Alaina Getzenberg
Michael DiRocco
Michael DiRocco
ESPN Workers Author
Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He beforehand lined the College of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Occasions-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville College and is a a number of APSE award winner. You possibly can comply with DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Payments’ offense couldn’t be stopped on Monday night time in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars to safe a 47-10 win and stay excellent on the season — whereas handing the Jaguars their third loss.
Quarterback Josh Allen led the Payments to landing drives on all 5 first half possessions to take a commanding lead at dwelling.The win ended a two-game dropping skid to the Jaguars. That is the fifth time the Payments have scored 30 factors in every of their first three video games of a season.
Listed below are crucial issues to know from Monday night time for each groups:
Buffalo Payments (3-0)
Good is a troublesome phrase to throw round, and so not often is it truly achieved.
There’s an argument, nonetheless, that the Payments offense and Josh Allen (247 first half passing yards and 4 touchdowns) received fairly near it within the first half in opposition to the Jaguars.
Allen accomplished 23-of-30 passes for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns within the sport. Allen additionally rushed for 44 yards on six carries. He handed Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the perfect MVP odds, per ESPN BET, and tied his personal document for landing passes in a sport (4), all within the first half-hour. Till the primary drive of the third quarter, he went 6-of-6 for 77 yards with two passing touchdowns on third down.
The stats are spectacular, together with thriving beneath stress — his 4 passing touchdowns when beneath stress this season lead the NFL.
The Payments have 30-plus factors in every of their first three video games of a season for the primary time since 2011. This offense has made it clear to your complete league via simply three video games that stopping will probably be no simple job.
Pivotal play: Damar Hamlin’s interception. The Payments offense goes to get a number of love of for this efficiency, and deservedly so, however the protection did its job. On a tough go from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on first-and-10 deep within the second quarter — with nobody near the world of the throw — Hamlin picked off Lawrence and returned the ball 19 yards. Hamlin’s first profession choose arrange the staff’s fourth landing of the day, Allen to extensive receiver Khalil Shakir 5 performs later.
Promising development: The offense getting quite a lot of gamers concerned. 4 completely different Payments caught touchdowns vs. the Jaguars and working again James Cook dinner had a dashing rating. Six Payments have caught touchdowns this season — most within the NFL. Getting the ball to quite a lot of gamers has been an early development for the Payments this season, and one which offensive coordinator Joe Brady ought to proceed. It solely provides to how harmful this unit will be.
Eye-popping stat: Allen is the primary participant with 4 passing touchdowns within the first half on Monday Evening Soccer because the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger on Nov. 5, 2007 in opposition to the Ravens. The final occasion earlier than that was Brett Favre (2003 Packers vs. Raiders).
Subsequent sport: at Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 29)
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)
It might not be time to panic simply but, nevertheless it’s getting shut for the Jaguars after the thorough beatdown they suffered on Monday night time. They’re now 0-3 and that makes the playoffs — which proprietor Shad Khan stated earlier than the season was his expectation — virtually out of attain.
Solely six groups since 1979 have made the playoffs after an 0-3 begin. Just one has finished it this century: The 2018 Houston Texans. That checklist contains the 1992 San Diego Chargers, that are the one staff to make the playoffs after beginning a season 0-4.
There’s a number of soccer left, and the schedule seemingly will get simpler after subsequent week’s sport in Houston with video games in opposition to Indianapolis, Chicago and New England. However the poor begin after the collapse on the finish of the 2023 season (1-5 end) will definitely begin to enhance the stress on head coach Doug Pederson.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Defensive debacle. The Jaguars allowed 34 factors within the first half, which is probably the most factors they’ve allowed in a primary half in franchise historical past, per ESPN Analysis, and solely 4 shy of probably the most they’ve allowed in any half. The Jaguars had been down two starters within the secondary and misplaced one other in addition to linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, however that is no excuse for permitting Allen to throw for 247 yards and 4 TDs within the first half.
Troubling development: The Jaguars had been already coping with accidents to cornerback Tyson Campbell (IR/hamstring) and nickel again Darnell Savage (quad), however now cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) — who changed Savage within the lineup — and Oluokun (foot) are additionally damage. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen likes to play a number of man protection however these accidents will severely impression the Jaguars’ means to do this, particularly going through a brief week and having to go to Houston and take care of C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs.
Eye-popping stat: The Jaguars lastly received receiver Christian Kirk extra concerned within the offense. After getting focused seven instances and catching simply two passes for 29 yards within the first two video games, Kirk was focused seven instances and caught six passes for 73 yards via the primary two minutes of the fourth quarter. That was partly dictated by the rating and the Jaguars having to go extra to attempt to keep within the sport, however Kirk wanted to be an even bigger a part of the offense.
Subsequent sport: at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 29)
