Jacksonville Jaguars Offense Steadily Improving Ahead of Week 3 Clash with Pats

In Week 1, the Jacksonville Jaguars put together one drive from their own territory that earned points. In Week 2, the offense improved immensely, going down the field to score on five separate occasions.

The difference between the Week 1 and Week 2 performances is night and day, but what does that mean for Week 3's visit to Foxborough, Massachusetts to face the New England Patriots? 

It can be hard to tell early in the season what the identity of an offense is. The Jaguars are still figuring out what they want to consistently do, but it seems they are closer than ever.

In the 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins, the Jaguars were perfectly balanced. They ran 33 times and passed 33 times for 396 total yards, culminating in two touchdowns and three field goals. In Week 1, the Jaguars passed 40 times (somewhat inflated by the end of the game and two-minute drill before the half), ran 21 times and only totaled 265 yards.

Should the improvement in Week 2 be the norm rather than an outlier, the Jaguars are in good shape. The table below shows that the Patriots aren't exactly stellar on defense, which means there will be chances for the Jaguars to hang with the Patriots.

Category	Yards per Game	Points per Game	Rushing Yards per Game	Passing Yards per Game	Penalties/Yards
Stat	406.5	26.5	147.0	259.5	22/217
Rank	29th	22nd	27th	22nd	30th/31st

One of the most notable stats is the Patriots' total penalties. Twenty-two yellow flags thrown for 217 yards is a hefty amount, and the Jaguars showed they can capitalize on penalties in the win over an undisciplined Dolphins team.

They have also allowed 406.5 yards per game and 26.5 points per game—both considerably worse than the Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers defenses. On paper, the Jaguars are going up against one of the NFL's most porous defenses in Week 3.

It's that fact that makes the offense's progress so important at this point in the season. In previous years, the Jaguars offense couldn't find any kind of rhythm until midway through the season, but Sunday's win saw the offense get it together for at least a half.

That may not sound pleasing, but it's a considerable step forward. The defense certainly did its part and then some, but the offense finding its groove and ways to use their weapons in Week 2 for five scoring drives are promising signs.

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Now, they are going against a Patriots defense that is 2-0 but has obviously seen better days. Sure, the first game was against the dangerous combo of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown, but they allowed 11 more points to the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

If the Jaguars had lost and not seen the promising offensive first half this past Sunday, they would be rolling into Foxborough at 0-2 and with no real ground to stand on as an offense. Instead, they have a win and confidence to prove to others and themselves that they can score points.

The Jaguars can again focus on the rushing game in Week 3, as well. They'll be going against a solid defensive front, but it is nowhere near the strength of Miami's. The Patriots have allowed 147 rushing yards per game, and the drop in skill from Miami to New England should open up more holes for running back T.J. Yeldon.

That will allow quarterback Blake Bortles more freedom to throw and make plays himself. There are yards and touchdowns to be had against the Patriots, and it's not like the Jaguars will have to make any major changes to their successful offensive game plan from Week 2.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The offense had to find success in Week 2, and they rose to the occasion. The Patriots will be well-coached and solid, but their defense is suspect. It's crucial that the Jaguars offense has a similar outing, possibly a better one.

The Jaguars defense will have its hands full with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, but the only way the Jaguars will stay in the game is through offense. Shootouts are unfamiliar territory for the Jaguars, but offensive success is a real possibility on Sunday.

If the Jaguars continue on the path that Week 2 started, it will be another close game. The defending Super Bowl champs will be one of the toughest, if not the toughest, game on the schedule, but the Jaguars' offense is ready to compete.

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.