JACKSONVILLE — The Jets continue to spiral in the final month of the season. Trevor Lawrence‘s six touchdowns helped the Jaguars (10-4) steamroll the Jets (3-11) 48-20 on a beautiful 70-degree day at EverBank Stadium. Sunday marked the most points the Jets defense has allowed since 2021, when th ey allowed 54 to the Patriots. The Jets defense also allowed the Jaguars offense to score on eight of their first nine possessions. “When you give up that many points, that’s tough,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “It doesn’t allow our quarterback to actually get into a groove. They didn’t allow our offense to get into a groove, especially getting down 21 early in the game. “Obviously, our offense didn’t play up to par either. There were issues across the board. I always look at myself first, but this was tough, this was tough.” Lawrence completed 20-of-32 passes for 330 yards with five passing touchdowns. He also scored on a 15-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Lawrence finished with a 136.7 passer rating, which was the highest of his five-year career. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook got the first start of his career for the Jets after coming in for the injured Tyrod Taylor (groin) during last week’s loss to the Dolphins. He finished 22-of-33 for 176 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. After Taylor and backup Justin Fields (knee soreness) were ruled out this week by Jets coach Aaron Glenn, Cook was named the starting quarterback. He was the first undrafted rookie quarterback to start for the Jets since Bill Demory in 1973. Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand called a solid game during the first half for Cook after using his legs to extend plays and get the ball to his receivers. After falling behind 14-0 early in the first quarter, Cook led the Jets to an eight-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by the first touchdown pass of his career. Cook found Adonai Mitchell for a nine-yard touchdown. Unlike the first drive of the afternoon, Cook looked confident after finding Isaiah Williams for a 25-yard pass, which helped them get into Jaguars territory. But the offensive magic did not last for the Jets. Cook struggled after the first couple of drives and the Jets couldn’t get anything going on the ground with Breece Hall, who finished with 23 yards on 12 carries. After the Jets got down by 25 points in the third quarter, they had no choice but to throw the ball to try and get back within striking distance. He also threw two horrific interceptions, which include one that went directly to Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller in the end zone. “I think there were great moments and there’s a lot to learn from,” Cook said. “I put a lot of stuff on tape and to be able to watch it, correct it this week. “It was a blast, it was fun. It’s a game I love, and it’s an honor to take the field as a Jet.” The Jets scored another touchdown when Williams ran a 49-yard punt return to the end zone, but the play was nullified after Tre Brown was called for an illegal block. Much like last weekend against the Dolphins, the Jets’ defense was a horror show. They only recorded two quarterback hits on Lawrence the entire day and didn’t sack him at all. Gang Green’s defense has allowed 82 combined points in its last two games against the Dolphins and Jaguars. Jets defenders were often out of position and missed several tackles, leaving Jaguars receivers open for several explosive plays. It didn’t help that cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (shoulder) missed Sunday’s game and safety Tony Adams (groin) and Isaiah Oliver (knee) both suffered injuries and were ruled out. The fall of the Jets defense remains a mystery. Before this season, the Jets finished in the top five in yards allowed from 2022-24. On Lawrence’s 15-yard touchdown run, Will McDonald had an opportunity to record the sack, but he whiffed, and Lawrence ran past him and got into the end zone. But under first-year defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the Jets defense has gone from one of the best in the NFL to the worst. In Robert Saleh’s first year as coach in 2021, the Jets had the league’s worst defense. Despite the defensive rankings in 2021, Saleh retained defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the season ended. It remains to be seen whether Glenn does the same with Wilks, who has been under fire all year. However, with three games remaining, Glenn told reporters that he wouldn’t force Wilks to relinquish play-calling duties. The Jets have not registered a single interception through 14 games. They have just three forced turnovers (two fumbles) this season. One of them came in garbage time against the Jaguars after Brandon Stephens stripped wide receiver Dyami Brown and Malachi Moore recovered it. “We come out every week prepared,” Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood said about the defense. “The men who step out on that field, they have to be willing to play. They have to be willing to fight no matter what the score looks like. You have to have pride about the name that’s on the front of your jersey. “At the end of the day, you also playing for the name on the back of the jersey. We have to do a better job, and we have to find ways to get the ball out. It’s been an issue for us not causing takeaways. We have to give our offense a chance and we haven’t been doing that.” To add insult to injury, Jets defensive lineman Khalen Saunders was ejected in the third quarter after making contact with an official during the Jaguars extra point. Following the game, Jets linebacker Quincy Williams and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson both declined to speak to the media. “I have nothing positive to say, so I’m not doing any media,” Williams said to the media members inside the visiting locker room before exiting. Gang Green will be on the road again next weekend when they visit the Saints. ...read more read less