Jaguars' Late-Season Collapse Must Inspire Change
The Jacksonville Jaguars must have answers.
The 2023 season wasn't supposed to be like this. Not at any time were the Jaguars supposed to be on the outside looking in after Week 18.
Not during the offseason. Not during training camp. Not after a 6-2 start. And especially not after they were 8-3 with a chance to fight for the No. 1 seed in the AFC a month and a half ago.
Instead, the Jaguars lost five of their last six and saw teams like the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers all overtake them in the AFC playoff race. And the losses had consistent issues that arose each and every week.
Questionable coaching and preparation? Check. The Jaguars had several baffling play-calls in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans, but they simply looked unprepared every week other than the one in which they played the NFL's worst team.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson openly said his team didn't practice well leading up to several losses this year. Why?
Poor tackling and a collapse of the run defense? Check. The Jags were gashed on the ground weekly, and allowed over eight yards per carry to both Titans running backs on Sunday.
The Jaguars demonstrated such a poor tackling effort and sub-par gap integrity in the biggest game of the year. Why?
Turnovers from all parties on offense? Check. The Jaguars turned the ball over twice on Sunday. One of them was squarely on Trevor Lawrence, but the other was a drop by Evan Engram that led to an interception and points.
The Jaguars couldn't stop committing self-inflicted turnovers all season. Why?
Inability to convert in short yardage? Check. The Jaguars had 3rd-and-Goal from the one-yard line with the score at 28-20, but they attempted a pass on third-down and then had a quarterback sneak shutdown on fourth down.
The Jaguars couldn't make short-yardage work all season. Why?
These were all things that cost the Jaguars in Kansas City last year, too. Doug Pederson said in the offseason that the Jaguars let bad habits catch up to them in that game. All offseason the Jaguars said it couldn't happen again.
But more often than not, it did happen again. And the Jaguars will miss the playoffs because of it.
The Jaguars need to answer these questions, and they need to answer them swiftly. Simply taking another bite of the apple and running it back with the same cast and crew in 2024 can't be an option. That is how the Jaguars ended up at 9-8 in the first place.
Instead, the Jaguars' late-season collapse should inspire some kind of change. Some kind of shakeup. It shouldn't matter whether it is along the front office, the coaching staff or the roster, though an argument could be made for dramatic changes to all three.
Change one or both of the coordinators? It would be a radical move, but not many would complain after the offense regressed in 2023 and the defense failed to show up for the biggest game if the season.
Change the general manager? There is a legit argument to make that they should, but history tells us this is unlikely.
Change the head coach? This seems like the least likely option, but Pederson should be criticized for letting his team fall the way they did down the stretch.
The Jaguars can't accept the 2023 season as a missed opportunity. They are already fresh off one of the most embarrassing collapses in recent NFL history. Owner Shad Khan should acknowledge that failure and that embarrassment, and demand changes. Pederson should demand more from himself, his staff and general manager Trent Baalke.
Or, the Jaguars could settle for 9-8 and go back to the well in 2024. However, if they do, we can likely forecast how it will go because that story has already been written.
