d be lying if I said I wasn´t disappointed beyond belief. Watching from Spain, staying up late, just to lose in that fashion...well, it fucking killed me.

BUT, trying to look at the bright side - hot damn did we do well this year!

(And I guess we can cry together with the Vikes, who had a similarly amazing story this year as well - misery loves company, right?!)

Side note: I think this season was special for other reasons, too. Mainly, duuuuuuuval, our home playoff game, dtwd, etc...all became nationwide symbols and rallying cries. This year got us on the national stage more than we´ve ever been (never in our history do I remember us being so spoken about amongst the rest of the league, fans, etc.). We´re no longer bottom feeders and we showed the nation who we are and what we´re about!

[thelakelander]

Two questions for Jags fans:
1. Will the Jags bring another QB in to compete with Bortles for the starting spot? You have a window to win and windows in the NFL don't last long for teams that aren't the Patriots. So do you go all out this off season to tighten up the weak spots on the roster?

2. Do the Jags attempt to leverage this season's on-field success into getting COJ to give more concessions on redevelopment opportunities around Everbank Field?

[blizz01]

Next year we get the Pats and the Steelers at home.  National games I would hope.  Take care of business, win the division, and secure home field.

[MusicMan]

Love the Jags.  Here's my last post..............

Over the last 5 games we were 2-3.  During that stretch we gave up  45 points to San Fran and 42 points to Pittsburgh.  While I believe our defensive personnel is as good as any team in the NFL these numbers have to be a little concerning.  Against the Patriots we ran base defense the entire game, really made no attempt to blitz or confuse Brady.  On the one drive in the second half that we blitzed 2 plays in a row we beat him up and forced a 4th and 10. On 3rd and 18 we dropped 7 into coverage and Brady had plenty of time to hit a pretty open receiver.  You have to hit Brady and make him uncomfortable, and if that means risking dropping 6 and rushing 5 you have to try it. Todd Wash IMO coached a sub par game. On the 3rd and 18 how do you not blitz!  Brady is for the most part a statue in the pocket, he has no mobility at all. We shut that down right there and our chances to win increase by 50%. Best case scenario you get a strip sack....
Not blitzing as a strategy for this game was pretty much a losing proposition.  Watching the game you could see Brady was not worried about the 4 man pass rush. He could see that there was not going to be a blitz 95% of the time. End result, watch the TD plays. Brady standing unmolested and hitting guys who eventually got open.  Hope next year if we get this far we try a different strategy.

[BridgeTroll]

Two questions for Jags fans:
1. Will the Jags bring another QB in to compete with Bortles for the starting spot? You have a window to win and windows in the NFL don't last long for teams that aren't the Patriots. So do you go all out this off season to tighten up the weak spots on the roster?

2. Do the Jags attempt to leverage this season's on-field success into getting COJ to give more concessions on redevelopment opportunities around Everbank Field?

They absolutely need some competition at QB... at the very least they need a competent backup... (see Foles and Keenum)

[pierre]

I don't think signing a journeyman backup will solve much. It is more likely the Jaguars draft a QB somewhere early on in the draft. Maybe second or third round if they want to bring in potential competition.

I have not been a big Bortles fan but I think he played pretty well overall this year, especially in the playoffs. It is easy to point to him not leading the team to victory at the end of yesterday's game. But it's not different than what has happened to guys like Matt Ryan or Russell Wilson in recent years. Beating New England in the playoffs is tough.

I see no reason why Bortles shouldn't be the starter going into next year.

[Tacachale]

No way they get rid of Blake or bring in competition now. The playoffs were his test and he passed. After the Bills, it's tough to find fault with his performance in the last two games. We will need a new backup if we can get one.