JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It is possible to win games -- and win a lot of them -- even while committing a large amount of penalties.
Except if you’re the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The offense’s margin of error is so small that penalties kill not only drives for the Jaguars, but chances to win games as well. That was clearly evident in the Jaguars’ 37-16 loss to Tennessee on Sunday.
The Jaguars had 12 snaps in which they faced 16 or more yards for a first down -- including eight in which they needed 20 or more yards -- against the Titans. Each sequence was set up by a penalty and in two cases eventually was followed by a turnover.
“Most people talk about [penalties], from an analytical standpoint, don’t really coincide with winning or losing,” coach Doug Marrone said. “I don’t agree with that. I think they do. That’s something that we have to clean up. At the end of the year when they look at those [penalty] statistics that they don’t really win or lose [games], I always say, well look at this game. This does not give us the position that we want to be in from a standpoint of field position and a standpoint of being able to run the football the way we want to.”
For example:
Illegal use of hands against tight end Marcedes Lewis gives the Jaguars a first-and-20 at their own 42. Two plays later, left tackle Cam Robinson can’t block linebacker Brian Orakpo, who sacks Blake Bortles and forces a fumble.
A facemask by running back Chris Ivory gives the Jaguars a first-and-25 from the Tennessee 42. Two plays later, Bortles’ pass to Marqise Lee is deflected at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by defensive back Curtis Riley.
Three other penalties stalled drives and resulted in punts. In each case, the Titans went on to score touchdowns on the ensuing possession.
Here’s the thing, though: Some of the best teams over the past two seasons have been among the most-penalized teams. Oakland committed the most penalties in the NFL last season but made the playoffs. Pittsburgh ranked 25th in penalties yet made the AFC Championship game.
Denver ranked 22nd in penalties in 2015 yet won the Super Bowl.
Those teams had the ability to overcome penalties on offense because of their playmakers and quarterback. A holding penalty on second down didn’t automatically mean the punter should grab his helmet and get ready.
That’s not the case for the Jaguars, who already have enough trouble scoring points without penalties. Over the past two seasons, the Jaguars have actually committed the fewest penalties on offense in the NFL but they’ve scored points on only 29.2 percent of their drives (only four teams have a worse percentage).
Add in the penalties that the Jaguars committed on Sunday and the offense really struggles.
“We don’t have any margin for error,” Lee said. “We need to fix it now. Penalties and stuff, got to get rid of them.”