End games: Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence improves in two-minute scenarios but still lacks a win

Trevor Lawrence is getting better with the game on the line and precious few minutes and seconds remaining.

It still hasn’t translated into a victory since back-to-back blowouts over Indianapolis and the Los Angeles Chargers in weeks two and three, and that’s the only measure a quarterback cares about.

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“Obviously, you’re frustrated,” Lawrence said Wednesday after the Jaguars practiced at TIAA Bank Field in preparation for their trip to London on Sunday to face the Denver Broncos (9:30 a.m., WJXT). “You didn’t get it done. It goes through me in those situations at the end of the game but I think everybody’s doing their part. There’s a lot to learn and I think having that next-play mentality is something we’re getting better [at] as an offense.” 

Both teams are 2-5. The Jaguars' victories have been by 24 and 28 points and Lawrence has one victory as a pro to his credit by driving the team late — in Tottenham, England, last year, a 19-16 victory over Miami.

He's proven this season he can win blowouts. But Lawrence had three turnovers and the offense lost the ball on downs in four possessions inside to play in one-score games against Washington, Philadelphia and Houston.

He threw an interception after reaching the Jags’ 44 with 1:19 left against the Commanders; was sacked and fumbled at the Jags’ 21 with 1:54 left against the Eagles; and came up empty on two possessions against the Texans, losing the ball on downs at midfield and getting intercepted on the final play of the game from his own 47. 

But Lawrence turned in perhaps the best drive of his young career against Indianapolis two weeks ago when he completed all five of his passes, ran three times for 21 yards and threw a 4-yard TD pass to Christian Kirk with 2:48 left to cap an 18-play, 84-yard march and give the Jags a 27-26 lead with 2:48 left.

However, the defense surrendered a 66-yard scoring drive by the Colts’ Matt Ryan in the 34-27 loss. 

Lawrence then drove the team 74 yards last week against the Giants after taking over at the Jaguars’ 25 with only 64 seconds left and down by six points.

The problem was that they needed 75 yards Kirk was stopped 1 yard shy of the end zone by Xavier McKinney and Julian Love as time ran out. 

The Jaguars did get fortunate on that drive more than once. An illegal use of hands penalty against safety Dane Belton erased an interception and an 8-yard return to the Jaguars’ 40 by cornerback Fabian Moreau. That came one play after a sack by Dexter Lawrence was wiped out because of a defensive holding call on Adoree Jackson. 

“A really bad play,” Lawrence said of the interception, which would have been his ninth turnover of the season had it stood. “Just trying to throw it away to avoid the sack and threw it right to the guy. I got a little bailed out.” 

The big play of the drive was a 28-yard pass to Marvin Jones on fourth-and-15, with a roughing the passer call on Dexter Lawrence added on. That moved to the ball to the Giants’ 17 and gave Trevor Lawrence three shots at the end zone. 

In the first three losses of the season, Lawrence was eight of 20 for 52 yards and two turnovers in the final 3:11, for a passer rating of 27.08.

On his final turns with the ball against the Colts and Giants, Lawrence was 9 of 15 for 87 yards, no turnovers, no sacks and a 98.47 rating. He’s also run three times for 21 yards, picking up first downs on each carry. 

Coach Doug Pederson said it’s a sign of progress on his quarterback’s part. Lawrence and the rest of the team simply have to close out those situations. 

“The next step is obviously we need to, as a team, finish and win those games,” Pederson said. “He is showing us now that he can put the team kind of on his back a little bit and lead them down. That’s two weeks in a row … a potential touchdown drive to win … the week before, took the lead in the fourth. That’s what you’ve got to have.” 

It goes without saying that Lawrence wants to keep improving on late-game situations but said there are plenty of plays he needs to make well before that. 

He cited one example: Before running back Travis Etienne fumbled into the end zone after reaching the Giants’ 5-yard line in the second quarter, Lawrence overthrew an open Zay Jones in the corner of the end zone. 

“Too much air … kind of floated in the back,” he said of the play. “The fumble happened right after that. Obviously, we can’t turn the ball over in the red zone but if I make that throw, that situation never comes up.” 

At least Lawrence gave his team a chance at the end. 

"There’s so much parity in the NFL,” Pederson said. “These games come down to the fourth quarter … and sometimes it’s whoever has the ball last. He’s definitely heading in the right direction for us that way.”  

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter