Jacksonville Jaguars Show Serious Potential In First Win Of the Year

By Michael Compton @MWCompton on October 20, 2014

All of the expectations and noted improvement in recent losses mattered little to the Jacksonville Jaguars without confirmation on the field. The Jaguars’ dominating victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field on Sunday confirmed to Jacksonville’s long-suffering fans that this year’s young team is capable of more than just finding ways to lose.

The most encouraging takeaway from the Jaguars’ first win since December of 2013 was the large number of MVP candidates not named Blake Bortles deserving of a game ball. In front of a noisy home crowd, the Jaguars stepped up in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — and closed out a good football team behind heads-up performances from a number of players.

Second-year running back Denard Robinson spearheaded the rushing attack. Acting as the bell-cow back that Toby Gerhart was expected to be this season, Robinson carried the ball 22 times for a career-best 127 yards. The slippery runner took advantage of gaping holes created by a much-maligned offensive line, showing that he can deliver with an increased workload.

Rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson continues to flash. He caught four passes for 60 yards, and his 31-yard touchdown catch and run was a thing of beauty. After hauling in an on-the-money pass from Bortles, Robinson deftly split defenders and scampered to the end zone untouched the rest of the way for the score.

Fellow rookie Telvin Smith recorded a sack/fumble and picked off Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer late in the game to set up a Storm Johnson touchdown that sealed the win. The play-making linebacker out of Florida State is part of a defensive unit that appears to get better week after week.

Veteran defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks was an absolute beast and wreaked havoc in the Browns’ backfield all afternoon. He batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage and pressured Hoyer into a subpar performance.

Bortles turned in a rather flat performance for the first time in his rookie season. Despite the mental errors, the unshakable quarterback led the offense in the clutch, found a way to win and notched the first NFL victory of his career. Bortles struggled through the air, going 17-of-31 for 159 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, but his five carries for 37 yards helped extend plays and drives.

With the euphoria of an exciting win circulating in Jacksonville, a new season is underway. It was a sweet opening act, and now the Jaguars will attempt to keep the much-needed momentum rolling in Week 8 against the in-state rival Miami Dolphins.

As the Jaguars continue to build toward next season, their initial win of the season provided concrete evidence that head coach Gus Bradley and his staff are on the right track and at least 0-16, as some pundits forecast for this season, is no longer a possibility. Those punchlines will have to be saved for the Oakland Raiders.

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