‘Let’s hope it is a blip’

After a constructive begin to the season, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars stubbed their toe towards the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.

Lawrence turned the ball over 5 occasions — 4 fumbles — within the 29-21 loss in rain-soaked Philly. The 4 fumbles had been probably the most misplaced in a recreation by any participant since no less than 1991, per NFL Analysis.

Coach Doug Pederson believes Sunday’s rocky outing was merely a foul day on the workplace for the younger quarterback.

“Let’s hope it is a blip,” Pederson mentioned, via the team’s official website. “I do not suppose it is a setback. I feel it is a blip. You hate to say it, however perhaps it is a type of video games within the season the place simply nothing goes proper. It occurs. I by no means make excuses. We now have to do a greater job of hanging onto the soccer. He is aware of that. That is the prize possession on the market. If we make the performs that had been left on the sector, it may be a special end result at the moment.”

Past the turnovers, Lawrence struggled to make throws within the rain, ending 11-of-23 passing for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The 47.8 completion share was Lawrence’s lowest since Week 10, 2021 (he had a 69.4 charge via the primary three video games). Lawrence additionally earned a career-low -21.1 completion share over expectation, per Subsequent Gen Stats.

Regardless of the dangerous recreation, it is a testomony to Pederson’s membership that they had been even within the recreation late. Jacksonville had the ball down eight factors with just below two minutes left earlier than the ultimate Lawrence fumble.

“Clearly, it’s what it’s,” Pederson mentioned. “We misplaced the soccer recreation. However once you have a look at it, there have been performs to be made. Our guys will be taught to make them as we go. In time, they are going to be taught to do this. There are very teachable moments for us as an offense, for a group — even defensively.

“On the finish of the day, that is a playoff group that we nonetheless had possibilities of beating. Sadly, we did not.”

The loss pushed the Jags to 2-2 and right into a tie with Tennessee atop the AFC South. If Lawrence places the turnover-filled day behind him and the younger gamers proceed to develop, Pederson’s membership will probably be in rivalry all through the season.