Jaguars/Eagles Game Balls & Jacksonville/ Houston Pre-Game Balls
JT: It’s Wednesday and the focus is on the Texans, so let’s do game balls from the Philly game and pre-game balls for the Houston game.
The Philadelphia game was not without some Jacksonville greatness. It was just difficult to see any of it through the rain, fumbles, interception, fumbles, lack of running plays, fumbles, lack of Jags scoring in the second and third quarters, and I think there were some fumbles as well, if I remember correctly. It was four days ago so my memory is a little soggy. I do, however, remember some stand out plays by some outstanding players. Like last week, we are going to hand out four game balls. Unlike last week, it won’t be quite as difficult to limit it to only four. Ok, that is the last negative comment of this column. We are moving forward.
The first game ball in the JAX/Eagles contest goes to the man who stepped up to fill some pretty big cleats (Zay Jones). Jamal Agnew recorded four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He was also wide open in the endzone for a third touchdown (would have been his second of the game) at the beginning of the second quarter. On a night where receivers on both teams were having trouble catching the ball, Agnew came through in a big way. You never know when your number will be called so you always have to be ready. #39 was ready. Here’s to seeing him get some more time at wide receiver this year.
Game ball number two goes to the man who cleared the way for Jamal Agnew with a beautiful block. Agnew caught a pass in the flat, stopped and set a place for breakfast because Cam Robinson was serving up pancakes. Robinson gets a game ball, not only for the monstrous pancake block he performed on Eagles DB Bradberry to spring Agnew for 14 yards, but also for his monstrous O-line play during the entirety of the game. Robinson had his best game of the season on the offensive line, allowing nothing to get to Trevor Lawrence.
The third game ball for the Jaguars is presented to Foye Oluokun. My man had 16 total tackles in this one game. Twelve of them were solo tackles and three were for a loss. I know he led the entire NFL in tackles last year but you have to see this man put in work to believe it. #23 chose that jersey number because he is a big fan of MJ’s work ethic and competitive nature. Last Sunday he made his airness proud. The Eagles ran 77 plays and Oluokun was responsible for stopping roughly 20% of them. Beast mode definitely gets a game ball.
This last game ball was actually a tough call. We could have given it to Devin Lloyd for his 14 total tackles (4 solo) or we could have given it to Josh Allen for his 7 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, and 2 QB hits. Instead we bypassed all of those deserving players for Andre Cisco. Cisco you get the fourth and final game ball not just because you had 4 total tackles, 3 of them solo, but you also had one PD. Oh, and I almost forgot, you recorded a beautiful pick six that you ran back 50+ yards to end the Eagles drive before it even started. You immediately put the Jags on the board 7-0. Had you not returned that ball to the end zone there was a good chance this game ball was headed to another JAX defender, but I can’t ignore those precious points. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, you get another game ball once you teach Lloyd how to return an interception all the way to the house. Nice work to all of the Jacksonville game ball winners for that Eagles game that we have already put out of our minds.
Now, let’s move on to the Houston Texans pre-game balls. The usual four balls are up for grabs here as well. I will say this, I would have been worried about the Houston Texans game had the Jaguars beaten the Eagles last Sunday. I would’ve been worried this could be a trap game. A game that Jacksonville certainly has the talent to win but maybe would have been believing the hype a bit after a Philly road victory and Houston would have taken advantage. As it stands now, I do not see any way that the Texans even remotely come close to beating the Jaguars this Sunday at TIAA Bank, or anywhere for that matter. I do not see them beating the Jags on a boat, or in a moat. I do not see them beating JAX in a dome or Houston’s home. Sam I am and Teddy Geisel agree that the Jags take this game by at least double the spread. Yes, I know about Dameon Pierce and the currently injured Fatukasi. Truth be told, that is the only worry I have about this game and it’s not a big concern. Yes, I know of Derek Stingley Jr. and how good he can be as well. Better DBs, however, have already failed to cover Jags WRs and Stingley can’t cover everyone on every play. Does the Davis Mills to Brandin Cooks connection put fear in my heart? Let me check something, tied Indy, lost to Denver, lost to Chicago…CHICAGO, folks. Lost to the Chargers. With a record of 0-3-1 the Houston Texans and Davis Mills. Who, you ask? Davis Mills. He’s their quarterback. Yes, starting quarterback. Davis… Mills… “There’s two ‘Ls’ in Mills boys.” No, I don’t even think he made the plaque for the alternates, down in the ladies room. Truly the only worry I have is about Fatukasi not plugging the D-Line and what Mike Caldwell is going to do to fix that problem. Now, let’s hand out some pre-game balls.
The first game ball of this future match-up will go to Trevor Lawrence. Coming off of the worst performance of his illustrious professional career. Quite possibly the worst performance of any quarterback, ever, in the history of the NFL, pre merger and post merger, since before championship games were known as Super Bowls. The absolute worst QB game since way back before the cretaceous period when Tom Brady rode shotgun to Foxboro on Drew McQueen Beldsoe’s Spinosaurus. BTW, way cool middle name Drew. This game will be a coming out party for Lawrence. He will thrash the Houston defense for three touchdown passes and 300+ yards. Hell, he will even scramble for 25+ yards for good measure. He will complete 75% of his pass attempts and have ZERO turnovers. ZERO T-Law. I know you are reading this…ZERO, my good man. I feel another AFC offensive player of the week award.
The second game ball will go to James Robinson who will finally be utilized to his full potential, as he should have been against Philly. Robinson will break 100 yards rushing this week. For good measure J-Rob will contribute with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown as well. That’s right 100+ yards on the ground, 50+ receiving and two touchdowns. He might even give Lawrence some competition for offensive player of the week.
The third game ball for the Texans matchup will be awarded to another Jaguars player who needs to make up for his unusually pitiful performance in the rain soaked Linc last week. Christian Kirk will once again resume his secret fast food identity, the anti-Chick-Fil-A, because my man is always open on Sundays. He will catch five passes for 90 yards, and two touchdowns. You can’t stop him in the slot, you can’t stop him on a cot, you can’t stop him in The Bank, you can’t stop him on a tank. You can’t…You get the picture.
Let’s get a defender involved in week number five. While it could be Josh Allen almost every week, the man is just a beast, we are going to give the final game ball to a guy who came out of the gates really hard in week one. He came out fast, menacingly even. He was a force against the Washington Stupid Names and then he was put in his place last week by arguably the absolute best offensive lineman in the entire NFL, Lane Johnson. Travon Walker was taught a rookie lesson by a wiley vet. This week, Walker, after watching a ton of tape, will apply what he learned. I’ve taken out an insurance policy on Davis Mills…their quarterback…yes, Davis. Pay attention people. I’ve taken out an insurance policy on Mills with Lloyds of London, ala Joe Theismann, because Travon Walker is coming to the party like LT reincarnated.
These game balls went to the Jaguars core players because they all had their worst games last week and they all need to lead the way against Houston. They will find their footing (or grip on the ball) against the Texans and show why they deserve to be leading the AFC South. Plus, it’s Tony Boselli night at The Bank and he needs to be celebrated properly. Let us know what you think in the comment section below.