THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars have been nothing if not consistent in their losing ways the last three weeks.
They've gotten behind early, failed to catch up because of an inept offense and a suspect defense, and ended up with three straight lopsided losses.
"We're just not functioning at a level that's giving us a chance right now as a football team," coach Jack Del Rio said Monday, a day after a 23-10 loss at Chicago.
The Jaguars (4-9), who have lost four in a row and six of seven, have been outscored 104-39 the last 14 quarters. Little has gone right since they walked off the field at halftime with a 14-3 lead against Tennessee on Nov. 16. The Titans scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, beginning a trend in which Jacksonville has been plagued by turnovers, sacks, dropped passes, costly penalties, poor tackling and blown coverages.
Maybe the most noticeable problem during the losing streak - all season really - has been the Jaguars' struggles in the passing game.
It certainly was against the Bears.
David Garrard was 19-of-38 passing for 178 yards and threw his 10th interception of the season. Wide receivers caught a combined seven passes, only one of those receivers gaining more than 13 yards on one of the receptions. And the offensive line allowed three sacks and steady pressure.
"The passing game was inept yesterday, clearly lagging and didn't give us a chance in the ball game," Del Rio said.
Del Rio said all three phases of the passing game - protection, receivers creating separation and Garrard delivering the ball accurately and on time - failed at times.
"We've had a breakdown in one or several of those categories, and it's caused our passing game to not be near what it needs to be," he said.
It could get worse, too.
Leading receiver Matt Jones was awaiting word on a possible suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Jones appealed a three-game suspension handed down by the league in October.
His appeal was heard last week, and Jones expects to the find out the results before Wednesday.
Jones was charged with cocaine possession in July when a police officer in Fayetteville, Ark., saw him inside a parked car allegedly cutting up cocaine with a credit card.
