Things were supposed to be different this season, but unfortunately it's been more of the same in Duval County.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-2 after a lackluster 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars are now 1-7 in their last eight games, failing to score more than 20 points in five of those losses. In Week 1, they blew a 10-point second half lead to the Miami Dolphins, and in Week 2 they couldn't muster more than one touchdown against a Browns team that got blown out of the building in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.
This falls on the shoulders of head coach Doug Pederson and the offense. Through two games, they've scored just 30 combined points. In the back half of last season, Jacksonville had the built-in excuse of Trevor Lawrence being beat to hell. He had an ankle injury, he got concussed, he dealt with a knee bruise in the early part of the year, and he wasn't well protected. However, the Jags spent all offseason getting more weapons to gear up for a more downfield heavy attack and added Mitch Morse in the middle of the offensive line to provide more protection, and they've done nothing to build off that.
Defensively, the Jaguars are already much better than they were in 2023, as well. In their final six games, they allowed 28 or more points four times, which is why they fired Mike Caldwell and hired Ryan Nielsen. Thus far, they haven't allowed more than 20 points in two games and have lost both of them while putting up 267 and 324 yards, respectively- that's on the offensive-minded head coach for not being able to put up more points.
The road isn't going to get easier for the Jaguars. They have the Buffalo Bills next week and the Houston Texans in Week 4. Jacksonville's season is in danger of ending before it truly begins, and it could result in Doug Pederson being given his walking papers.
