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If there’s one thing the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled with through 12 games this season, it’s consistency.
In games where the Jags’ offense has started out firing on all cylinders, they’ve struggled to find production the rest of the game. In games that they’ve struggled early, the Jags’ offense has found success later on, but too little too late.
On the defensive side of the ball, despite being the league’s top ranked red zone defense, the Jaguars have given up explosive touchdowns all season long.
Inconsistency is the reason Jacksonville was 1-10 heading into Sunday’s game against the Giants, a game which they started as inconsistent as ever.
The Jags stalled on their first three drives and found themselves down 21-0 before finally piecing together a scoring drive. Trailing 21-3 at halftime, the inconsistent Jaguars were on pace for their 11th loss of the season.
Something changed in Jacksonville’s locker room at halftime though.
The defense that allowed three touchdowns in the first half came out in the second and held New York to just three points, and even scored two defensive touchdowns. The offense that struggled nearly the entire first half was not only able to score a touchdown in the second, but it managed to march down the field late in the fourth quarter for a 42-yard, game-winning Josh Scobee field goal.
What changed at halftime? According to Jaguars free safety Josh Evans, the team was fed up with its inconsistencies.
“That first half, we knew that wasn’t us,” says Evans. “We knew we were better than that.”
The team rallied in the second half, and according to Evans, had one just word on their mind.
“We kept telling each other we’ve got to finish,” he says. “It was going to come down to that type of game where you’ve got to finish in the fourth quarter and I think we did a pretty good job.”
The 25-24 victory over the Giants marks just the second win of the Jaguars’ season, and Evans says the team will look to keep them coming.
“To continue to stack [the wins] up,” Evans says of his team’s mindset the rest of the season. “That’s one down and [we’ll] try to get a few more.”
The Jaguars host Houston next week.
For audio of Josh Evans, click below.
