When airports, streets or buildings are named after a person, it’s usually because of a long track record. Perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars tried to signal their greatness by temporarily renaming their stadium after Trevor Lawerence over the weekend, but it was a move meant to be ridiculed. There were few smiles at TrEverBank Stadium on Sunday (it wasn’t the Jaguars’ first game). Lawrence’s strange attempt at rebranding) like a botched Jacksonville fell to the Cleveland Browns 18-13They are now in difficulty at 0-2.
“We suck right now,” Lawrence said (correctly) in his postgame press conference, referring to his offense. “I’ve got to play better. I’m the leader of the offense. It’s my fault. The receivers have to play better. The line has to play better. The running backs have to play better. The coaching has to be better.”
Lawrence is right to blame others, but it all starts with coaching. Head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor outlined a game plan so bland that Lawrence finished the first half with 16 passing yards. Credit the Browns’ stifling defense, but 16 passing yards in a half for a team led by Lawrence and his arsenal of weapons shouldn’t be humanly possible.
Related: Brave play: Packers QB Malik Willis refuses to pass after teammate vomits on ball
Mistakes came thick and fast from start to finish. It took forever for Pederson and Press to put plays in Lawrence. And twice, Pederson, who should be much more organized as a seasoned coach, had to burn a timeout to avoid a delay of the game. Jacksonville also lost 10 seconds when they were flagged for an illegal turnover with 48 seconds left on their own 33. That left them with a first-and-15 on their own 39.
Lawrence hasn’t been great this season. Through the first two weeks of the new campaign, Lawrence has had far too many hiccups for someone once hailed as a “generational talent.” The first overall pick in the 2021 draft had his moments against the Browns, including a 66-yard pass to Brian Thomas He scored Jacksonville’s only touchdown and had a career-long 33-yard third-and-long run that resulted in a field goal. He also avoided losing the ball despite poor pass protection. He finished with 220 passing yards but completed just 14 of 30 attempts, mostly on short distances, was sacked four times, including once by a safety, and lost for the seventh time in eight games.
The glimpses of potential greatness are there — if anything, they make his stumbles all the more frustrating — but his career has been about glimpses rather than long stretches of great play for too long. In Lawrence’s first three NFL seasons, he’s ranked 28th, 17th and 17th in QBR among qualifying quarterbacks. Those numbers would pass the smell test for few NFL franchises, and the 2022 playoff run was a nice feather in the cap for a historically abysmal franchise. But Lawrence has been anointed the next Andrew Luck. The next Peyton Manning. Lawrence was supposed to be one of the league’s most remarkable players. Instead, he’s been… okay.
Jacksonville showed its continued confidence in Lawrence in June when they gave him a five-year, $275 million extension. But the Jaguars failed to surround their quarterback with the protection he so desperately needed, instead investing more heavily in defense. A key addition, center Mitch Morse, signed in free agency, was mediocre as evidenced by his role in what was essentially the decisive security for the match for the Browns.
Despite Lawrence’s inherent qualities (his speed and leadership), they’re not enough on their own to turn a franchise into a perennial title contender, as we’ve seen with players like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. And they’re certainly not enough to warrant renaming the franchise’s home.
MVP of the week
Kyler Murray, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals. Speaking of former No. 1 overall picks living up to their potential… Murray was sensational Arizona beats Los Angeles Rams 41-10Muray showed style by throwing three touchdowns, rushing for 266 yards and adding 59 yards on the ground. He answered the calls of fantasy owner Marvin Harrison Jr. and had two long touchdowns with the rookie receiver.
But it was Murray’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Higgins after escape the pressure on a third and five that caught the eye on an electrifying afternoon which allowed him to record a perfect passer rating.
Statistic of the week
Six. The New Orleans Saints scored touchdowns on their first six drives a 44-19 defeat against DallasDerek Carr and Alvin Kamara gave a lesson in how to run Klint Kubiak’s crafty offense. Carr’s deep drives were magnificent, including a 70-yard touchdown dart to Rashid Shaheed. Kamara dominated the outside rush, ran his screens and found the end zone four times. The Saints’ offensive line gave Carr plenty of time. Last week’s 40-plus point performance came with a measure of skepticism given it was against the Carolina Panthers. But now that the Saints have carved up Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ defense, they should be considered serious as an early contender.
As for Dallas, their red zone issues continued, and Dak Prescott added two interceptions. They were simply overwhelmed by the coach and the game.
Video of the week
Will Levis is begging us to give him a stupid game of the week category. In the meantime, you’ll just have to rejoice in his latest failure in that department.
You would think Levis would have learned his lesson after throwing the game-winning interception against Chicago from his knees in Week 1, but alas.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan said what we were all thinking.
Elsewhere in the league
— There are regular losses. And then there are painful, frustrating losses that will linger. Like the Cincinnati Bengals, who were on the verge of beating the Kansas City Chiefs on the road before losing the game with stupid penalties and mistakes. The final flag was a 29-yard pass interference call on Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony in the final minute to set up Harrison Butker’s 51-yard game-winning field goal in a contest which ended 26-25Joe Burrow, who dominated Patrick Mahomes, was furious for much of the second half and after the game. Burrow had to hold Ja’Marr Chase after he got angry at a referee for an uncalled foul and was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Bengals also missed an extra point in a game that was decided by the narrowest of margins. It was another Bengals-Chiefs classic, and one that Cincy would love to repeat.
— Calling this one Sam Darnold’s revenge game might be a stretch, but he had to smile afterwards a surprise 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ershis most recent former team. Darnold shined most in an efficient outing, completing 17 of 26 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. 97 yards from Darnold Dot to Justin Jefferson The Blue Bombers set the tone for the game. But it was Brian Flores’ stifling defense that put the reigning NFC champions in a bind.
— Too bad for poor Justin Skule, who had the unenviable task of trying to contain Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Skule’s Bucs won the war 20-16 But Hutchinson undeniably won the battles, finishing the game with 4.5 sacks. Sunday was also Hutchinson’s fourth straight game with a sack, tying the longest streak by a Lions player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Baker Mayfield turned in another gutsy performance, and Tampa is now 2-0.
— Sometimes a QB neglects to throw the ball on third down for fear of losing field position or throwing an interception under pressure. But Packers quarterback Malik Willis added a new excuse. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “I asked Malik why he didn’t throw the ball on third down, he told me josh threw up on the ball.” The Josh in question is center Josh Myers, and for those who enjoy puke-related puns, Packers Social Media This is the place to be.
— Harbaugh Brothers Update: Jim’s Chargers start with a score of 2-0while John’s crows started 0-2.As we all predicted.
— After his highly publicized television series the beginning was a flopTom Brady was back in the broadcast booth for the Saints’ loss to the Cowboys. In his first appearance, Brady was a cliché-ridden disaster. His nerves showed onscreen and his pacing was off. But in a week, Brady turned it around. There were still plenty of clichés and missteps, but Brady also offered genuine insight, as Fox let him lean into his comfort zone: football nerdism. He was confident, comfortable and, at times, even seemed to be having fun. He may never eclipse Greg Olsen as the best Fox has to offer—his chemistry with co-commentator Kevin Burkhardt is still lacking—but it’s typical of a maniacally competitive Brady to deliver his best performance after a dud the week before.
