Running Game, Defense Key In Jacksonville Jaguars’ First Win

By Michael Compton @MWCompton on October 19, 2014

The Jacksonville Jaguars had hinted they were close to notching their first victory since last December. At home at EverBank Field on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the young Jaguars finally broke through, defeating the Browns 24-6 behind a complete team effort.

The Jaguars lost each of their first four games by double digits, but dropped close and winnable games the last two weeks. They were in another fight on Sunday, and it wasn’t always pretty, but the Jaguars got into the win column with rookies leading the way.

The Jaguars’ running attack — missing in action during the first six weeks of the season — surfaced. With starting running back Toby Gerhart sidelined for the second consecutive week, Denard Robinson got the start and provided the offense an early spark. An All-American quarterback at Michigan, Robinson looked more like an NFL running back on Sunday, carrying the ball 10 times for 67 yards in the first half alone. He finished with 127 yards on 22 carries and utilized his speed to get to the outside for an eight-yard touchdown gallop in the fourth quarter.

The Jaguars averaged just 69.5 rushing yards per game heading into Week 7 and rushed for 185 yards on Sunday. The vastly improved running game opened up passing lanes for quarterback Blake Bortles late in the second quarter, and the rookie signal-caller connected with Allen Robinson for a 31-yard touchdown pass to give the Jaguars a 7-6 halftime lead.

Overall, Bortles had another up-and-down outing. He flashed brilliance on occasion by keeping plays alive with his feet, but he continues to make too many ill-advised throws and tossed three interceptions on the day. His turnovers halted drives prematurely and put too much pressure on the defense to contain the Browns.

The Jaguars’ defense was up to the challenge. The run-defense and aggressive pass rush was stout and frustrated the Browns’ offense all afternoon. Typically a second-half team this season — having outscored opponents 77-37 in the third and fourth quarters — the Browns lacked their late-game mojo, thanks in large part to steady pressure and a dominating performance from the Jaguars’ front four. An interception from opportunistic rookie Telvin Smith with 5:12 remaining led to Storm Johnson’s second touchdown of the season, sealing the much-needed victory for the Jaguars.

Special teams even made a difference against the Browns. Running back Jordan Todman found himself in the right place at the right time when Jordan Poyer muffed a punt return and fumbled inside the Jaguars’ 10-yard line late in the game, setting up Robinson’s touchdown.

The Jaguars proved their resilience on Sunday. With head coach Gus Bradley committing to a team of rookie playmakers, mistakes are to be expected. It wasn’t a perfect outing for the Jaguars, but they overcame the turnovers and potentially costly mistakes to earn their first win of the season against a surging Browns team that few gave them a chance to beat.

Learning on the job is much more enjoyable when you win.

Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for  RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.