Following Week 2 of the NFL season, the future was looking bright for the 2-0 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Coming off a 31-20 win over the hated Patriots, the Jags were looking like the Super Bowl contenders many pundits had predicted them to be. And as a result, the play of quarterback Blake Bortles was justifying the three-year extension the team gave him.
Since then, however, the Jags have dropped four of five games, culminating Sunday with their third straight loss. The most recent loss, a 20-7 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans, may have been the worst: Bortles get benched in favor of journeyman Cody Kessler early in the second half.
After the game, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said the quarterback job is open. “Questions will be who is your starting QB next week, focus will be on that. For me, it is on everyone,” he said.
The team’s vaunted defense is also in shambles after giving up 90 points over the past three games.
Unable to stop opponents, Jacksonville defensive players reportedly turned on each other in frustration following the game. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue had to be physically restrained by Calais Campbell in the locker room.
Things were so heated that reporters initially weren’t allowed in the locker room to speak with players.
We were just told we could go into the Jaguars locker room. Then as the doors opened and we waited, we could see and hear clearing a very heated agreement going on with players in the locker room. We were told to come back out and wait.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 21, 2018
When they finally did make it in, star corner Jalen Ramsey spoke about the situation.
“You all walk in here, you all see how it is in here, you all see how we vibe with each other, you all see how we vibe towards the coaches, you all see how it is,” Ramsey said. “It is no secret what’s going on here right now. Ain’t nobody going to say it because we can’t, but it ain’t no secret what’s going on and it ain’t right right now.”
Things won’t get any easier for the Jags as they head to London this weekend to take on the defending champion Eagles who are also 3-4 and desperate for a win.
From @gmfb: The #Jaguars may have a new QB this week, while they are tasked with a tough turnaround as they head to London. A look at their issues. pic.twitter.com/Vc2XlEIF5d
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2018
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