2023 Jaguars’ Week Six: Slay or Bomb

Now that the Jaguars are a third of the way through the 2023 NFL season, their picture is clearer. After their success in London, where the Jaguars went 2-0, the Jaguars came back to Jacksonville for a rematch against their week one opponent. The Jaguars’ week six opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, came in short-staffed, with injuries to their star rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. But their backup, Gardner Minshew, is far from an unknown in Jacksonville.

But, Minshew Mania will have to wait a week, as the Jaguars trounced the Indianapolis Colts, 37 to 20.

The Jaguars’ week six matchup was one of the rare times where it felt like nothing went wrong. When the offense sputtered, the defense forced a turnover or got the ball right back. When the defense let up a score, the offense answered in tune. There’s not much that could be considered negatives on the way the team played, including some often maligned positions that had bounce-back performances.

In the Jaguars’ week six rendition of Slay or Bomb, there are a lot more slays than bombs. With the dominant performances of the offense and defense, the Slay category will focus on certain position groups that stood out. Three position groups slayed in week six.

Jaguars’ Week Six: Slay

Offensive Line

For the first time in the 2023 NFL season, the Jaguars offensive line was not only far from an issue, it was a strength in the Jaguars’ week six matchup. The offensive line for the Jaguars’ week six matchup was as follows; Cam Robinson at left tackle, Tyler Shatley at left guard, Luke Fortner at center, Brandon Scherff at right guard, and Anton Harrison at right tackle.

That group allowed only two pressures and two quarterback hurries all game. While Brandon Scherff was banged up and Blake Hance, in his time at right guard, gave up pressure and a quarterback hurry, the starting offensive line held it down for the Jaguars.

The most impressive players from this group are without a doubt, Tyler Shatley and Luke Fortner. After weeks of poor play, they both did an incredible job bouncing back in the Jaguars’ week six matchup. Fortner had a nice block on a run play as well, where he got to the second level and picked up a block for Travis Etienne Jr. en route to a touchdown.

Looking at the PFF grades for the offensive linemen, the pass blocking showed out. Tyler Shatley had the highest grade at an impressive 87.3. Cam Robinson, in his second game back from suspension, churned out a solid 86.6. Anton Harrison, in what seemed like his best game by far, put together a day allowing no pressures and a grade of 83.5. Lastly of the main offensive linemen from the Jaguars’ week six matchup, Luke Fortner had a bounce-back performance with an 82.9 grade.

This performance is exactly what the Jaguars have been hoping for from this offensive line, and now that they’ve achieved such a level of play without one hundred percent health, there’s a lot more optimism for the offensive line going forward the rest of the season.

Tight Ends

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, the Jaguars’ week six matchup featured a fantastic day for tight ends. Evan Engram and Brenton Strange made their mark in the receiving game, and Luke Farrell had a solid day blocking.

Evan Engram has multiple incredible plays. He snagged a one-handed catch along the sideline for a big gain and also hurdled a Colts defender after a catch. Engram had seven receptions for 41 yards. A total that isn’t indicative of how incredible those plays were. Engram has been one of the most consistent playmakers for this Jaguars’ offense, and this week was another performance as one of the dynamic weapons for Trevor Lawrence.

But, the star of the show is rookie tight end Brenton Strange. While he only had three targets and only two receptions, he made those count. Two receptions for 27 yards, and a touchdown. In the Jaguars’ week six matchup, their second-round selection found the end-zone for the first time in his career.

Both tight ends showed out and with Zay Jones potentially sidelined for a little while longer, giving Trevor Lawrence all the more receiving weapons will make opposing defenders’ lives a lot harder.

Defensive Backfield

Now, onto the defense, and arguably the most impactful position group of the day, the defensive backfield.

It’s another week for this Jaguars’ defense where they just shut down so much of the offensive momentum. In London, Darious Williams had two incredible performances, including a pick-six that completely flipped any momentum the Falcons had. This week, just like the past two, Darious Williams had another interception.

On a deep shot down the field, Darious Williams high-pointed the football and came down with an interception that effectively shut down any chances the Colts had at coming back. Darious Williams has now had an interception in three straight games, something that is seldom done in the NFL. One against the Falcons, another against the Bills, and now one against the Colts.

Andre Cisco also had an interception, that also happens to be his third interception on the year. Cisco has been one of the better safeties in the NFL and has continued to prove that he’s deserving of his high praise with his performance in the Jaguars’ week six matchup against the Colts. Andre Cisco is one of those players that not many know right now, but he’s someone who will make his mark on the NFL and become known as one of the best, if not the best, safeties in the NFL.

Raysahwn Jenkins, Andre Cisco’s battery mate in the safety room, also had an interception. It was his first of the year and came on a deep ball from Gardner Minshew. On his interception, Jenkins returned the ball 24 yards, setting the Jaguars up at the Colts 39 yard line.

Overall, the defensive backfield was incredible. Andre Cisco, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Darious Williams were the stars of the show.

Jaguars’ Week Six: Bomb

Injuries and Management

Lastly, comes the only bomb of the week. In the Jaguars’ week six blowout, there weren’t a lot of negatives to take away. Even the players who had negative moments had plenty of positive ones to boot. Even players who had struggled all year found success for the Jaguars.

However, there is one main takeaway that really could be considered a bomb. Late in the game, well after it was over, the Jaguars and Doug Pederson still had Trevor Lawrence on the field. He took a snap and a sack. On that play, he got hurt. A knee injury for Trevor Lawrence, which puts him at day-to-day, is not good. Making things even worse is the short week for the Jaguars, as they head to Louisiana to play the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.

Doug Pederson said that Lawrence is day to day with the knee injury. That is the biggest concern for the Jaguars on a short week. If they had been playing on Sunday, there would be concern and some outrage, but not nearly as much as there is now. The possibility that the star quarterback could miss the Jaguars primetime game is not ideal, and the main negative and the sole bomb from the Jaguars’ week six matchup.

After a season sweep of the Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars sit atop the AFC South with a solid 4-2 record, a third of the way through the 2023 NFL season.