JACKSONVILLE — Find more targets for Brenton Strange. Expand the workload for Bhayshul Tuten. And re-introduce Jakobi Meyers.
That represented the Jacksonville Jaguars’ major external non-Travis Hunter talking points exiting their Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos and entering their Week 3 game against the New England Patriots.
Turns out, they were discussed internally, too.
In a must-have-it game because of the schedule (six of the next seven away from Jacksonville), stink of Week 2 (blown 10-point lead) and tiebreakers (a second straight loss to an AFC team), the Jaguars leaned on their non-Parker Washington skill position players.
Smart move, Liam Coen.
The full menu the Jaguars’ offense was on display during their 35-6 win over the Patriots.
Yes, Washington did his thing (dynamic 17-yard touchdown catch), but it was critical to see Tuten be leaned on in the run game and Strange and Meyers get targets commiserate with their ability.
Tuten carried 15 times for 73 yards and one touchdown. Important. The next bar for him is a 20-carry game.
Strange, who had four catches in the first two games, caught three passes for 32 yards but was targeted five times. Important.
And Meyers, who had three catches in the first two games, caught seven passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Important.
The Spread The Football Around Offense was back.
Strange, Meyers, Tuten all make key plays
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s first three completions: Eight yards to Strange, one yard to Strange and two yards to Meyers. You know the age-old story: Player A (or B) gets minimal targets in one game and then climbs to the top of the call sheet in the next game. It happened last week in Denver when Broncos receiver Jaylen Waddle had one catch in Week 1 followed by eight catches in the Week 2 win over the Jaguars.
Leading 10-3 in the second quarter, the Jaguars’ second scoring drive amplified the value of Tuten, Strange and Meyers.
Tuten had carries of seven and nine yards on consecutive plays. Strange then turned a four-yard pass into a 23-yard gain, breaking a tackle. That is the kind of weapon Strange can be; dump the football off to him and let him get a head of steam. Tuten gained six and two yards on back-to-back attempts. And Meyers capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown catch.
The attention defenses have to give to Washington opens things up for Strange underneath (and for the entire width of the field) and for Meyers deep middle. It should open things deep outside for Brian Thomas Jr., but Thomas was a non-factor against New England, losing playing time to rookie Josh Cameron.
The Jaguars started their initial third-quarter drive leading 14-3. Could they put the Patriots away? Yes … it just took a minute (or eight minutes). This was a Meyers drive. On third-and-9 from the Patriots’ 31, Meyers caught a dart for 14 yards. Three plays later, on third-and-11, he turned Lawrence’s short pass into a 13-yard gain. The 15-play, 8:42 march ended with Washington’s aforementioned touchdown.
Leading 28-6, the Jaguars could downshift a gear, but not totally since 13:09 remained. It became Tuten Time.
Tuten for six. … Tuten for five. … Tuten for three. … After a Meyers catch for 13, Tuten for three. … Tuten for three. … And after Lawrence rushed for 15 and took a knee at the 1, Tuten for the touchdown.
The Jaguars now hit the road … for a long time. They won’t play another game in town until Nov. 1 against Indianapolis. They go to Cincinnati, play Philadelphia and Houston in London and then have their bye week.
See why this was a critical win for the Jaguars?
The offense, defense and special teams all contributed to set the tone for the upcoming gauntlet. And if Tuten continues to emerge and Strange and Meyers show the production they had for points of last year, count on the Jaguars returning from London with at least a 4-2 record.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays ("First Coast Football Friday" 4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Tuten, Strange, Meyers take starring offensive roles in Jaguars win
