JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nick Foles, Doug Marrone and the Jacksonville Jaguars reached a new low in their first home game in more than a month.
Foles ended his first three drives with turnovers that Tampa Bay turned into touchdowns, costly mistakes that propelled the Buccaneers to a 28-11 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday.
It was Jacksonville's fourth consecutive loss by at least 17 points and could mean the end of Marrone's tenure with the team. At the very least, the skid will have owner Shad Khan considering changes over the final month of the season.
Marrone, meanwhile, has to decide what to do at quarterback. He benched Foles at halftime, switching back to rookie sensation Gardner Minshew.
Minshew rallied the Jags and had a chance to make it a seven-point game in the fourth quarter. But his hot pass slipped through Dede Westbrook’s hands and into Sean Murphy-Bunting’s arms for Jacksonville’s fourth turnover of the day.
A sixth-round draft pick from Washington State, Minshew started eight games while Foles recovered from a broken left collarbone and gave the Jaguars (4-8) a chance nearly every week. Foles, the 2018 Super Bowl MVP who signed a four-year, $88 million contract in free agency, never looked comfortable in his three games since coming off injured reserve.
He was downright awful against the Buccaneers (5-7), who have won two straight for the first time in coach Bruce Arians' first season.
Foles completed 7 of 14 passes for 93 yards, with two fumbles and an interception. He also was sacked three times.
The Bucs capitalized on each of Foles' miscues.
Rookie linebacker Devin White stepped in front of Westbrook and intercepted a pass on Jacksonville's opening drive. Peyton Barber took advantage of the NFL's worst rushing defense in November and scored his first of two touchdowns.
On Jacksonville’s next possession, linebacker Shaq Barrett beat rookie right tackle Jawaan Taylor and stripped Foles. White scooped up the fumble and ran 14 yards for a score. Barrett entered the game tied for the NFL lead with 12½ sacks.
Foles wasn’t done, either.
He fumbled again on the team’s third drive, this time in the red zone. Carl Nassib got the strip-sack and the recovery. Barber’s second TD run capped an 83-yard drive.
Minshew completed 16 of 27 passes for 147 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and a fumble in the final minutes.
Jameis Winston was 21 of 33 for 268 yards and didn’t throw an interception for the first time in a month.
UP NEXT
Jaguars: host the Los Angeles Chargers and former coach Gus Bradley next Sunday. Bradley is now the Chargers' defensive coordinator and still owns a home in Jacksonville.
