Jaguars vs Browns: Winners and losers from Week 2

For the second straight week, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave themselves a chance to win a game they should have run away with from the start.

And for the second straight week, the Jaguars fell short.

Sunday was as forgettable a game as any in recent memory, with the home squad falling to the visiting Cleveland Browns 18-13. There might only be one or two teams that came into Week 2 with more turmoil than the Browns, yet it is the Jags who are walking away losers.

WINNERS

Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jags first-round rookie came just six yards short of a 100-yard game in only his second outing. Thomas Jr. hauled in two catches on four targets for 94 yards including a team-high splash play for 66. It could be argued that outside of Travis Etienne’s lone touchdown, he was the team’s only offensive bright spot.

Montaric Brown

Playing in the place of oft-injured franchise corner Tyson Campbell, Brown led the defense in tackles with 11. He also logged a team-high two tackles for loss. The downside of Brown playing, and playing as well as he did, means Campbell was likely not on the field and that the defense was on the field for far too long. Both things were excruciatingly true on Sunday.

Defense overall

Two weeks in and it’s clear what the better unit on the Jags is. The Duval defense held Cleveland to 18 points (after holding Miami to 20 in Week 1) and the Browns were 2-14 on third down. Foye Oluokun and Josh Hines-Allen each logged sacks. In the second half, Jacksonville gave up only three points. It is insane the Jags cannot find a way to win these games despite the cards the defense is dealing.

LOSERS

The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coaching staff

Through two weeks the Jags have scored 30 points. In those games, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has completed a combined 26 passes and has been sacked seven times. The offensive line is doing this team NO favors but there has to be some possible way the team can scheme around it. Since New Year’s Eve last year, Lawrence has not won a game as the team’s starter, the worst mark in the league. The team has just one total win in its last eight games with the win coming from CJ Beathard under center. After bringing in Mitch Morse to ensure up the line, things have almost gotten worse on offense. TrEverbank is now (almost unsurprisingly) 0-1 and there is little hope to think this offense will turn around by Week 3 on the road against an undefeated Buffalo Bills team. For reference, the Bills have scored 65 points in two weeks and beat the Miami Dolphins on a short week, on the road, by 21.

Injuries

After a breakout Week 1, Tank Bigsby suffered a humongous blow on a kickoff that saw him leave the game. His immediate future and even season should be in question. Among other various injuries: right tackle Anton Harrison went down for a bit, Andre Cisco hurt his groin but came back and Gabe Davis hurt his shoulder. Pregame, tight end Evan Engram injured his hamstring and was unable to play and joined a list of inactive players that also included second-rounders Maason Smith, Campbell and Darnell Savage. Just two weeks in and the Jags are thin and scared up. Coupled with a 0-2 start, things easily could go from bad to worse if any of these injuries prove to be more serious.

Team management

It is unclear where the Jags go from here. No, a 0-2 start does not derail a season but it gets you pretty darn close to falling off the tracks. The Houston Texans started last year 0-2 and look where it got them. Three of the four teams in the AFC South, sans Texans, are 0-2 through two weeks so there is hope for the Jags to pick up some divisional wins and string something together late. But there was hope last season… Somehow, the Jags keep finding themselves in these huge holes made entirely on their own and no one seems to have any answers as to how it keeps happening.

Offensive Line

Two weeks in and everyone from Anton Harrison to Cam Robinson looks awful. Simply put. It is true the quarterback and play callers could be doing more to help the line, but look at this play below and ask yourself how anyone is supposed to succeed with this protection.

Former Jags playing well

Anyone care to look at Calvin Ridley’s two-touchdown game? How about Gardner Minshew beating the Baltimore Ravens for the second straight season, earning wins on two different teams? Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal intrigues someone out there? Even Chris Conley caught a pass today.