Urban Meyer, Jacksonville Jaguars humbled in Week 1 loss

First-year head coach Urban Meyer was humbled in his Jacksonville Jaguars debut, as the AFC South’s doormat returned to its long-held position with a 37-21 loss to the Houston Texans.

“I don’t really know [that shell-shocked is the right word],” Meyer said after the loss. “We’ve all got our asses kicked before. Let’s tighten up and go. I believe in that team, I believe in our staff and [let’s] come back to work.”

Things went poorly for Meyer and the Jaguars in Week 1, and the game’s outcome seemed inscribed as early as the first quarter. Halfway through the first quarter, the Texans scored on a Mark Ingram one-yard touchdown run; shortly thereafter, a 55-yard field goal miss by Josh Lambo and the Jaguars gave the Texans favorable field position, on which they capitalized with another short touchdown, this one courtesy of David Johnson. The Texans went up 14-0 in the first, and they never once looked back.

Perhaps the highlight of the game for Meyer and Jacksonville came at the onset of the second quarter, when first-round pick Trevor Lawrence threw his first career touchdown pass, a 22-yard completion to Chris Manhertz.

“I think [there were a lot of] self-inflicted [mistakes],” Meyer said. “I think we had seven penalties in the first three or four drives. And I thought we were moving the ball, and then all of a sudden you look up and you see the damn penalty flag. And some were just, you know, can’t happen. So that was the biggest disappointment.”

By the conclusion of the game, the Jaguars had committed 10 penalties for 82 penalty yards, as Meyer pointed out. The Jaguars rushing attack was rather inefficient on Sunday, as it managed just 76 yards on 16 carries; through the air, however, Lawrence was able to throw for 332 passing yards, albeit with three interceptions.

“I love Trevor [Lawrence], we all do,” Meyer said. “Trevor’s just going to get better and better. He had a great week of work. You know, offensive football is about 11 guys doing their job. And the great offenses we’ve all witnessed and all been a part of are when 11 guys are doing their jobs and executing. And that didn’t happen.”

Meyer’s Jaguar offense converted on just three of 11 third-down attempts in the game, while the Texans converted on 12 of 21 third-down attempts. Houston’s offense — even without star quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was sidelined after off-field incidents came to light this offseason — cruised on Sunday, as quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 21 of 33 passes for 291 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Meyer and the Jaguars have a chance to bounce back at home in Week 2, as they play host to the 1-0 Denver Broncos in TIAA Bank Field.