The Ponte Vedra Recorder Nov. 12, 2015 | Page 44

44 Sports Ponte Vedra Recorder · November 12, 2015 Big Apple takes bite out of Jaguars 28-23 Jets hand Jacksonville another road loss By Mike Bonts Special to the Recorder The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to struggle on the road with a 28-23 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Jaguars, now 2-6 and coming off a bye week, committed four turnovers, three in the final quarter. They still find themselves in the playoff hunt in the NFL’s AFC South where no team has won more than four games. “We just didn’t finish,” said third year head coach Gus Bradley. “You look back at it, really, a lot of these were selfinflicted — the turnovers and the penalties at inopportune times.” Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles threw for a career-high 381 yards while throwing two touchdowns. He was picked off twice and committed a fumble. Bortles finished 24-of-40 while rushing four times for 32 yards Allen Hurns had a career high 122 yards including one touchdown. Hurns increased his franchise record to six straight games with a TD reception. Bryan Walters caught a 20-yard TD. Allen Robinson had five receptions for 122 yards for the Jaguars. Hurns and Robinson gave the Jaguars a pair of 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since the 2000 season when Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith were on the roster. “We put up a ton of yards, did a lot of good stuff,” said Bortles, who accounted for 413 yards of total offense and threw two touchdowns but was also picked off twice. “But it’s the plays you missed out on that you think about at night -- the ones you didn’t make when you had a chance to make it and hopefully put up more points.” Rookie running back T.J Yeldon ran for 64 yards on 16 carries. Jason Myers kicked field goals of 45, 35 and 39 yards for the Jaguars. Jets’ running back Chris Ivory scored two touchdowns and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two TD passes. Jacksonville held Ivory to 26 yards on 23 carries. “There’s lessons from wins — I’d like to be up here talking to you (saying) ‘Hey, we can learn these from wins,’” Bradley said. “But we’ve got to learn these lessons from losses as well.” Jacksonvilleís defensive lineman Jared Odrick sacks New York QB Ryan Fitzpatrick during Sundayís game at MetLife Stadium. The Jets beat the Jaguars 28-23. (Photo Rick Wilson/Jacksonville Jaguars) ent teams — the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans in addition to the Jets. He is the first QB since the AFL/NFL merger to beat an opponent while playing for five different teams... Fitzpatrick was 21-of-34 for 272 yards... The Jets (5-3) went 4-12 last season... Jags’ RB Toby Gerhart was inactive... Former Jets general manager John Idzik, who is now a special assistant to the general manager with the Jaguars, watched the game in the press box... The Jets had six sacks... The Jaguars were penalized six times for 41 yards. ROAD WARRIORS NOT When New York’s Marcus Williams came up with his second interception of the game the Jets sent the Jaguars to their 13th straight road loss. The Jaguars have the NFL’s longest active road losing streak. Jacksonville’s previous road win came on Dec. 1, 2013, at Cleveland. This season’s win over the Bills in London was considered a road game. It was a bad week for road teams in the NFL. In 11 games on Sunday, only three away teams left with victories, and two of those wins came in overtime. NY GAME NOTES AROUND THE DIVISION Jacksonville is 9-31 under Gus Bradley... The Jaguars out-gained the Jets 436290... NY had no turnovers... Fitzpatrick has beaten the Jaguars with five differ- With a win, the Jaguars would have ensured itself a tie for second place with the Houston Texans in the AFC South. Houston (3-5) had a bye this Jacksonville receiver Allen Hurns had a career high 122 yards including one touchdown against the New York Jets and increased his franchise record to six straight games with a TD reception. (Photo Rick Wilson/Jacksonville Jaguars) week. Andrew Luck enjoyed his best game of the season, throwing for 252 yards and a pair of TDs to lead the 4-5 Indianapolis Colts (4-5) to 27-24 upset victory over the Denver Broncos. Tennessee (2-6) QB Marcus Mariota had his best game as a pro since his first career start against Tampa Bay, finishing with 371 yards and four TD passes in a win ov er New Orleans for new coach Mike Mularkey. UP NEXT The Jaguars visit Baltimore Sunday to take on the Ravens (2-6) at 1 p.m. Baltimore is coming off a bye week. Next home game is Thursday, Nov. 19 at 8:30 p.m. against AFC South rival Tennessee. The Titans’ Mike Mularkey returns to Jacksonville as head coach. He was head man with the Jaguars for one season between Jack Del Rio and current coach Gus Bradley.