WWhen airports, streets or buildings are named after an individual, it is usually because of a long track record. Perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars were trying to show grandeur by temporarily rebranding their stadium after Trevor Lawerence over the weekend, but it was a move that would be ridiculed. There were few smiles at TrEverBank Stadium on Sunday (not the first strange attempt at a rebranding of Lawrence) like a sloppy Jacksonville lost 18-13 to the Cleveland BrownsThey are in trouble now, 0-2.
“We suck right now,” Lawrence said (rightly) in his postgame press conference, referring to his offense. “I’ve got to play better. I’m the leader of the offense. It’s my responsibility. The wideouts have to play better. The line has to play better. The running backs have to play better. The coaching has to be better.”
Lawrence is right to lay the blame, but it really starts with the coaching. Head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor were using such a lackluster playbook that Lawrence finished the first half with 16 passing yards. Kudos to the Browns’ stifling defense, but 16 passing yards in a half for a team led by Lawrence and his arsenal of weapons should not be humanly possible.
The fouls flowed from start to finish. It took ages for Pederson and Press to get plays in Lawrence. And twice, Pederson, who as a veteran coach should be much more organized, had to call a timeout to avoid the delayed flag. Jacksonville also lost 10 seconds when they were flagged for an illegal shift with 48 seconds left from their own 33. That left them with a first and 15 from their own 39.
Not that Lawrence has been great this season. Through the first two weeks of the new campaign, Lawrence has had far too many failures for someone once touted as a “generational talent.” The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft had his moments against the Browns, including a 66-yard strike to Brian Thomas That led to Jacksonville’s only touchdown, and a career-long 33-yard run on third-and-long that led to a field goal. And he avoided losing the ball despite poor pass protection. He finished the day with 220 passing yards but completed just 14 of his 30 pass attempts, most of them short, was sacked four times, one of them a safety, and lost for the seventh time in eight games.
The glimpses of potential greatness are there—if anything, they only make his stumbles more frustrating—but his career has been about glimpses rather than long stretches of stellar play for far too long. In Lawrence’s first three seasons in the NFL, he ranks 28th, 17th, and 17th in QBR among qualified quarterbacks. Those numbers would pass the smell test for a few NFL franchises, and the 2022 postseason run was a nice spring in his step for a historically terrible franchise. But Lawrence was anointed as the next Andrew Luck. The next Peyton Manning. Lawrence should be one of the league’s best players. Instead, he’s … fine.
Jacksonville showed their continued faith in Lawrence in June when they gave him a five-year, $275 million extension. But the Jags failed to surround their quarterback with much-needed protection, instead investing more in defense. One key addition, center Mitch Morse, who was acquired in free agency, was lackluster, as evidenced by his role in what was essentially the game-defining safety for the Browns.
Despite Lawrence’s inherent gifts—his quick release and leadership—they’re not nearly enough to single-handedly transform a franchise into a perennial contender, as we’ve seen with the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. And they’re definitely not enough to rebrand the franchise’s home turf.
MVP of the week
Kyler Murray, quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. When we talk about former No. 1 picks living up to their potential… Murray was sensational in Arizona’s 41-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Muray dripped with style points as he threw for three touchdowns, passed for 266 yards and added 59 yards on the ground. He answered the calls of Marvin Harrison Jr. fantasy owners, connecting with the rookie wideout for two long touchdowns.
But it was Murray’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Higgins after escape from pressure on a third and five that caught the eye on an exciting afternoon which gave him a perfect passer rating.
Statistics of the week
Six. The New Orleans Saints scored touchdowns on their first six drives in a 44-19 victory over Dallas. Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara gave a clinic on how to run Klint Kubiak’s sneaky offense. Carr’s deep drives were beautiful, including a 70-yard touchdown dart to Rashid Shaheed. Kamara dominated the perimeter, executing his screens and finding the end zone four times. The Saints’ o-line gave Carr plenty of time. Last week’s 40+ point performance came with a touch of skepticism, given that it came against the bottom-ranked Carolina Panthers. But now that the Saints have defeated Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ defense, they have to be taken seriously as an early contender.
As for Dallas, their red zone woes continued and Dak Prescott added two interceptions. They were simply outscored and outplayed.
Video of the week
Will Levis is just begging us for a Boneheaded Play of the Week category. Until then, you’ll have to make do with his latest flop in this space.
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You’d think Levis would have learned his lesson after throwing the game-winning interception off his knees in Week 1 for Chicago, but alas.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan said what we were all thinking.
Elsewhere in the competition
— There are the consistent losses. Then there are the piercing, frustrating losses that linger. Like the Cincinnati Bengals coming close to knocking out the Kansas City Chiefs before giving the game away with stupid penalties and fouls. The final flag was a 29-yard pass interference on Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony in the final minute to set up Harrison Butker’s 51-yard game-winner in a game that ended 26-25. Joe Burrow, who outplayed Patrick Mahomes, was furious for much of the second half and into the aftermath. Burrow had to restrain Ja’Marr Chase after he got in an official’s face for a non-call and was assessed 15 yards of unsportsmanlike conduct. The Bengals also missed an extra point in a game decided by the narrowest of margins. It was another Bengals-Chiefs classic, and another Cincy would love to do over again.
— It may be a step too far to call this Sam Darnold’s revenge, but he must have been laughing after a 23-17 upset of the San Francisco 49ershis most recent former team. Darnold particularly shined in an efficient outing, going 17 of 26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His 97-yard Darnold Dot to Justin Jefferson set the tone for the game. But it was Brian Flores’ stifling defense that stymied the reigning NFC champions.
— Pity poor Justin Skule, who had the unenviable task of containing Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson on Sunday. Skule’s Bucs won the war 20-16 but Hutchinson undeniably won the battles, finishing the game with 4.5 sacks. Sunday also marked Hutchinson’s fourth straight game with a sack, tying the longest streak by a Lions player since sacks became an official stat in 1982, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Baker Mayfield delivered another gutsy performance, and Tampa is now 2-0.
— Sometimes a QB forgets to throw the ball on third down for fear of losing field position or throwing a pick under pressure. But Packers quarterback Malik Willis has a new excuse. Over to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “I asked Malik why he didn’t throw the ball on that third down, he told me Josh threw up on the ball.” The Josh in question is center Josh Myers, and for those who enjoy vomit-related puns, Packers Social Media is the place to be.
— Update from the Harbaugh Brothers: Jim’s Chargers started with a 2-0 startwhile John’s Ravens started with 0-2. Exactly as we all predicted.
— After his much-hyped TV debut was a flop, Tom Brady was back in the broadcast booth for the Saints’ clubbing of the Cowboys. In his first outing, Brady was a cliché-ridden mess. His nerves seeped through the screen and his cadence was off. But in one week, Brady turned it all around. There were still plenty of clichés and stumbles, but Brady also offered genuine insight, with Fox letting him lean into his comfort zone: football nerdiness. He was confident, comfortable and even seemed to be having fun at times. He may never surpass Greg Olsen as the best Fox has to offer — his chemistry with co-commentator Kevin Burkhardt is still lacking — but it’s typical of the maniacally competitive Brady to deliver his best performance after a bust the week before.