The Jacksonville Jaguars have been in free-falling mode since a statement 31-20 home win vs. the AFC powerhouse New England Patriots in Week 2.
'Sacksonville' has lost three of its last four games, the last two being ugly 30-14 and 40-7 blowout losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys on the road, respectively. The defense has lost its swagger, and quarterback Blake Bortles has returned to the porous form that led to many calling for the team to move on from him after last season.
The Jaguars will try to regain their form when they host the AFC South rival Houston Texans in Week 7. But for now, head coach Doug Marrone is trying to fix a team that's already halfway to reaching last season's loss total.
"There is no way anyone in this building should be comfortable, Marrone said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. "We know that. We earned that right to be where we are. We are the ones that put us where we are."
Jacksonville entered 2018 as a major favorite to win the AFC; they were widely regarded as New England's biggest threat in the AFC. But the Patriots have moved to 4-2, while Jacksonville is trying to regain its form on defense.
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Despite the recent struggles, the Jaguars still rank seventh in yards allowed (just 306.5), and ninth in scoring (21 points against) per game. The defense is still an elite unit, it just had a couple of hiccups on the road vs. Patrick Mahomes (whom nobody has stopped yet), and the Cowboys.
But the Jaguars' offense has regressed significantly. Bortles has just nine touchdowns against eight interceptions on the season. With Leonard Fournette dealing with a hamstring injury, T.J. Yeldon has struggled to lead the ground game - with just 299 rushing yards on the season.
After the Texans, they travel to London to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Jacksonville will then enter the bye week before visiting the lowly Indianapolis Colts.
Jacksonville is in a three-way tie for first in the AFC South, along with the Tennessee Titans and aforementioned Texans. The Jaguars should still be considered the favorite to win the division, but that's only if the defense regains its elite form, and if Bortles can snap out of his slump.