Jacksonville Jaguars need more from Trevor Lawrence in playoff hunt
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was 8-of-11 passing in the second half vs. the Chargers. In the playoff chase, they need full games like that.
Trevor Lawrence’s second-half play in the win over the Chargers is the standard he needs to maintain moving forward.Statistically, Lawrence ranks in the bottom third of the league in completion rate, yards per attempt, and passer rating.The recent addition of receiver Jakobi Meyers is seen as a crucial element for Lawrence’s potential improvement.
The Trevor Lawrence we saw in the second half of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers is the one we need to see every week moving forward.
The next two games at Arizona and Tennessee as the likely road favorite. The following two home games against Indianapolis and the New York Jets. And the final stretch run of at Denver, at Indianapolis and vs. Tennessee.
Aware. See it.
Decisive. See it, throw it.
Accurate. See it, throw it, complete it.
Productive. See it, throw it, complete it, repeat it.
Travel to Arizona and outduel journeyman back-up Jacoby Brissett like you couldn’t do two weeks ago against career back-up Davis Mills.
In the biggest blowout win of his career (29 points; 35-6 over the Chargers), Lawrence was 8-of-11 passing for 86 yards and one touchdown in the second half. Note the limited incompletions, one of which was while being hit. Note the no interceptions, particularly after a poor first-half giveaway.
Playing with the lead, Lawrence helped add to it, the opposite of what happened in the fourth quarter of the debacle/collapse/loss at Houston the previous week, when he failed to make one stinkin’ play that would have sealed the win.
“He was able to play on time and in rhythm,” coach Liam Coen said. “Kind of getting the ball out and trusting and anticipating some throws across the middle.”
Now do it again against a Cardinals team leaking oil and running on tire rims.
At least to me, Lawrence is entering a crucial stretch of his Jaguars tenure. I’ve been on the fence — and have been joined by more people than on the initial head-count — about his future. Every person in the league I talk to thinks the Jaguars are “stuck” with Lawrence for 2026 because of the absurd contract gifted him by then-general manager Trent Baalke in June 2024.
The Jaguars probably don’t want every game — heck, every series, every quarter and every half of football — to be an external referendum on Lawrence.
Sorry, guys. Each game is another chance for us to evaluate Lawrence and right now, his individual grade is inconsistent, but his team grade is the Jaguars’ 6-4 record.
Lawrence’s statistics not pretty
Lawrence has dug himself too big of a hole to have a shiny individual statistical season.
Too many misfires (his fault) and drops (not really his fault) and two eyesore completion games (50% against Houston in Week 3 and 47.9% against the Los Angeles in Week 7).
Entering Week 12, Lawrence ranks 26th in completion rate (59.8), 22nd in yards per attempt (6.4), tied for 23rd in interceptions (eight) and, gulp, 28th in passer rating (79.4).
So what to make of Lawrence through 10 games?
All I can base my evaluation of Lawrence is on is what I’ve covered previously. I looked at the list of starting quarterbacks I’ve covered since 2004.
Washington (2004-11): Mark Brunell, Patrick Ramsey, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb, John Beck and Rex Grossman. One playoff win. Ramsey and Campbell were first-round picks by the now-Commanders. Ramsey and Campbell couldn’t become franchise passers.
Jaguars, Tour I (2012-17): Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles (my guy!). Two playoff wins. Gabbert and Bortles were first-round picks by the Jaguars. Bortles got a second contract.
Denver (2018-22): Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater and Russell Wilson. No playoff wins. None were first-round picks by the Broncos. Lock, a second-round pick, got a season to show he could be the guy, but it didn’t happen.
Buffalo (2022-24): Josh Allen. Four playoff wins. Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, was a first-round pick.
Jaguars, Tour II (Now): Lawrence. He was the first overall pick.
Ask anybody who covered or covers Allen and you’ll get the same answer: We were spoiled. Every time he left the pocket, I expected magic. Every time he scrambled around the pocket, I expected a completed pass or bulldozing run.
Allen created a high standard for me in watching quarterback play so I’ve had to check myself when writing the “—“ on my game charting book next to a Lawrence play. There just haven’t been a lot of “wow” plays.
But weren’t you expecting more, too?
Jakobi Meyers’ arrival crucial
Lawrence exceeded expectations in the second half of the Chargers game and should invite optimism moving forward.
Jakobi Meyers is already in-sync with Lawrence. Tim Patrick is a fearless receiver over the middle and cagey in the red zone. Parker Washington does a lot of things right and has solved his drop issues. And tight end Brenton Strange (hip) could be back this week after missing the last five games.
(See how I didn’t mention Brian Thomas, Jr.? When he does return, his role should be limited. See how I didn’t mention Dyami Brown? He’s a $10 million back-up at this point.)
Meyers is going to be the key for Lawrence. Meyers has eight catches on nine targets for 105 yards in two games since arriving from Las Vegas.
“He’s done an awesome job,” Lawrence said. “The way he runs and moves, that’s something I noticed right when he got here. I like throwing to him. He’s just an easy guy to throw from a quarterback perspective. It’s kind of hard to describe sometimes, just the way he moves.”
The way Lawrence moved around the pocket in the second half of the Chargers game, it was like he had a self-applied wake-up call at halftime. No more turnovers. No more underthrows or overthrows. Trust the read and let it rip. He converted a third-and-long to Meyers and a second-and-medium to Patrick on in-breaking routes.
Now Lawrence has to do it again … and again … and again to help the Jaguars to the playoffs for the second time in four years. It starts at Arizona. Play efficient/decisive/productive football, get his team to 7-4 and then get on the plane back to Jacksonville.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com