Biggest Takeaways from Jacksonville Jaguars' Week 15 Loss

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered another close loss to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, falling 23-17 to a team they arguably should have beaten. However, the result is in the past, and the Jaguars still have something to play for in the final two weeks.

Despite being 5-9, the Jaguars are still mathematically in the hunt for the AFC South title and will need to win their final two games to even have a chance of getting in. They need help elsewhere as well, but the overall situation hasn't gotten that much worse. Nevertheless, it's hard to feel good about their chances after the latest loss.

The Jaguars simply couldn't perform in the most crucial moments of the game, which is something we've seen them struggle with a lot over the year. Third-down defense, missed connections for big plays and drive-startling fumbles are just parts of the issue.

It may feel like the Jaguars have done well to get to 5-9, but you can't look at this season without wondering why they failed to mature and progress as the season went on. The early close losses were promising, but now it's just an uncomfortable familiarity. 

And who knows? Anything can happen, but the Jaguars shouldn't have ever been in this position in the first place. The AFC South title has slowly but surely slipped out of their hands, and that's starting to leave a bittersweet taste to the 2015 season.

Denard Robinson Is Good but Not Enough To Be a Full-Time RB Starter

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Running back Denard Robinson has showed a lot of progress in his first few years in the league, and he deserves credit for that. And while he shows flashes of excitement and potential, Sunday showed that he isn't quite "starter material."

Robinson earned 28 yards on 14 carries but also tacked on 46 yards on eight catches. Seventy-four total yards isn't terrible per se, but taking 22 touches to earn those yards doesn't help his case. 

Throughout the game, Robinson looked close to bursting through the second level of the Falcons defense for one of his ever-increasing streaks, but he just didn't. He ran well and looked to finish his runs, but it never came through.

It wasn't a question of effort, however. Robinson's biggest improvement has been his constant push to get upfield first and worry about the "hitting the home run" less. It may not seem like Robinson would be that type of running back, but he is.

Robinson is excellent in his role, and getting him five to 10 touches per game should still be a factor in the offensive game plan. However, Sunday proved the Jaguars need T.J. Yeldon, and they will hope for him to return this week.

"Good" Julius Thomas Is Here to Stay

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Missing the first four games of the season and switching teams seemed to put tight end Julius Thomas in a funk early in his Jaguars tenure. Slow, off-page and frustrated, he seemed set for a rough opening season.

However, after his first five games of the season, Thomas has found the success he saw with the Denver Broncos. In the last five games, he has 292 yards and four touchdowns on 27 catches—a major improvement from the 139 yards and single TD on 15 catches in his first five games.

Thomas has found his footing in Jacksonville, and that's probably due to a combination of improved physical condition, better understanding of the offense and just general comfort in his new location.

The marquee signing of the 2015 offseason, Thomas was quick to receive criticism when he struggled early. Now, he is lighting up defenses in the end zone and is becoming a versatile tool for Blake Bortles and the offense.

Davon House Can and Will Be Beaten by Top NFL WRs

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Jaguars corner Davon House has been one of the best free-agent signings of the offseason. His 20 passes defended this season have been more than impressive—they've been vital. 

However, House is not a "shutdown corner." He will stop a good chunk of his opponents and will make some big plays in the process, but he struggled against Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones.

Jones had another standout, almost typical day, bringing down nine catches for 118 yards and a TD. House and the Jaguars didn't allow one of Jones' infamous massive gains, but the passing game found him often and consistently throughout the game.

House has done well against quality NFL talent this season, but when he's asked to guard a top receiver, he struggles. So, essentially, we've found out that House is pretty good but not great.

House has been a key addition this season, and while the defense has disappointed at times, it's hardly been his fault. But Sunday was another moment where one of the NFL's best receivers found success, and that can be ignored.

Blake Bortles Looking More Toward the Run to Combat Blitzes

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There has been plenty to talk about quarterback Blake Bortles' performance Sunday, but one thing we need to acknowledge in a positive light is his improved scrambling. 

Bortles ran six times for 44 yards against the Falcons, and rather than force throws or take sacks, he looked to run more often and quicker than ever. A lot of the defenses the Jaguars have faced this season have looked to blitz Bortles on most plays, and scrambling sounds like his best counterattack.

It's always been apparent that Bortles is good on his feet, and his selective running throughout the season has earned him a yards-per-carry average of 6.2, but it may be time to look to the run more.

Bortles almost always gets a decent pickup, and heavy blitzing means that, more often than not, he should have space to run and get some kind of positive gain. It may not be the big gains he gets through completions to wide receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson, but the Jaguars need more generally positive plays.

What sounds better: 2nd-and-4 or 2nd-and-10? More scrambling forces defenses to respect it and bring less heat.

Jared Odrick Continues to Be the Jaguars' Best Defensive Lineman

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Defensive end Jared Odrick was a major addition this offseason, and the Jaguars hoped he would be a versatile player who could impact both the run and the pass. His performance Sunday epitomizes what he brings.

Defensive tackle Roy Miller has also been incredible, but no one has made as great an impression on the Jaguars defense, especially on the line, as Odrick has. He added a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass defended Sunday—a proper result in terms of what Odrick can achieve.

The Jaguars are able to put him in a variety of situations, and his efforts in the pass rush have earned him five sacks on the season. He's matched that with being a consistent factor in the run that teams tend to avoid.

Odrick did his part this season, and he certainly executed Sunday. He hasn't been the top player on the defense or a massive playmaker, but he's executed more often than not and will be an important player going into next season.

All stats 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.