Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence hug following an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Indianapolis. The Jaguars won 31-21. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Published on September 10, 2023 at 7:34 pm
There’s something about the first game of the season.
We always put too much into the first and only evidence we have about a team.
When a team has high expectations for the season, we expect a signature performance to start the year.
The Jaguars didn’t deliver that kind of game on Sunday. Still, the Jaguars beat the Colts 31-21 in Indianapolis, but the box score looked better than the Jaguars’ performance.
Playing against a division opponent is always tough. Playing a division game on the road is even tougher. Still, when a division favorite like the Jaguars opens the season against the Colts with a first-year head coach and a rookie quarterback, you don’t expect to see what we saw: the Jaguars making mistakes throughout the game. Despite a few highlight moments, it was not the way the Jaguars wanted to start a season with such high expectations.
There were positives to take from the game, besides the season-opening win:
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- Calvin Ridley caught eight passes for 101 yards in his Jaguars debut. Seven of those catches came in the first half.
- Wide receiver Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram both made terrific catches, Jones’ for a touchdown.
- Josh Allen played one of his best games as a professional. Allen became the sixth Jaguar to record three sacks in a game. He was very active on defense with 10 combined tackles.
- Jamal Agnew made the pivotal play of the game. With the Jaguars trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Agnew took a bouncing punt at the 6-yard line and returned it 48 yards to the Colts’ 44-yard line. It led to the go-ahead touchdown (more on that in a moment).
But there was plenty to improve on and nothing more so than the Jaguars’ struggles in short-yardage plays. Time and time again, the Jaguars faced third-and-short or fourth-and-short and could not run to pick up the first down. Some of the blame falls on the offense line, some on the running backs and some on the play calling. It’s an issue that must be ironed out if the Jaguars are going to be championship contenders.
There were other issues:
- The Jaguars spent most of the game allowing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who had started just 13 games at Florida, to dictate the game. While Richardson has remarkable physical skills, his debut was much better than expected based on his inexperience and struggle with accuracy in college. Richardson ended the game completing 24 of 37 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score. Richardson was intercepted by Tyson Campbell late in the game, a play that helped contribute to the Jaguars’ victory.
- The Jaguars shouldn’t have been in a position to need to make big plays late in the game. The most frustrating play of the game came in the third quarter when Trevor Lawrence was hit by Brentson Buckner. Lawrence fumbled the ball forward. The ball bounced into Bigsby’s arms. Everybody stood around as if it were an incomplete pass. Only it wasn’t. There was no whistle. Bigsby had the ball knocked out of his hands. The ensuing fumble was recovered by Buckner, who rumbled into the endzone, giving the Colts their first lead of the game. It was one of several tough moments for the rookie running back from Auburn. Earlier, he had a ball bounce off his hands, leading to an interception. He was also among the running backs who failed to convert on a short-yardage play.
- But Doug Pederson didn’t bench Bigsby. Instead, he kept calling his number. Bigsby’s go-ahead touchdown that followed Agnew’s punt return was a redemptive moment for the third-round pick.
Pederson said after the game that early in the season, you are still trying to learn who you are as a team.
At least those improvements can be made after a win. Considering what some of the other AFC favorites did on opening weekend, the Jaguars have an edge in the standings. Kansas City, who comes to Jacksonville next, and Cincinnati both lost their openers.
If the Jaguars can find a way to win this coming Sunday at home, they’ll be in a great position to have a memorable year, no matter how good or bad it looks.
Lead image: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence hug following Sunday’s Jaguars win in Indianapolis. | AP Photo/Darron Cummings
