Doug Pederson: Jaguars defense ‘really kept us in football game’

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense is supposed to be the calling card for the defending AFC South champs. A year it ago, it was a top 10 unit and it added Calvin Ridley, among others, to the list of weapons in 2023.

But in a 31-21 win against the Indianapolis Colts, it was the defense that saved the day.

“I saw some great things,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said of the defensive effort after the win. “Creating takeaways, we talked a lot about; they did that and really kept us in football game the whole day.”

The Jaguars recorded three takeaways — an interception and two fumble recoveries — and also stuffed four of the Colts’ five fourth down tries (one was a fumble recovery).

While Indianapolis found the end zone three times Sunday, one of those touchdowns came while the Jaguars offense was on the field.

“Defense really kept us in the game, I thought,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. “Only giving up 14 points, we put them in a bad spot a few times where they got some huge stops. Turnover on downs some turnovers, it was big. It was great to see them pick us up when we needed it.”

Jacksonville finished the 2022 season 24th in total yards allowed, but it was 12th in points allowed thanks largely to the 27 takeaways it forced, fifth most in the NFL.

While the Jaguars were 26th in sacks last year, the team didn’t do much to address its lackluster pass rush. Instead, the Jaguars hoped that the outside linebacker duo of Josh Allen and Travon Walker would have much more production than the 10.5 sacks they combined for in 2022.

They got off to a good start in Week 1 when Allen recorded three sacks and Walker added one.

“I think as an outside linebacker group, I think we were the guys that needed to set the tone,” Allen said. “There’s still room to grow, but great start for the defense. Offense we know things are going to happen.”

Up next, the Jaguars will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to EverBank Stadium in Week 2. In two games against Jacksonville last year, the Chiefs scored 27 points in each contest and averaged 332 yards of offense.