Jaguars vs. Bengals: Chris Ivory, Blake Bortles lead the drive of the season so far

The Jacksonville Jaguars have put together more impressive drives on offense and defense in the past two games than I’ve probably seen in the past five years combined. It seems there’s frequently a big play coming or some drive that takes up half a quarter with Blake Bortles converting multiple third downs with his arm (lol what) and I couldn’t be happier. This is a team built to win in the playoffs in cold weather environments.

One of the most impressive drives of the seasons (and honestly in recent memory) was this 15-play, 96 yard drive that took up just under eight minutes of the second quarter and extended the Jaguars’ lead to 10-0.

Play #1: 1st and 10 at JAX 4

Chris Ivory was a workhorse this game after being overshadowed by T.J. Yeldon’s long touchdown run destined for the highlight reel. This was the kind of performance Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone envisioned when they spoke confidently about him this past offseason.

Marcedes Lewis gets a last-second block on Jordan Willis (No. 75) that springs him for four yards where he should have been stopped at the line of scrimmage.

Play #2: 2nd and 4 at JAX 10

This is a really well-designed play that had Marqise Lee wide open. Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 27) gets fooled into thinking Lee is going to run up the field. Bortles gets him the ball where it needs to be and Lee should have made that catch despite it being a little outside his frame (see below for closer look at Bortles’ placement).

These are the plays that frustrate the hell out of you if you’re a fan of Lee. He has great speed and can be a weapon in any team’s offensive gameplan. But if he can’t make these types of catches, is he really worth an extension?

Play #3: 3rd and 4 at JAX 10

And of course Lee comes back the next play to reign in a much tougher catch with this deflected pass.

Play #4: 1st and 10 at JAX 21

I like the trend of having Lee cross with the running back on play-action passes I’ve seen sprinkled in throughout the last few games. It gets the defense off-balance and when you couple it with a receiver sprinting up the seam it creates a wide open lane for a pass out into the flat.

Play #5: 1st and 10 at 50

This is NSFW. The entire left side of the line is getting so much push it’s a shame Ivory only gets four yards on this play. If center Tyler Shatley and right tackle Jermey Parnell were able to hold their blocks a bit longer, this could have gone for a few more yards. No complaints however.

Play #6: 2nd and 6 at CIN 46

Yeldon coming out of a hit in the backfield with a spin move is incredibly triggering.

Play #7: 3rd and 4 at CIN 44

BLAKE, LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FIELD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

Darqueze Dennard (No. 21) is telling Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 27) to take the deep play away on Lee’s side of the field pre-play and Kirkpatrick just totally blows it, allowing Lee to get wide freaking open — and it’s lost because Blake is looking at Allen Hurns, the intended target, the entire time. I’m glad we converted the third down, but this is a missed opportunity.

Play #8: 1st and 10 at CIN 35

BLAKE BORTLES, YOU JACK-A-NINNY, THAT’S TWO BLOWN COVERAGES IN A ROW BY THE BENGALS AND YOU COULDN’T CAPITALIZE ON EITHER.

And for everyone saying that Marcedes Lewis stopped running, no. Stop it. Get some help. If you’re wide open by 20 or 30 yards, you stop running to allow your quarterback an easy, stationary target. Blake overthought it and he should have just tossed it to Lewis.

Play #9: 2nd and 10 at CIN 35

Look at left guard Brandon Linder hitting nose tackle Ryan Glasgow (No. 98) into Shatley and then getting to the second level a half-second later to smother linebacker Nick Vigil (No. 59). My God.

Play #10: 1st and 10 at CIN 21

I guess if you’re gonna get cute, first down near the red zone is the time to do it?

Play #11: 2nd and 9 at CIN 20

The offensive line is starting to get the credit it deserves, but look at the how Hurns and Lee (left side of your screen) block and get Yeldon a few extra yards.

Play #12: 3rd and 4 at CIN 15

Another third down, another conversion through the air. That’s three on this drive alone. Blake played well this day, folks. *eats entire plate full of crow*

Play #13: 1st and Goal at CIN 10

They’ve gone to this play with Ivory several times in the red zone this season and it seems to always get them to the goal line but never into the end zone.

Play #14: 2nd and Goal at CIN 3

Juuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside.

Play #15: 3rd and Goal at CIN 3

Touchdown. It’s finally over. What a drive.

*smokes cigarette*