JAGUARS FALL TO 30TH IN ESPN POWER RANKINGS

Doug Marrone (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

The Jaguars continue to slide. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jaguars, after five straight losses, have been sliding rapidly down power rankings around the web. They are who the national media thought they were — one of the very worst teams in football. 

Giving up 30 or more points in five straight contests, these young Jaguars are finding trouble competing for four quarters a week.

The Jags are down one spot in ESPN's NFL Power Rankings from 29 to 30. Atlanta jumped Jacksonville in the rankings this week. Jax is now ranked ahead of only the football teams from New York. 

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ESPN's Mike DiRocco discusses the Jaguars' most critical injury situation, that of star pass rusher Josh Allen. 

Allen has missed the past two games because of a knee injury, which robs the Jaguars of their best and most experienced pass-rusher. He wasn't dominating when he was on the field (two sacks, seven QB hits), but he is the Jaguars' only hope of getting to the passer. The rest of the defense has three sacks and 21 QB hits combined. The Jaguars need him back ASAP.

D-Roc is correct in his assessment that the Jaguars badly need Josh Allen back on the field. And he does appear close to returning soon, but will he help the team win games? The answer is likely no. I'm not sure that the Jaguars are better than the Giants at this point. The Big Cats have no cohesion or timing on offense, and their defense gets run through on a weekly basis. 

As the season moves forward, it does seem possible, if not likely, that the Jaguars start to play better. They're the youngest team in football, and they have more talent than they've shown over the last five weeks. Still, it won't likely be enough for them to win games as they prepare to face the Chargers, Texans, Packers, Steelers, Browns, Vikings, Titans, Ravens, Bears, and Colts. 

Doug Marrone doesn't seem to have any answers for the many questioning permeating TIAA Bank Field. Each loss increases the likelihood that there will be a new regime in Jacksonville in 2021. 

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