While it was easy for the Jacksonville Jaguars skeptics among the Duval Devout to think they would face another loss today hosting the Minnesota Vikings, it was more pronounced Sunday morning when it was officially announced that Mac Jones would be starting at quarterback. While those rooting for a Jags win were hoping to see the “Return of the Mac”, others took solace in a Jaguars loss proclaiming themselves “Hunters for Travis”. Though it’s difficult to list a higher draft pick in the pursuit of the Colorado prospect in “The Good” at this point in the season, there was plenty of good on the field despite the heartbreaking 12-7 loss.

The Good

The Vikings boast a +62 point differential in the first quarter heading into this game. But the Vikings had trouble keeping up with “the Jones” early on as he completed five straight passes after the Jags opened the game going three-and-out. He put the icing on the cake of that drive for the only touchdown of the game with a quarterback sneak.

The other part of what made this possible was an interception by linebacker Foye Oluokun off of a pass breakup by cornerback Tyson Campbell. Demonstrating once again that he is one of the most underrated players in the NFL, Oluokun was critical both in slowing Minnesota running back Aaron Jones and containing tight end T.J. Hockenson as much as possible. He also had 11 tackles and a pass defended.

Monteric Brown also picked off quarterback Sam Darnold to keep another six points off the board for Minnesota.  The Jags offense was given an opportunity to head in the half potentially up two scores instead of only 7-3, but squandered it.

The hits kept coming as defensive back Darnell Savage chalked up an interception as well in the early-mid 3rd quarter. As often as the former Green Bay Packer who faced the Vikings plenty in the past, this was his first interception of the newly-arrived Darnold in a purple uniform.

The Bad

While it would be easy to nitpick Andre Ciso missing an opportunity for yet another takeaway against the Minnesota Vikings, the Jaguars offense was the bad.

111 yards passing from Jones while running for a total of 56 yards on 18 carries. The only managed to run 40 plays compared to the Vikings 91. The defense held Minnesota to a minuscule 12 points not allowing a touchdown in the game. And with an opportunity to win, the Jacksonville offense threw an INT in the end zone for the late-game turnover that was predicted earlier in the week. You don’t get handed better opportunities than that in the NFL.

The Spotty

While the Duval Devout will surely disagree with me, I felt like Brown’s interception should have been an incomplete pass. It clearly hit the ground WITHOUT any hands or anything under it. Did the Jaguars offense capitalize on it? — No — but it’s yet another example of NFL officiating as we’ve come to know it.