While the Jacksonville Jaguars managed to claw three wins out of their first four games thanks (in large part) to a defense that is leading the NFL in turnovers forced, they have been unable to slow down the mighty Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in what has become an uneven Monday Night Football matchup.
After Trevor Lawrence failed to convert a fourth-down quarterback sneak, the Chiefs took the ball back and instantly marched down the field. Even running back Kareem Hunt had no trouble moving the ball against a Jaguars defense that was stuck in neutral.
Hunt managed to make the Jaguars' defense look foolish with a 33-yard run. This is by no means a sign that Hunt has turned back the clock to his prime when he came into the NFL, as his serious lack of speed has been a problem for years. This was one of Hunt's biggest plays since Urban Meyer was in Jacksonville.
Hunt's run, which kicked off a 97-yard touchdown drive that lasted just five plays, was Hunt's first jaunt of over 30 yards since October 3, 2021. When the sluggish Hunt is ripping off big plays, something has gone horribly wrong.
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Jaguars defense let Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt run all over them
The Jags are missing standout pass rusher Travon Walker due to a wrist injury, but that is no means for a defense that has been causing more havoc than any other team in the league looking as out of whack. There has been minimal, if any, resistance to Kansas City's game plan.
The concerning part, however, is the fact that Patrick Mahomes, who completed 14 of his first 17 passes for 164 yards, appears to be in one of those locked-in moods that can spell doom for any defense. How else would one explain his completions deep downfield to Tyquan Thornton?
With Kansas City averaging 10.3 yards per play in the first half, the Jags need to either find a way to generate turnovers like they have all season long or stop letting Kansas City get the ball in wide open space. Without it, no offensive performance is going to be enough to get them back in this game.