'We can't lose faith': Jaguars struggle to hold late-game lead against Broncos at Wembley

Far too many long Sundays have occurred for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) this season, especially this week across the pond in London, U.K., against the Denver Broncos (3-5). It was the fifth-straight loss for Jacksonville, their fifth one-possession loss in a row.

All six of the team's total losses this season have been by one possession, including Week 1 against the Washington Commanders when Jacksonville lost 28-22. These are the types of games that Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson anticipated prior to the season, he said in postgame.

It's become Groundhog Day for Jacksonville, though, a rut they can't get out of.

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"Honestly, nobody likes to lose, right? That's the nature of the game. But if I had to pick, I'd rather pick these types of games than blowout games where you lose," Pederson said in postgame.

"I think you learn more in losses like this as a team, where we are with the culture of our team, than you would in a blowout loss."

The team is attempting to learn how to win "the hard way," Pederson told Jaguars digital reporter Ashlyn Sullivan after the game. Jacksonville has not been able to come away with a victory in over a month now after winning two games early in the season, two straight against the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Pederson continues to see Jaguars fight through tough losses, he said in his post-game press conference, "They battle their tails off." Ultimately, Pederson said they can't make any excuses and have to keep working to figure out how to win.

"We just keep plugging. We just keep plugging away, and we keep practicing and we keep learning and we keep teaching, and we keep scratching and fighting," said Pederson.

"I truly believe that good things are going to happen for this football team. We're sitting here after eight games, not where we want to be, obviously, but to every man in there, nobody is going to hang their head. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us.

This week has been on repeat all season, but the Jaguars have not appeared to lose any bit of fight on the field. While down 14-10 late in the contest, the Jaguars drove down the field to secure a late lead, something they've often struggled to do in the fourth quarter this season.

That drive came on the heels of a standout performance by the Jaguars defense that forced the Broncos to punt on three-straight occasions after it had already surrendered a nine-play 98-yard TD drive to give Denver the lead.

Both units showed they could overcome adversity late, but not late enough. It's the battle after the battle that Jacksonville struggled with on Sunday.

Trevor Lawrence understands he needs to 'play better' for team success

The Jaguars' struggles began early on offense. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence mustered just 148 passing yards for one touchdown and two interceptions. Lawrence also fumbled the football after a strip sack by Broncos defender Nik Bonitto. Though, it was recovered by Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley.

Lawrence found some success early, tossing a beautiful 22-yard pass to tight end Evan Engram who made his way into the end zone during the first quarter. But, after that, Jacksonville struggled to move the ball through the air at least.

Lawrence and the Jacksonville offense punted five straight times after taking a 10-0 lead over Denver early in the contest. They mustered just 103 yards during those drives. Three of the drives ended in Jacksonville territory. Even with early-game success, Lawrence's play throughout the rest of the contest left much to be desired.

The final interception spelled the end to Jacksonville's victory hopes with 1:36 remaining in the contest, trailing 21-17. A second pick, thrown earlier in the contest on the team's third possession of the game is part of a two-play capsule that Lawrence wishes he had back.

"That's tough being the quarterback and having an opportunity to go win the game and you don't get it done," Lawrence said of his efforts. "That's really disappointing and frustrating, and I've got to look in the mirror and I've got to play better. There's that and then there's the goal line interception. There's a couple plays I really want back, but you don't get them back at this point."

During his first INT, Lawrence was attempting to get the ball to veteran WR Marvin Jones Jr., who was open in the back of the end zone. But Lawrence ultimatelymissed the mark.

"I had Marvin in the back of the end zone. I just threw it too low and the safety made a great play," Lawrence said, noting that he did not think the decision was a poor one.

"The thing you look back and say is you put it in a spot where only your guy can get it, and if he catches it, great, touchdown; if not, it's incomplete. Probably obviously not the best location for the ball there."

Those are the type of plays that crush an offense. It's part of why Jacksonville hasn't been able to win these close matchups. Lawrence noted that he watches the tape and understands what they're going to do on defense, but he simply needs to play cleaner, not make a bad play worse.

The Jaguars totaled 305 total net yards on 65 offensive plays. They were one of three in the red zone, scoring a field goal during one possession that stalled at the Denver 19-yard-line, along with the touchdown to Travis Etienne and the aforementioned interception.

Travis Etienne's performance is encouraging

The lone bright spot of the Jaguars' offense on Sunday came from the second-year back, Etienne. Just six days after the team traded away former bell-cow back James Robinson to the New York Jets, Etienne lit up the stat sheet against Denver, rushing for a career-high 156 yards on 24 attempts.

Etienne's 156 rushing yards were the most in a single game by a Jaguars running back since Leonard Fournette rushed for 225 yards in 2019 against the Broncos.

Etienne's touchdown came late during the fourth quarter, giving Jacksonville a 17-14 lead.

"I feel like just being a competitor, it sucks," Etienne said. "I feel like when you have an L in the stats it doesn't matter. Although we did some good things out there, we didn't come out with a W, so, therefore, I didn't do enough to win the game."

Etienne totaled a career-high 24 rushing attempts Sunday, the most by any Jacksonville RB thus far this season. He ran powerfully and seemed to come away with the most explosive plays of the game, including the longest play from scrimmage on either team, a 49-yard rush.

"I feel like throughout the game I just kept getting better and better of just getting in that zone," Etienne said of his workload after the game, making sure to first give credit to his offensive line that led the way in today's game. "I feel great right now. I'm pretty sure I'll wake up sore a little bit, but that's just football."

Still, the second-year back would rather have a win than stats any day, adding that the team has to keep fighting or everything will fall apart.

"We can't lose faith. We just have to keep believing. Like we watch film just like y'all guys watch the game. We know we're doing great things out there. We know we're so close. As a team I feel like these games, we have to gel closer together because that's the only way we're going to make it."

Dawaune Smoot sees defensive progress, but need for finish remains

The Jaguars' defense wasn't without its faults on Sunday, but outside of three key possessions by Denver, they were able to shut down the Broncos' offense. Sometimes, though, all it takes is three possessions to put away a team, especially one like Jacksonville that had a struggling offense.

Forcing the Broncos to punt six out of 11 of the team's true drives on Sunday, Jacksonville's defense appeared to hit a groove. They came away with three sacks, including one from Arden Key, 1.5 from Dawaune Smoot and a half-sack from first-overall pick outside linebacker Travon Walker.

Jacksonville also ended its turnover drought, recording an early interception on Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, the first turnover Jacksonville has had since Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cornerback Tyson Campbell came away with the football, and after four drives, resulting in three punts and a turnover to go along with just 10 total net yards allowed, it appeared Jacksonville was heading toward domination.

Still, the team allowed a 98-yard touchdown drive to the Broncos in the third quarter of the contest, which gave Denver the lead late 14-10.

"We just can't figure out a way to get over that hump, but it's just those two or three plays that we're just missing," Smoot said after the game on Sunday. "They go the opposite way and they will end up winning those plays. We've just got to find a way to be able to finish those plays and come out on the right side of those."

Following the 98-yard scoring drive by Denver, it appeared the Jaguars' defense got back on the right track, forcing three-straight punts.

That wasn't the case, however, and Jacksonville allowed one more TD during a crucial point of the game with the team up 17-14. Ultimately, it became the game-winning drive for Denver, a seven-play 80-yard scoring drive that began with a long 47-yard pass from Wilson to receiver KJ Hamler. The drive ended with a two-yard TD run by Latavius Murray.

The defense is close, but not close enough.

"We're just coming back to work every day, every Wednesday, every Thursday, we're coming to work. It's like war every day. We're making sure that we're doing those things so we can win, and we're just coming up short. That's all it is."

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars don't want to lose faith after loss to Broncos in London