Jaguars defense collapses as team falls 40-26 to Chiefs in season opener

The Jacksonville Jaguars got a gut punch Sunday to kickoff their 2019 season.

After months of preparation, budding excitement over new quarterback Nick Foles and hope for a fresh reset after a disaster season in 2018, nothing went the way the Jaguars expected against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s 40-26 loss.

Instead, the 2019 season started much how the 2018 season ended. The defense was shredded through the air by big plays (Patrick Mahomes threw a 68-yard touchdown to Sammy Watkins on the game’s third play), they racked up penalty after penalty and a core player in middle linebacker Myles Jack was ejected in the first half for throwing punches at Chiefs receiver Demarcus Robinson.

And after months of excitement and hope about the arrival of Foles, the big-money free agent lasted only two drives before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. To add insult to injury for suffering Jaguars fans, Foles was injured on the same play he threw a gorgeous touchdown to D.J. Chark (first touchdown of Chark’s career).

Head coach Doug Marrone said Foles broke his collarbone, and he has no timetable for a return. Foles said after the game that he will have surgery Monday and it is a complete collarbone fracture.

The game did not snowball directly following Foles’ injury, as rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew came in and completed his first 13 passes, including a 69-yard pass to D.J. Chark. 

He moved the offense throughout the first half and third-quarter, keeping the game within 10 points until the defense completely imploded in the third quarter following a Leonard Fournettte Fumble. He finished the game 22-of-25 passing for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception (which wasn’t his fault).

Instead, to the surprise of many, the Jaguars collapsed because of their allegedly elite defense and not because their starting quarterback left the game before the first quarter ended.

Safety Ronnie Harrison, who ended the game with multiple holding penalties and a taunting penalty, started the defense’s downfall when he whiffed on a tackle attempt on Watkins’ first of three touchdowns.

Cornerback A.J. Bouye had his own struggles, failing to keep up with Watkins and tight end Travis Kelce throughout the game. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey kept receiver Tyreek Hill in check before he exited the game with a shoulder injury, but he too gave up a touchdown to Watkins in the fourth quarter.

The secondary was not the only unit who struggled, though. Linebacker Myles Jack was beat by Travis Kelce for a 42-yard catch early in the game and then was later ejected after throwing punches at Chiefs wideout Demarcus Robinson. The ejection nullified a strip sack by Yannick Ngakoue, which Kansas City recovered.

Ultimately, the defense gave up 378 yards through the air and allowed the Chiefs to score seven times on their first seven possessions. From coverage busts to missed tackles to penalties, the defense played like a shell of itself.

Moving forward, the Jaguars are going to have to lean on Minshew to lead their offense, and hope and pray that Sunday was an anomaly for the defense.

But following an offseason that was filled with themes of redemption and pride, the 2019 Jaguars played much like the 2018 Jaguars. Undisciplined, sloppy and with an uncertain road ahead.