The Jacksonville Jaguars got back in the win column with a 23-7 win against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. The Jaguars jumped out to a double-digit lead early in the second quarter and the Falcons never got back within one score.
While it was a relatively stress-free win for the Jaguars, it still wasn’t a smooth performance from the team’s underperforming offense.
Jacksonville only scored one offensive touchdown and needed a three-turnover day from its defense — including a pick-six — to keep Atlanta at bay.
Here are the Jaguars players who stood out and struggled most in the win, according to the grades at Pro Football Focus:
5 highest grades on offense
- RG Brandon Scherff: 71.6
- TE Luke Farrell: 71.5
- QB Trevor Lawrence: 70.6
- WR Christian Kirk: 70.6
- RT Anton Harrison: 70.1
Unlike previous weeks, no player on the Jaguars offense earned a grade above 72 with the exception of Tank Bigsby who isn’t included here because he only played eight snaps.
The good news for Jacksonville is that the right side of the offensive line, which has previously been a weak link, had a relatively good day against the Falcons.
5 lowest grades on offense
- TE Brenton Strange: 40.0
- WR Tim Jones: 51.1
- LG Tyler Shatley: 51.3
- RB Travis Etienne Jr.: 51.3
- C Luke Fortner: 53.8
Strange has been a pretty reliable pass blocker as a rookie, but he hasn’t managed to get much push in the run game. A 44.5 grade as a run blocker, coupled with a pair of penalties early in the game, had the second-round pick at the bottom of the Jaguars’ offensive grades.
5 highest grades on defense
- OLB Josh Allen: 91.7
- CB Darious Williams: 90.8
- S Andre Cisco: 87.4
- CB Tyson Campbell: 76.4
- S Andrew Wingard: 67.3
Allen’s grade isn’t surprising after a three-sack performance. It helped too that the Jaguars’ outside cornerbacks shut down the Falcons receivers and forced almost all of Desmond Ridder’s passing production to come from passes to tight ends and running backs.
5 lowest grades on defense
- DT Jeremiah Ledbetter: 30.7
- LB Chad Muma: 38.1
- DE Adam Gotsis: 44.0
- DE Angelo Blackson: 47.3
- S Rayshawn Jenkins: 47.4
A previously stout Jaguars run defense allowed Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson to average 7.5 yards per carry Sunday. Muma knocked down a couple passes and recorded two hurries as a blitzer, but he was part of the team’s difficulties stopping the run. The second-year linebacker had a 28.9 run defense grade and 38.5 tackling grade.
5 other notables
- OLB Travon Walker: 62.2
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi: 50.5
- WR Calvin Ridley: 57.7
- LT Walker Little: 67.2
- RB Tank Bigsby: 78.1
Walker’s 62.2 grade doesn’t jump off the page, but it’s also his best of the 2023 season so far. He recorded two pressures as a pass rusher and earned his best run defense grade.
On the other hand, Fatukasi earned his worst grade of the season through the first month. With DaVon Hamilton still out of action, the team has depended on Fatukasi at nose tackle, but he didn’t have a good day against the Falcons.
