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Jaguars vs Browns: Week 2 Winners and Losers
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Jaguars vs Browns: Week 2 Winners and Losers

For the second week in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave themselves a chance to win a game they should have won from the start.

And for the second week in a row, the Jaguars failed to do so.

Sunday was a game to remember, with the home team falling 18-13 to the visiting Cleveland Browns. There may be only one or two teams that enter Week 2 with more turmoil than the Browns, but it’s the Jags that come out on the losing end.

WINNERS

Brian Thomas Jr.

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

Montaric Brown

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

Defense in general

After two weeks, it’s clear which unit the Jags are better at. 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 both recorded sacks. Jacksonville gave up just three points in the second half. It’s insane that the Jags can’t find a way to win these games, despite the cards the defense is dealing.

LOSERS

The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coaching staff

In two weeks, the Jags have scored 30 points. In those games, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has completed 26 passes and has been sacked seven times. The offensive line is what keeps this team going NO favors, but there has to be a way for the team to work around it. Lawrence hasn’t won a game as the team’s starter since New Year’s Eve of last year, the worst mark in the league. The team has just one total win in its last eight games, led by C.J. Beathard at quarterback. Things have almost gotten worse on offense since Mitch Morse was brought in to improve the line. TrEverbank is now (almost unsurprisingly) 0-1, and there’s little hope of seeing this offense turn around in Week 3 when it visits an undefeated Buffalo Bills team. For reference, the Bills have scored 65 points in two weeks and beat the Miami Dolphins by 21 on a short week, away.

Injuries

After a blowout in Week 1, Tank Bigsby took a huge hit on a kickoff, forcing him to leave the game. His immediate future, and even his season, should be in doubt. Among other injuries: right tackle Anton Harrison was sidelined, Andre Cisco suffered a groin injury but returned, and Gabe Davis injured his shoulder. Before the game, tight end Evan Engram injured his hamstring and was unable to play. He joined a list of inactive players that also includes second-round picks Maason Smith, Campbell and Darnell Savage. After just two weeks, the Jags are thin and injury-riddled. Combined with an 0-2 start, things could easily go from bad to worse if any of those injuries prove to be more serious.

Team leadership

It’s unclear where the Jags will go from here. No, an 0-2 start doesn’t ruin a season, but it does get you awfully close to derailing it. The Houston Texans started last year 0-2, and look where they’ve ended up. Three of the four teams in the AFC South, not including the Texans, are 0-2 after two weeks, so there’s hope for the Jags to pick up some division wins and put some strings together late in the season. But there was hope last season… Somehow, the Jags keep finding themselves in these massive holes of their own making, and no one seems to have an answer as to how this keeps happening.

Offensive line

Two weeks in and everyone from Anton Harrison to Cam Robinson looks terrible. Simply put. It’s true that the quarterback and play callers could do more to help the line, but watch this play below and ask yourself how someone with this protection is supposed to be successful.

Former Jags play well

Anyone up for watching Calvin Ridley’s two-touchdown game? How about Gardner Minshew beating the Baltimore Ravens for the second straight season and winning on two different teams? Does Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal intrigue anyone? Even Chris Conley caught a pass today.