Jags Drop Close One To Packers

The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Green Bay Packers kicked off the first Sunday of the  NFL season, but the Jaguars were not able to keep up the Packers and fell short 27-23 at home on Sunday.

Despite the loss, former Florida Gator defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. had nothing but great things to say after the team’s loss.

Jacksonville started on offense, but their first drive was cut short after a poor decision by quarterback Blake Bortles allowed linebacker Joe Thomas to make an interception. Green Bay’s first possession began at Jacksonville’s 29-yard line, capitalizing on the turnover with a six-yard touchdown run by Aaron Rodgers.

After trading punts, Jacksonville got on the board with TJ Yeldon’s five-yard touchdown run — which was made possible by veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, who started the drive off with a 37-yard reception.

In the second quarter, Jacksonville took the lead for the first time, going up 10-7 on Jason Myers’ 26-yard field goal. The lead didn’t last — Rodgers marched Green Bay 75 yards downfield and finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown toss to receiver Jordy Nelson. Nelson’s reception marked his first score in 630 days, after he recovered from an injury that made him miss most of the last year or so.   The score made it 14-10 Packers.

Welcome back, @JordyRNelson! #GBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/2mclRoNdUV

— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2016

Jacksonville responded with a 75-yard drive of its own, and ended with Bortles passing to tight end Julius Thomas for a 22-yard touchdown, giving the Jaguars the lead 17-14. But before the end of the second quarter, Rodgers passed to Davante Adams for a 29-yard touchdown, making it a 21-17 game at the end of the first half.

During the third quarter not much action went on, but a Mason Crosby 25-yard field goal increased the Packer lead to 24-17.  A Myers 39-yard field goal cut the deficit to 24-20.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Crosby made another 20-yard field goal for the Packers making the game 27-20 but Myers hit a 50-yard field goal to leave the game 27-23. The Jaguars had a final chance to win the game late but the Jags failed to convert a fourth down play deep in Green Bay territory with less than a minute to go in the game.

Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley talked about the performance of his team and that of Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Jaguars will face the San Diego Chargers next week after they lost a heartbreaker as well to Kansas City.