:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21574771/20130926_kkt_al2_024.0.jpg)
The Jacksonville Jaguars were dominated from start to finish against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, 24-6, and were noticeably flat coming out of the gate. The players and even head coach Gus Bradley admitted that the full effort an energy weren't there, especially compared to what the team showed against the Denver Broncos the week prior.
"They know in that locker room that that’s not how we play, for whatever reason. If I come in here and say even though we lost we played with great effort and we played with great spirit and I like those things and we can build off of this I’ve said that to you before," Bradley said after the game on Sunday.
"To have any credibility with you and our fans I cannot say that today because that would be inaccurate," Bradley continued.
"It would not be credible."
Multiple players after the game mentioned there was a lack of energy, pointing the finger at themselves for the loss, but it does lead one to wonder if the looming trip to London had an effect on some of the team's mental state heading into the game.
The Jaguars left for London on Monday afternoon, but players and staff needed to have everything ready to go across the pond earlier than that. That meant having everything packed and sorted before the game on Sunday, and for players like Chad Henne to make sure everything is good to go with his wife and newly born child before he heads to another country. On typical away games, players are home until either the Friday or Saturday prior to the game, not gone to another country the entire week.
Players have to make sure their phones work overseas, how exchange rates work, care for loved ones, homes, pets, among other things.
"I don’t know. I would like to think not," Bradley told reporters when he was asked if the London trip was a distraction. "We just did things that are uncharacteristic of us; dropped balls, missed tackles, things like that. We’ve got to get it right."