While there are still 15 regular season football games still left to play, when the Jacksonville Jaguars get started with an 0-2 record, the team's outlook the rest of the season has hardly been rosy.
Sunday's 18-13 loss to the visiting Cleveland Browns left the Jaguars 0-2 for the 11th time in franchise history and the ninth time since 2008. In those 11 seasons, the best finish Jacksonville has managed was going 7-9 in 2009. None of those campaigns resulted in a playoff appearance.
The Jaguars outgained the Browns 323-297, did not commit a turnover and reached the red zone four times. However, Jacksonville just managed one touchdown — a 4-yard scoring run by Travis Etienne late in the third quarter. On the other three trips, Jaguars kicker Cam Little made two of three attempts.
TOUCHDOWN TRAVIS!!! Etienne gets into the end zone for the second straight week!
— Austin Pendergist (@apthirteen) September 15, 2024
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"It comes down to awareness, it comes down to just execution on the field, it comes down to coaching," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said of his team's struggles in the end zone. "There's a lot of things we can maybe point a finger at, but it needs to improve."
There is still optimism that Jacksonville can overcome an 0-2 start this time around.
"You don't hit the panic button," Pederson said. "There's a long season ahead. But we have to figure some things out in a hurry."