High-scoring Jaguars are efficient, creative, entertaining

Updated Sep. 21, 2020 3:04 p.m. ET

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It’s been a while since anyone could honestly say this about the Jacksonville Jaguars: They’re fun to watch on offense.

The Jaguars (1-1) are off to their best two-game start on that side off the ball in two decades, scoring a combined 57 points against division rivals Indianapolis and Tennessee.

They’re balanced and efficient. They’re organized and unpredictable. They’re creative and convinced they’re only going to get better. They host Miami (0-2) on Thursday night.

“We feel like we can go toe to toe with anybody,” receiver DJ Chark said. “It doesn’t matter. … I think it’s just the mentality that we have, whether it’s 30-17 or it’s a tie game.”

It starts with quarterback Gardner Minshew, who has flourished so far in his first year as a full-time starter. Minshew has more passing yards (512) than Lamar Jackson, more touchdown passes (six) than Patrick Mahomes and a higher completion percentage (75.4) than just about everybody in the league.

He’s been at his best on third downs and in the red zone — two areas of weakness in 2019 — and his only turnovers were two somewhat-fluky interceptions in a , on Sunday.

Jacksonville general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone felt Minshew earned the job by going 6-6 in 12 starts last year and made a concerted effort to upgrade his supporting cast. They signed 2015 Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert, drafted versatile receiver Laviska Shenault and parted with anyone who could potentially impede Minshew’s progress.

They brought in Jay Gruden as offensive coordinator and Ben McAdoo as quarterbacks coach, charging two ex-head coaches with the next stage of his development.

The results have been better than most outsiders imagined, stifling speculation about , Trevor Lawrence. Minshew is making plays from the pocket and getting more from everyone around him.

He's the first player in franchise history to open a season with three or more TD passes in consecutive games and the first to accomplish that feat in three straight outings, which includes the 2019 finale.

The last time anyone in Jacksonville felt this good about the team’s offense was in 2000, when Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell and Mark Brunell gave the Jaguars a chance every week. That was also the last time the franchise scored more than 57 points in its first games.

WHAT’S WORKING

Shenault has been Jacksonville’s most significant offensive addition. The second-round draft pick from Colorado has six receptions for 72 yards and seven carries for 47 more. He’s made the Jaguars more prolific while allowing new wrinkles each week.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

The Jaguars have just two sacks in two games. They did little Sunday to affect Ryan Tannehill, who finished with a career-high-tying four TD passes.

Rookie K’Lavon Chaisson got his first sack, but 2019 Pro Bowl selection Josh Allen has been shut out in two games and the Jaguars are getting even less push from their interior D-line.

STOCK UP

Keelan Cole has a TD catch in three straight games and has become one of Minshew’s top targets. He had five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in the opener and then six for 58 and a score in Nashville.

Throw in his TD reception in the 2019 season finale and he’s matched the longest TD streak of his four-year NFL career.

STOCK DOWN

Jacksonville’s special teams weren’t even average against Tennessee. Rookie Chris Claybrooks muffed two returns, although the Jaguars kept the ball and scored after both. And placekicker Josh Lambo cost the team four points in a three-point loss.

Lambo missed his fifth extra point in four seasons. He also botched a squib kick near the end of the first half, accidentally hitting the ball right at a defender. It led to a field goal and three points Tennessee barely had to work to get.

INJURED

Marrone said the team got good news on Brandon Linder's knee injury, calling him day to day and adding he won't go on injured reserve. Cornerback D.J. Hayden was cleared from the league's concussion protocol and should be good to go against the Dolphins.

KEY NUMBER

5 — the times Jacksonville has punted in two games. It’s notable progress for a team that punted at least four times in the first half of nine games in 2019.

NEXT STEPS

The Jaguars can make it three in a row against Miami on a short week. They play Thursday night in Jacksonville.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL