JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three quick notes from the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders:
Bad Blake
When your quarterback struggles it’s hard to win in the NFL. This has been the case for the majority of the season with Blake Bortles. His bad decision-making continues to cost the Jaguars. In the first quarter, he threw a pass into double coverage that was intended for Marqise Lee. The pass was also underthrown and was intercepted by Raiders cornerback David Amerson. To make matters worse this occurred in the red zone, which robbed the Jaguars of at least a field goal attempt.
Oakland entered Sunday giving up 312.2 yards passing per game. Midway through the second quarter, the Jaguars had passed for 8 yards. The second half wasn’t much better. Bortles was inaccurate on several passes. He routinely throws flat-footed or off his back foot, which causes him unable to properly pinpoint his passes.
At the moment, Bortles’ play is holding this offense back.
Raiders receivers vs. Jaguars cornerbacks
Only six games into his NFL career the Jaguars already feel comfortable with Jalen Ramsey shadowing an opponent’s top receiver. Against Indianapolis Ramsey followed T.Y. Hilton and last week against Chicago he did the same against Alshon Jeffrey.
PHOTOS: Jaguars vs. Raiders
WATCH: Uncut Gus Bradley post-game interview | Uncut Blake Bortles post-game interview
During Sunday’s game, the Jaguars assigned Ramsey to cover Amari Cooper. In the first half, Cooper was limited to one catch for 4 yards. That’s the good news. On the opposite side of the field, Michael Crabtree dominated his matchup with Prince Amukamara. Crabtree picked up 56 yards on a play late in the first half and finished off that drive with a 2-yard touchdown catch.
Cooper finished with 29 yards receiving but Crabtree had 96.
Jaguars rediscovered running game
As bad as the offense looked at times, the running game had a couple of explosive plays. Chris Ivory’s 42-yard gain in the second quarter was easily the Jaguars longest gain on the ground this season. During last week’s win over Chicago, the Jaguars had a total of 54 yards rushing. In the first half against Oakland, that number was 94. Perhaps because they were trailing but the Jaguars abandoned the run in the second half. They finished with 105 yards.