JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars know the biggest improvement they’d like to see in Week 2.
Find the end zone more often.
The Dolphins (1-0) and Jaguars (0-1) each scored one offensive touchdown in their season openers, a lack of production they want and need to fix moving forward. The next chance comes Sunday in their second meeting in as many years in Jacksonville.
”Let’s face it, we didn’t have the type of offensive production that we’re going to need to have,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. ”You don’t win a lot of NFL games scoring 17 points. That’s just the reality and so we have to do better. … We’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities better and score and get more points on the board for sure.”
Miami won 17-10 at Washington to open the season despite managing 256 yards, possessing the ball for a little more than 22 minutes and trailing 10-0 at halftime. The Dolphins broke a fourth-quarter tie with Jarvis Landry’s 69-yard punt return touchdown.
”I think it’s very disappointing,” center Mike Pouncey said. ”Obviously we’ve had our sights on seeing our offense being explosive all offseason. For the most part, we’ve seen that throughout the preseason. We felt like we let our offense down, we let our team down in the first half.”
Miami escaped with a win. Jacksonville wasn’t so lucky.
The Jaguars were mostly inept in a 20-9 loss to Carolina. Blake Bortles was off early, made mistakes late and was sacked five times. The first of his two interceptions was returned for a touchdown, the play of the game.
He didn’t get enough help, either. Receivers Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Rashad Greene dropped passes, including two that would have extended drives on third down. Hurns also fumbled in the red zone.
”That’s not indicative of the way (the receivers) played, in my mind, throughout training camp or the preseason games,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. ”They’ll be better, and they’re all learning from it.”
Both teams had defensive issues, too – Miami missed too many tackles and allowed 161 yards rushing; Jacksonville allowed three drives of 12 plays or more and couldn’t get a stop when it mattered – but the offensive woes overshadowed everything else.
”We didn’t play as aggressive as we wanted and that’s where we’ve got to spend a lot of time with our team,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.
Here are some other things to know heading into Sunday’s game:
LINE DANCING: The Jaguars might be without LT Luke Joeckel (ankle), leaving Sam Young to start. Young gave up two sacks in 22 snaps in the opener. If Joeckel doesn’t play, backup C Luke Bowanko would be the team’s swing tackle.
FAMILIAR FACE: Jaguars defensive end Jared Odrick, who spent the last five years in Miami, will face his former team for the first time. Odrick and his ex-teammates are eager for the reunion. ”I played a lot of years with that guy,” Pouncey said. ”I’ll be happy to see him. But we’re avoiding text messages. We’ve going to save all the talk for the game.”
ROOKIE WATCH: Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker, the team’s first-round draft pick who is coming off foot surgery, played just one snap in the opener. But Parker should see more action against Jacksonville. ”I’ve still got to wait a little bit. When it’s my time to go out there, I’m going to be prepared.”
LEE RETURNS? Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee could be back after sitting out more than a month with a hamstring injury. A second-round pick in 2014, Lee could provide a much-needed deep threat to Jacksonville’s offense. ”I think he’s special,” quarterback Blake Bortles said. ”I think his speed and his ability to stretch the field scares defenses at points. I think he’s got the ability to go to the house at any time he touches the ball. He’s definitely a special player and we’re excited to have him back.”
STARTING OUT: The Dolphins are looking for their fourth 2-0 start in which both games came on the road. The Jaguars are trying to avoid a fourth consecutive 0-2 start.
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