Game Notes : Jaguars vs. Packers

Offense moves the ball; defense plays stingy

The Jaguars produced 341 yards of offense against the Packers, the second-most through seven games and most since the season-opener at Minnesota (362). The 341 yards were more than 100 yards over what the club was averaging (235.8) heading into Sunday’s game. The Jaguars had a season-high 233 yards in the first half.

Defensively, the Jaguars limited the Packers to only 238 yards, well below the club’s average (359.9) and the fewest by a opponent through seven games. The Jaguars tied their season-high with two sacks and held Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to only 186 passing yards. Rodgers entered the game averaging 282.7 yards per game and was the NFL’s top rated passer with a 109.6 rating. He finished 22 of 35 passing with two touchdowns and a 95.7 rating on Sunday.

Career-high day for Gabbert

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert finished 27 of 49 passing for 303 yards with one touchdown for a 80.6 rating. Gabbert set career-highs for completions, attempts and passing yards. He became the first 300-yard passer for the Jaguars since Nov. 14, 2010 against Houston (David Garrard, 310 yards), a span of 29 games. He had a career-high five passes of 20-plus yards including a 36-yard pass to Justin Blackmon and a 35-yard completion to Cecil Shorts.

Through seven games, Gabbert is 115 of 207 passing for 1,209 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions for a 78.0 passer rating. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in six of seven games. He continued his solid play on the road, increasing his totals to five touchdowns and no interceptions in the four road games.

Another productive day for Shorts

Wide receiver Cecil Shorts continues to make plays in his second season with the Jaguars. Shorts was targeted 12 times by Blaine Gabbert and finished with a career-high eight receptions for 116 yards (14.5 avg.). Three of his eight receptions were for 17-plus yards including a 35-yard reception in the second quarter that set up a Jaguars score.

Shorts leads the team with 20 receptions for 400 yards (20.0 avg.) and three touchdowns through seven games. He has eclipsed 70 receiving yards in four of seven games. In the last two games, he has 12 catches for 195 (16.2 avg.).

Sacks in back-to-back games for Mincey

Defensive end Jeremy Mincey sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a third down play in the second quarter, his second sack of the season. Mincey, who has 17 career sacks, recorded a sack in back-to-back games for the second time in his career (Dec. 5, 2010 at Tennessee – Dec. 12, 2010 vs. Oakland).

Scobee ties franchise-record

Josh Scobee connected on all three field goal attempts, hitting from 38, 22 and 32 yards, and tied a franchise record set by Mike Hollis with 20 consecutive made field goals. Scobee has been successful on all 14 field goal attempts in 2012. He began the 2011 season by making his first 15 field goal attempts and was good on his first 14 attempts in 2010.

Scobee extended his streak of consecutive games with a field goal made to nine, the fourth-longest streak in team history. He owns the franchise record with 15 straight games.

Scobee’s nine points on Sunday increased his career total to 802 points, only the 15^th active player to accomplish the feat.

Rookie Andre Branch makes presence known

2012 second-round pick Andre Branch sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter and forced a fumble that he recovered to set up a Jaguars score. It was Branch’s first career sack and fumble recovery. The former Clemson standout finished his collegiate career with 17.5 sacks.

Jaguars without five starters

The Jaguars were without five starters on Sunday due to injuries in running back Maurice Jones-Drew, linebacker Daryl Smith, cornerback Rashean Mathis, safety Dwight Lowery and wide receiver Laurent Robinson. Smith was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return last week. Mathis dressed but did not play with a groin injury. Today was only Jones-Drew’s third missed game due to injury and first since the start of the 2010 season. Robinson has missed three straight games after suffering a concussion against Cincinnati on Sept. 30.

Not a misprint

The Jaguars turned to backup offensive tackle Guy Whimper in the second quarter and he delivered with his first career touchdown. Whimper caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert at the end of the first half on a second-and-goal play, the club’s only touchdown. Whimper became the fifth player to score a touchdown for the Jaguars in 2012, joining Cecil Shorts (3), Marcedes Lewis (2), Maurice Jones-Drew (2) and Rashad Jennings.

Rookie Mike Brewster inserted into lineup

The Jaguars made a change along the offensive line as rookie Mike Brewster started at left guard and did not miss a snap. Brewster, a rookie free agent from Ohio State, also started in week three at Indianapolis. He did not start against Cincinnati in week four but played the entire second half.

100^th career game for Marcedes Lewis

Tight end Marcedes Lewis played in his 100^th career game on Sunday. Lewis, a first-round pick in 2006, became only the 20^th player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He had two catches for 21 yards including a long of 16 yards.

Career-high day for Blackmon

Rookie wide receiver Justin Blackmon finished with a career-high 67 yards on four receptions against the Packers. Blackmon opened the game with a 15-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage and registered the club’s longest play from scrimmage on the second drive with a 36-yard catch. It was Blackmon’s first reception of 20-plus yards.

Packers block punt and recover in end zone

Packers cornerback Davon House blocked a Bryan Anger punt in the second quarter and linebacker Dezman Moses recovered it in the end zone. It marked the first blocked punt against the Jaguars since Bernard Pollard of Kansas City blocked a Chris Hanson punt on December 31, 2006. The Jaguars have had only four punts blocked in franchise history.

John Chick makes debut

Second-year defensive end John Chick made his 2012 debut on Sunday. Chick was on the club’s physically unable to perform list the first six games while recovering from a knee injury a year ago.

Tidbits:

Six of the club’s seven sacks have come in road games and all seven are from defensive linemen including two today by defensive end’s Jeremy Mincey and Andre Branch.
Opponents are averaging only 67.5 rushing yards in the last two games.
The Jaguars had three red zone trips and scored on all three (2 field goals, 1 touchdown). The Jaguars have scored on all 13 trips to the red zone through seven games with five touchdowns and eight field goals.
The Jaguars had two new starters at cornerback in Aaron Ross and William Middleton. Derek Cox and Rashean Mathis had started the previous four games at cornerback. Mathis dressed but did not play.
The Jaguars allowed a first-quarter touchdown for the first time since week three at Indianapolis when Aaron Rodgers hooked up with Randall Cobb from five yards.
Rashad Jennings fumbled early in the second quarter at the Packers 20-yard line. The Jaguars have lost a fumble in four straight games and six of seven games.
Jeremy Mincey’s sack in the second quarter was the club’s first this season in the first half and first on third down.
The Jaguars have scored double-figures in the first half twice in seven games and they have come the last two weeks.
Running back Jalen Parmele recorded his first career reception, a 16-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Parmele also had two rushes for three yards.
The Jaguars have not won a road game against an NFC opponent since Oct. 31, 2010 at Dallas.
The Jaguars snapped a streak of four consecutive games with an interception.
The Jaguars failed to eclipse 100 rushing yards for the fourth consecutive game.
Temperature at kickoff was 44 degrees with a wind chill of 39.