CINCINNATI -- Urban Meyer's latest loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars clearly affected him more than his previous three. Urban Meyer didn't try to hide his anger.
In his post-game conference news conference, his eyes were red and he appeared emotionally and physically exhausted. He slammed his hands down on the podium at one point to stress that the Jaguars hadn't turned the ball over on offense this season, and still lost.
"It's devastating. Meyer spoke out after Cincinnati's field goal was scored as time expired. The Jaguars won 24-21 at Paul Brown Stadium. These guys. I don't usually make mistakes about such things. It's a great team. Good guys are what I see. I see great hearts. I see men who work hard and I told them that I was not wrong. That stuff is not something I disagree with.
"This team is going to win some matches."
Thursday night was the Jaguars' closest game this season. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw the ball for 202 yards, and ran for 36 yards with a touchdown. James Robinson ran for 78 yard and two touchdowns. The offense did not turn the ball over in an effort to compensate for the loss of DJ Chark (ankle), and A.J. Cann (knee).
The Jaguars missed a fourth-and-1 play at the 1-yard line, which would have given them a 21-point lead at halftime. The defense could not stop Joe Burrow, Bengals quarterback (who threw for 253 yard and two touchdowns in the second half), or force a turnover for third time this season.
This was the Jaguars' 19th consecutive defeat, trailing only Tampa Bay's 26-game losing streak from 1976-77. It is the longest losing streak in league history.
Meyer is also on his first four-game losing streak in his coaching career. His frustration and perhaps even some anger are understandable. He doesn't want to hear that they will get a few breaks so they can win a game.
Meyer stated, "There are no breaks." Meyer said, "There are no breaks." I mean no disrespect but you must make your own. It's not that simple. This is what I have said since Day 1. The core team has great players. We're getting better each week. It is a shame that we didn't win this game. The guys in that room are not to be taken lightly.
"... That's an awful locker room. We have to get them back.
Meyer didn't hide it as well, but the players were just as upset at the 0-4 starting.
Lawrence stated, "We'll need to regroup a bit." It hurts to be up 14-0, but somehow end up on the wrong side. We will bounce back. We'll bounce back. I want to win with these guys.
"We have worked so hard over the past two weeks and placed ourselves in positions to win. It's up to us to win. It's all about the team. It's not just one side of the ball. We are right there."
The Jaguars (0-4), have two more chances of winning before their bye week against Tennessee on October 10 and against Miami in London Oct 17. The Jaguars have lost nine out of 11 games against Tennessee, which started Jacksonville's 19-game losing streak in Week 2.
Meyer stated, "We're going keep swinging as hard and as hard as possible."
