LONDON – This was a bit too familiar.
It was a bit too frustrating and disappointing, too – with the Jaguars’ annual London trip hardly beginning as they hoped and needed.
Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a huge game and the Jaguars’ offense struggled through the middle of the game – all of which allowed the Bears to pull away for a 35-16 victory in front of 61,182 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve got to play better all around,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said, adding, “I take full responsibility, obviously, but we all need to be better.”
Pederson added, “We didn’t expect to be here in this spot. We have to find a way to get out of it.”
The Jaguars (1-5), a week after beating the Indianapolis Colts in Jacksonville, lost for a 10th time in 12 games dating to last season. The Bears (4-2) out-gained the Jaguars 373-278, including 216-13 in a momentum-turning second quarter.
“We didn’t make enough plays, didn’t execute, and had just too many mistakes,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said, adding: “We have 11 more games. There’s definitely a way back. Me pumping us up isn’t going to do anything up here. We have to take care of business on our end. It’s a long season and we have a lot of football left.”
The Jaguars will play a home game against the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium in London next Sunday. Pederson called that game “must win.”
“I would say so,” he said. “I would say everything here on out, quite frankly. If we want to get back to playing the type of football we know we can play, you’re going to have to win a lot of games moving forward. I would say these games moving forward are just that.”
Pederson also said he believes he has the “full backing” of Owner Shad Khan.
“I was just with him,” he said during his post-game media availability, “and I do.”
Pederson added that he felt “defeated” after the team’s second-widest margin of defeat this season.
“I feel for the players and the coaches,” he said. “We work extremely too hard to be in this position. The guys don’t quit. They keep fighting.”
Williams, the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 23 of 39 passes for four touchdown passes with an interception on a Jaguars defense that has struggled against the pass in recent weeks.
Williams’ two second-quarter touchdown passes to tight end Cole Kmet to turn a 3-0 Jaguars lead into a 14-3 Bears halftime advantage, with Williams starting the second half with a first-drive touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Williams’ second touchdown pass to Allen in as many quarters all-but secured the Bears’ victory seconds into the fourth quarter.
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