When airports, streets or buildings are named to honor a person it’s usually due to a protracted file of accomplishment. Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars had been making an attempt to manifest greatness by briefly rebranding their stadium round Trevor Lawerence over the weekend, nevertheless it was a transfer destined to be ridiculed. There have been few smiles at TrEverBank Stadium on Sunday (not the Jags’ first bizarre try at a rebrand of Lawrence) as a sloppy Jacksonville fell to the Cleveland Browns 18-13. They’re now are in hassle at 0-2.
“We suck proper now,” Lawrence mentioned (appropriately) throughout his postgame press convention, referencing his offense. “I’ve obtained to play higher. I’m the chief of the offense. It’s on me. The wideouts must play higher. The road has to play higher. The working backs must play higher. The teaching must be higher.”
Lawrence is true to toss blame round nevertheless it actually does begin with the teaching. Head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor known as such a bland playbook that Lawrence completed the primary half with 16 passing yards. Credit score to the Browns’ stifling protection however 16 passing yards in a half for a group helmed by Lawrence along with his array of weapons shouldn’t be humanly doable.
The errors flowed from begin to end. It took eons for Pederson and Press to get performs into Lawrence. And twice Pederson, who must be much more organized as a veteran coach, needed to burn a timeout to keep away from the delay of recreation flag. Jacksonville additionally misplaced 10 seconds after they had been flagged for an unlawful shift with 48 seconds remaining from their very own 33. That left them with a primary and 15 from their very own 39.
Not that Lawrence has been nice this season. Within the first two weeks of the brand new marketing campaign, Lawrence has had means too many misfires for somebody as soon as labeled a “generational expertise.” The No 1 general choose within the 2021 draft had his moments towards the Browns, together with a 66-yard strike to Brian Thomas that led to Jacksonville’s solely landing, and a career-long 33-yard run on third and lengthy that led to a subject purpose. And he prevented turning the ball over regardless of poor cross safety. He ended the day with 220 passing yards however solely accomplished 14 of his 30 cross makes an attempt, most of them quick distances, was sacked 4 instances, considered one of them a security, and misplaced for the seventh time in eight video games.
The glimpses of potential greatness are there – if something they make his stumbles all of the extra irritating – however his profession has been about glimpses somewhat than lengthy intervals of excellent play for too lengthy. In Lawrence’s first three seasons within the NFL he has ranked twenty eighth, seventeenth and seventeenth in QBR out of certified quarterbacks. These numbers would cross the odor check for a couple of NFL franchises, and the postseason run in 2022 was a pleasant feather for a traditionally dreadful franchise. However Lawrence was anointed the following Andrew Luck. The following Peyton Manning. Lawrence was purported to be one of many league’s excellent gamers. As an alternative he has been … tremendous.
Jacksonville confirmed their continued perception in Lawrence in June after they gave him a five-year, $275m extension. However the Jags didn’t encompass their quarterback with much-needed safety, as an alternative investing extra on the protection. One key addition, middle Mitch Morse, signed in free company, has been mediocre as evidenced by his position in what was primarily the game-clinching security for the Browns.
Regardless of the inherent presents Lawrence possesses – his fast launch and management – they’re not practically sufficient to single-handedly morph a franchise right into a perennial contender, as we’ve seen from the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. They usually’re most undoubtedly not sufficient to be worthy of renaming the franchise’s house.
MVP of the week
Kyler Murray, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals. Talking of former No 1 general picks dwelling as much as their potential … Murray was sensational in Arizona’s 41-10 trouncing of the Los Angeles Rams. Muray was dripping with model factors as he tossed three touchdowns, handed for 266 yards, and added 59 yards on the bottom. He answered Marvin Harrison Jr fantasy house owners’ calls and linked with the rookie wideout for 2 lengthy touchdowns.
However it was Murray’s 18-yard landing strike to Elijah Higgins after escaping stress on a 3rd and 5 that grabbed the eye on an electrifying afternoon that noticed him file an ideal passer ranking.
Stat of the week
Six. The New Orleans Saints scored touchdowns on their first six drives in a 44-19 beatdown of Dallas. Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara placed on a clinic in methods to execute Klint Kubiak’s shrewd offense. Carr’s deep strikes had been beauties, together with a 70-yard landing dart to Rashid Shaheed. Kamara dominated the surface run, executed his screens and located the endzone 4 instances. The Saints’ o-line gave Carr loads of time. Final week’s 40+ level efficiency got here with a facet of skepticism on condition that it was towards the lowly Carolina Panthers. However now that the Saints have sliced up Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ protection, they have to be taken severely as an early contender.
As for Dallas, their pink zone woes continued, and Dak Prescott added two interceptions. They had been merely outcoached and outplayed.
Video of the week
Will Levis is simply begging us to have a Boneheaded Play of the Week class. Till then, you’ll simply must relish his newest flop on this area.
after publication promotion
You’d assume that Levis would have discovered his lesson after tossing the game-losing interception to Chicago from his knees in Week 1, however alas.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan mentioned what all of us had been considering.
Elsewhere across the league
— There are common losses. Then there are piercing, irritating losses that may linger. Just like the Cincinnati Bengals being getting ready to topping the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on the street earlier than making a gift of the sport with silly penalties and errors. The final flag was a 29-yard cross interference on Bengals security Daijahn Anthony within the last minute to arrange Harrison Butker’s 51-yard recreation winner in a contest that ended 26-25. Joe Burrow, who outplayed Patrick Mahomes, was furious for a lot of the second-half and within the recreation’s aftermath. Burrow needed to restrain Ja’Marr Chase after he obtained in an official’s face for a non-call and was dinged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct. The Bengals additionally missed an extra-point in a recreation determined by the best of margins. It was one other Bengals-Chiefs basic, and one other Cincy would like to do over.
— Calling this one Sam Darnold’s revenge recreation could also be a stretch, however he needed to be smiling after a 23-17 upset of the San Francisco 49ers, his most up-to-date former group. Darnold largely shone in an environment friendly outing, going 17-for-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His 97-yard Darnold Dot to Justin Jefferson set the tone for the sport. However it was Brian Flores’s stifling protection that stymied the defending NFC champions.
— Pity poor Justin Skule, who had the unenviable process of making an attempt to comprise the Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson on Sunday. Skule’s Bucs received the conflict 20-16 however Hutchinson undeniably received the battles, ending the sport with 4.5 sacks. Sunday was additionally Hutchinson’s fourth straight recreation with a sack, tying the longest streak by a Lions participant since sacks turned an official stat in 1982, per ESPN Stats & Information. Baker Mayfield put in one other gutsy efficiency and Tampa now stand at 2-0.
— Generally a QB neglects to throw the ball on third down for concern of dropping subject place or throwing a choose beneath stress. However Packers quarterback Malik Willis added a brand new excuse. Over to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “I requested Malik why he didn’t throw the ball on that third down, he instructed me Josh threw up on the ball.” The Josh in query is middle Josh Myers, and for people who get pleasure from puke-related puns, Packers social media is the place to be.
— Harbaugh brothers replace: Jim’s Chargers are off to a 2-0 begin, whereas John’s Ravens have began 0-2. Simply as all of us predicted.
— After his much-ballyhooed TV debut was a flop, Tom Brady was again within the broadcast sales space for the Saints’ clubbing of the Cowboys. In his first outing, Brady was a cliche-riddled mess. His nerves seeped by the display and his cadence was off. However in a single week, Brady turned it round. There have been nonetheless loads of cliches and stumbles, however Brady additionally provided actual perception, with Fox letting him lean into his consolation zone: soccer nerdery. He was assured, snug and, at instances, even seemed to be having enjoyable. He might by no means eclipse Greg Olsen as the most effective Fox has to supply – his chemistry with co-commentator Kevin Burkhardt continues to be missing – nevertheless it’s typical of maniacally aggressive Brady to show in his strongest efficiency after dropping a dud the earlier week.
