Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

Many NFL observers crowned the Jaguars’ offense entering this season. The league watched what Jacksonville did in late 2022 — with Trevor Lawrence’s soaring efficiency and dependable pass-catchers coupled with terrific playcalling — and assumed it would hit the stratosphere to start this season. And how could one think any other way? The Jaguars were adding Calvin Ridley, a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver, to an already dynamic offensive cast in Year 2 with Doug Pederson.

With continuity, the offense was expected to produce fireworks.

We’re still waiting for them to light the sky.

The Jaguars offense has struggled amid the team’s 1-1 start to the season. Jacksonville scored 31 points in a road win against divisional-rival Indianapolis in Week 1, but the big story was all that it left on the field. On Sunday, a 17-9 home loss to Kansas City, the Jaguars failed to score a touchdown. 

Through two weeks, Jacksonville ranks in the bottom half or third of the league in several major categories — scoring (21st), red zone (24th), third down (32nd), fourth down (tied for 26th) and total yards (22nd) among them. That’s despite the fact that the Jags have committed just six offensive penalties that have been accepted, a league-best mark. 

The run game has been ineffective. Jaguars running backs are averaging 0.2 yards before contact per carry, fifth-worst in the league, according to Next Gen Stats, indicating run-blocking issues.

Lawrence has also been one of the league’s least efficient quarterbacks to this point. Among the 40 qualified quarterbacks, he’s 38th in total EPA (-26.0) and 30th in EPA per dropback (-.33) per Next Gen Stats. EPA, also known as Expected Points Added, measures the value of individual play based on a number of variables including down, distance and field position.

It hasn’t been one issue for Jacksonville offensively. It’s been across the board.

We saw it all against Kansas City — drops, misfires, fluky plays,…