Why the Jaguars going for 2 when they did was a mistake

Early in the fourth quarter the Jacksonville Jaguars scored a touchdown to pull within 10 points of the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie quarterback Blake Bortles connected with rookie receiver Allen Hurns for a second time on an 18-yard pass, putting the score at 26-16. The Jaguars quickly lined up for a two-point conversion.

And that was a mistake.

While the play call was fine and Cecil Shorts III should have caught Bortles' pass, making it 26-18, it was still way too early to go for two points in the game.

If the Jaguars had simply kicked their extra point and made it 26-17, when the scored a touchdown less than two minutes later after an Andy Dalton interception, they would have been within a field goal of taking the lead rather than within range for a tie.

What the Jaguars did by going for two was put themselves in a situation where they either would have had to go for two later on in the game, or they would have had to score a touchdown to win, rather than a field goal. This isn't a reaction to hindsight because Shorts dropped the pass, either. It's just simply looking ahead.

Typically going for two ends up biting you in the butt, unless you're doing it on an opening touchdown drive or when you're forced to do it. It ends up forcing your hand later in the game if you go for it too early.