JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars mistake-prone Jaguars offense leads the NFL with 22 giveaways, including 13 interceptions by Blake Bortles, and has topped 24 points just once this season.
In last week's 26-19 loss at Detroit, Jacksonville combined for 8 yards net offense on its final three drives. Worse still, defensive lineman Sen'Derrick Marks jumped offside on fourth-and-2, allowing the Lions to run off 2:08 of the final 2:34 of game time in Jacksonville's fifth straight loss.
This isn't considered progress for a third-year player in Bortles, who has 64 touchdowns versus 48 interceptions, or the Jaguars, who haven't won more than five games since 2010.
"It seems to get harder and harder each time you lose. It's difficult, but there's nothing you can do about it," Bortles said. "It's not time to fold up camp and get ready for next year. I look at it like we get a chance to go 8-8, so let's go do that."
The Jaguars ended a streak of five consecutive games without a takeaway at Detroit and would love to end another one Sunday. Jacksonville has failed to score a touchdown on its opening possession in 24 games, the league's longest active streak. The Jags haven't found the end zone on their opening drive since Week 2 of the 2015 season against Miami. Since then, they have 18 punts, three field goals and three turnovers.
Homecomings: Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone returns to Buffalo for the first time since opting out of his contract as Bills head coach following the 2014 season, which led to Ryan being hired.
Also Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett held that same position with the Bills from 2013-14.