The Jaguars (2-8) had every opportunity to upset the Vikings (7-2) at home on Sunday, with the Jacksonville defense intercepting Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold three times.
However, Jacksonville's lethargic offense failed to produce any points after these turnovers. After quarterback Mac Jones turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars finally fell to the Vikings. .
Below is everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville's third straight loss and eighth loss of the 2024 season.
On Pederson's assessment of the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I think the defense did a great job with the firepower they have on offense. I know there were yards and time of possession, but if you hold the team to four field goals, you have a chance. Obviously in the first quarter we had the drive, touchdown drive and after that we couldn't stay on the field. We thank Minnesota for what they did defensively, Coach Flores [defensive coordinator Brian Flores]they did their stuff. And we didn't master a few things. Had a few setbacks on first down. Had too many seconds and longings. But this game is not about one person or one man. It’s a team sport and we just didn’t do enough today.”
On the feedback QB Mac Jones gave him about his two interceptions:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Honestly, we'll have to watch the tape tomorrow, watch it with them, the players, and get some feedback because I haven't necessarily spoken to them afterward. During the two possession changes we went straight back to defense, so I didn’t have a chance to talk to him at that point.”
On whether Pederson received feedback from Jones in the locker room after the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “He hurts. He takes it hard. I just told him that once again it's not about a man. This is a team deal and offensively we didn’t do enough around Mac – and neither am I – listen, it takes 11 guys.”
Why it was difficult for Jacksonville to get its wide receivers involved against Minnesota:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Minnesota did a good job. They showed that if you look at the game, they showed a lot of six and seven players, which is what they do. Play a lot of Cover 2, switch to Cover 2, a lot of cloud stuff. Then of course the pass rush. So it's a challenge. It's a challenge. And of course we have to do a better job when we see and implement things like this. As coaches, we can prepare a little better there and help our boys. But I appreciate what they did.”
How big is Pederson's disappointment this season considering the Jaguars are 2-8:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I never expected to be here. We had five or six games, they are one-score games. It is difficult. As a team, as coaches, we make it too difficult, too difficult. And the boys are frustrated, as they should be; and they are angry, and they should be, because we all are. But we have to channel it positively and prepare for another one.”
How to include WR Brian Thomas Jr. and whether Minnesota plays more cloud defense:
DOUG PEDERSON: “They played it more. I mean, this is a Cover 2 defense. And they did a lot of that today. On the other hand, their pass rush has done a good job. I put some pressure on Mac, let him get flustered early, and then it's a combination of both. It’s what they did to us schematically and then just our offensive execution.”
On what was supposed to happen on the play where Jones threw his second interception:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I won’t go into the details of the piece because you wouldn’t find out. But we’ll look at the tape tomorrow and make the corrections.”
If Pederson is shocked that the Jaguars moved the ball so well early in the game but not throughout the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I wasn't shocked during the game. This is what is expected of us. I think as the game went on it seemed to get worse and worse, right, running the ball on first down, we got behind the chains. Second and longer. It just became more difficult offensively. I think that was the frustrating part, just not staying positive on the first down because then you go back to that drive, that's what we did. We were able to stay on the field and stay positive on first downs.”