Jaguars Hit Bottom Of Division Against Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) own the bottom of the AFC South Division after losing to their division opponent the Indianapolis Colts (4-5) by a score of 29-26 on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. It was a painful loss but the team is trying to hold on hope to the idea of salvaging the season. Head coach Doug Marrone is looking for some consistency in order to turn things around.

“We just got to put a game together from the beginning to end,” Marrone told reporters in Indianapolis. “That’s what we’ve got to focus on and we have to stay together and work ourselves through this.”

Despite losing their fifth in a row, there were signs of life for the Jaguars. After giving up 29 points in the first half and trailing 29-16 at the break, the team regrouped and nearly stole one from the Colts. The team cut down on mistakes but the one turnover in the fourth quarter cost the Jaguars a chance to win. In the final minutes of the game, on a play that was reviewed, wide receiver Rashad Greene Sr. fumbled after catching a pass from quarterback Blake Bortles. Initially called a pass completion, the play was changed to a fumble and the Jaguars hopes of win disappeared as well.

“It’s tough. We’ve got to do a better job,” Marrone admitted. “Unfortunately we lead the league in reception fumbles after we’ve caught the ball. So, we’ve got to do a good job of hanging on to the football and giving ourselves a chance. Right there, we have a chance to go for the win and obviously we have the field goal for the tie and we have enough time on the clock to do all that. It’s disappointing when you don’t give yourself an opportunity to go and win a game.”

One bright spot in the game was the return of running back Leonard Fournette, who according to Spotrac.com is in the second year of a four-year deal worth $27,150,842. He has been out with an injured hamstring but he immediately made an impact on the team’s offense. He rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 24 carriers in addition to catching five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. This was the second-year player’s eighth 100-yard receiving/rushing game of his career. He told reporters after the game it felt good to get back on the field.

“It's the little things we have to pick up on. Just happy to be back with my team and the team moving forward,” Fournette said. “I'm good. Like I said, just the little things we need to pick up. It was a tough loss, got to find ways, that's all."

Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles benefitted from Fournette’s return by having one of his best outings of the season. He was 26 of 38 for 320 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 80-yard first half touchdown pass to wide receiver Donte Moncrief was dazzling and the team’s second half performance is something the Jaguars intend to build on.

"Oh yeah, we knew we had to bring it home,” Moncrief explained to reporters in Indianapolis. “We came out and executed better [in the second half], didn't make mistakes, made the plays that we had too. We have to continue to grow from that, and continue to stop making small mistakes."

Now the Jaguars must turn their attention to their 3-6 record and five consecutive losses as they try to stop the slide. Bortles, who is in the first year of a three-year deal worth a reported $54 million, according to Spotrac.com, and his teammates are trying to stay optimistic.

“I think you just have to rely on the character of the guys in the locker room. I know guys that have been here before, prior to last year, who have been through some other seasons. By no means is that where we want to go or where I believe we're headed," Bortles added. "We have to stay together and get it fixed. It's on us and we've got to fix it as a group, fix it as a team and find ways to win a football games.”

The confidence of this team has not disappeared. After the game Calais Campbell told reporters in Indianapolis that if the Jaguars play like they did in the second half they can beat anybody. However, he is also realistic.

“At the end of the day, our goals are still intact. I know it is hard, it's probably going to take seven in a row for us to be able to go on a run,” Campbell admitted. “But is it possible? Without a doubt. Have teams done it before? Yes. That's what it is going to take. Can this team do it? I believe we can. If we played like we did in the second half, I believe we can. So it all just comes down to doing it, that's to be determined but this team is very capable of doing it."

The team is not mathematically finished but time is running out so the Jaguars need to work hard and work fast. Next weekend they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at TIAA Bank Field at 1 P.M. EST.