Jaguars' Defense Begins 2023 Carrying the Offense

The Jaguars' defense has been their top performer through two weeks, something few had pegged as a likelihood throughout the offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' defense is doing something undeniable. 

The NFL season is only two weeks old. Sample sizes are small. In two months, the entire landscape of the NFL will look different. 

But through those short two weeks, the Jaguars' defense has undeniably driven the team and, in most ways, carried an offense that has yet to find its rhythm.

"I think that’s just a credit to the scheme, what Mike [Caldwell] is doing, utilizing the personnel this year, you’re seeing Travon [Walker] and Josh [Allen] up their game a little bit on the edge. The secondary is more in-sync this year, just the communication has been better," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday. 

"They’re playing faster, they’re stymying the run and shutting that down. Other than a couple QB scrambles and some broken plays. They’re playing physical, that’s something that is the pride for the defense right now. Two weeks in a row, they’ve kept the offense in the game. They did it in Indy until the offense caught wind at the end of the game and then all day yesterday, they did the same.”

Pederson isn't wrong, either. The Jaguars' defense held the Chiefs to just 17 points in Week 2's 17-9 loss, one week after allowing 14 points to the Colts in a mostly stifling performance. 

Through two weeks, the Jaguars' defense is No. 5 in both EPA/Play and success rate. Considering the offense is 30th in EPA/Play and has had three back-breaking turnovers and several failed opportunities in the first two games, it isn't a stretch to say the Jaguars' defense is the current heart of the team. 

The list of players who have stood out isn't short, either. Travon Walker didn't have a large impact as a pass-rusher in Week 2 but had several standout plays in run defense and drew two Jawaan Taylor holding penalties. Josh Allen has racked up seven pressures in two games and helped force an Andre Cisco interception. The list could go on and on, at least for now. 

“Josh [Allen] is playing extremely well right now. Travon [Walker] has been good, you see what Jenk [Rayshawn Jenkins] did yesterday with his ability to tackle in space and make some plays," Pederson said. "Cisco [Andre Cisco] showed up yesterday, he could’ve had a second interception, but he had a big play there. Seeing it as just a combination of all that and those guys playing well together.”

Sunday was only the 10th time in the Patrick Mahomes' era where the Chiefs had a success rate of 43% or lower, per TruMedia, and it showed. The defense restricted Mahomes more than they ever have, especially during Pederson and Mike Caldwell's tenure, and forced two turnovers a week after forcing three.

The Jaguars lost in Week 2. It was a team loss and will always reflect as such. But on Sunday -- and in Week 1 -- the Jaguars' defense has driven the team's direction. 

"I’m honestly looking at this film again, it just comes down to coaches need to coach better, players need to execute better. That’s really what this film comes down to. I’m talking more offensively, I thought defensively they did some great things," Pederson said. 

"They kept us in this football game, honestly. We don’t convert the fourth-and-five, they score. Then, the opening drive of the third, there was only two real drives that they did. Other than that, we kept a really good offense down. It could be a play here or there that you look at, but I thought offensively we got to do a better job.”