It took four years for Urban Meyer to lose as many games at Ohio State as he has in his first month in the NFL.
Meyer’s Jaguars blew a 14-0 halftime lead and lost 24-21 on a field goal by the Cincinnati Bengals as time expired on Thursday night.
The Jaguars, who finished last in the league in 2020 and earned the No. 1 overall pick, are now 0-4 in Meyer’s first season as head coach.
“It’s devastating, heartbreaking,” Meyer told reporters after the game. “Usually I’m not wrong about stuff like that, that I just see a good team in there. I see good guys, good hearts. I see guys at work and I told them I’m not wrong about that stuff. This team is going to win some games.”
Thursday night’s defeat was the 19th consecutive loss for the Jaguars. They also lost wide receiver DJ Chark and offensive lineman A.J. Cann to injuries during the game, right when the offense started to find some rhythm behind rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back James Robinson. Lawrence completed 17-of-24 passes for 204 yards — the highest completion percentage of his young career — and Robinson ran for more than 75 yards for the second straight week.
Urban Meyer during the Jaguars’ loss to the Bengals on Sept. 30, 2021. USA TODAY Sports“That’s a heartbroken locker room, so we’ve got to get them back,” said Meyer, who went 83-9 in seven seasons as Ohio State coach and captured his third national title after capturing two as the Florida Gators coach.
But 253 of Joe Burrow’s 348 passing yards came in the second half, as did both of his passing touchdowns, with Meyer saying that Cincinnati “picked us apart throwing the ball” during its comeback.
When asked about Lawrence’s throws to Laviska Shenault Jr. for 52 yards and Jamal Agnew for 27, Meyer said that he thought the prized rooked had played his best game. He then asked reporters if Jacksonville had turned the ball over. When he was told they hadn’t, he smacked his hand onto the podium while adding a frustrated “gosh.”
Trevor Lawrence gets sacked by the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson on Sept. 30, 2021. AP“I’ve said this from day one: The core of this team are good players, and I thought we brought in some good players and we’re getting better each week, we are getting better each week,” Meyer said. “It’s just sickening that you didn’t win that thing.”
Meyer has already taken criticism during his first year as an NFL coach over a disconnect with Jacksonville’s veterans and becoming “unhinged” way too easily, according to a Sept. 12 CBS report. It questioned his durability over the course of a 17-game season, doubts that have only intensified with the winless start.
“We definitely played good enough to win the game,” Lawrence said. “… It’s tough. We’re growing, getting better, learning a lot, but, ah, should’ve won that game.”
The Jaguars next play the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans on Oct. 10.
