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ReFo: Giants @ Jaguars, Week 13

2014-REFO-WK13-NYG@JAXHad this game been seen in snapshot form late in the second quarter, anyone would have it pegged for a New York runaway win. Up 21-0 after owning more than 20 minutes of time of possession in the first half, the Giants appeared to have found the answer to the six-game losing streak they entered with. The Jaguars, however, not only made a game of it in the second half, they stole it away with a pair of defensive scores and some timely offensive execution.

The win moved Jacksonville to 2-10 on the year, but more importantly may have marked a turnaround where the talent and resilience of key young parts led them to victory.

New York Giants – Performances of Note

Will Beatty, LT: +2.1

Breakdown: Charged with three pressures as a pass protector, Beatty did enough good in the ground game (+1.5) to offset. Showing well when asked to move, Beatty got to the second level, across the formation or out wide in front of the runner to supply successful blocks on numerous occasions.

Signature Play: 2Q 8:33, Beatty got to the second level to swallow up linebacker Telvin Smith in front of a Rashad Jennings run.

Devon Kennard, LB: +2.9

Breakdown: Showing a knack for finishing, Kennard notched a pair of sacks and collected two stops in the run game. The sacks were something less than hard-fought wins as one came unblocked and the other against the overmatched Denard Robinson, and his TFL was also putting an end to a bottled-up run, but they were finished nonetheless. The one he couldn’t quite finish? Kennard was inches from adding a goal-line interception to his sheet when a deflected ball slipped through his grasp at 2:17 of the second quarter.

Signature Play: 3Q 9:14, Kennard runs through halfback Denard Robinson on his way to taking down Blake Bortles for a 9-yard sack.

Rashad Jennings, HB: +1.9 rushing

Breakdown: In a workhorse performance, Jennings churned his way to a first half tally of 19 carries, 65 yards and two touchdowns, though an ankle injury kept him from finishing the game. Nine attempts coming just outside of the right guard, Jennings played a large role in the Giants’ early control, especially during the first quarter scoring drive that ate up nearly 10 minutes.

Signature Play: 2Q 6:30, Jennings sliced through the Jacksonville defense for a 17-yard score to put New York up 21-0.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Performances of Note

Blake Bortles, QB: +0.8

Breakdown: Ending a string of red-graded games, Bortles posted his second overall positive on the year, though it was largely buoyed by his work as a runner. Taking off by design or in a scramble, the rookie QB picked up 69 yards on the ground, earning first downs with each of the four runs. Through the air, 17 of his 21 completions came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, though his throw of the day was the deep-shot touchdown to Marquise Lee discussed below.

Signature Play: 4Q 1:27, Bortles raced off left end for 20 yards to set up the game-winning field goal in the game’s final minutes.

Sen’Derrick Marks, DT: +3.5

Breakdown: Marks registered a pair of second-half sacks — one to stall a third-quarter drive and the other to force a fumble and finish off New York’s final hopes with 28 seconds to play – but he turned in equally important work in run defense. With two run stops to his name, Marks logged his seventh game of the season with a green grade in run defense.

Signature Play: 4Q 14:32, Speeding in past a block from J.D. Walton that had no hope of slowing him, Marks violently set down Andre Williams in the Giants’ backfield for a loss.

Marquise Lee, WR: +1.2

Breakdown: With 51 snaps, this was the most playing time Lee had logged since Week 1 and his green grade was the first of his young career. Catching six of the seven balls his way (the other was an overthrow in the end zone) for 75 yards and his first touchdown where Lee simply ran past cornerback Zachary Bowman on a ‘go’ route to haul in a well-thrown ball.

Signature Stat: The 150.9 ‘WR rating’ on Bortles-to-Lee passes is the sixth-best for the week.

PFF Game Ball

With consideration given to the effect the Jaguars' defensive front as a group had in changing the tide, and despite something less than a dominant day as a passer, Blake Bortles’ role in the offense’s part of the second-half surge and final scoring drive gets him the game ball.

 

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