Football,f1 motorsports,NBA,Premier League

After Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took to the podium and did the right thing – he put the Jaguars 27-13 loss on his play behind center. The UCF product said he has to get better if this team is going to make progress.

The problem with accepting the team’s loss on his back is that these are the same issues he has faced week after week, especially when it comes to throwing interceptions at the most inopportune time.

According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, the Jaguars hadn't been losing games because of Bortles' mistakes -- there were far too many other reasons -- but that changed against the Miami Dolphins. Bortles committed three turnovers, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, and finally did keep the Jaguars from winning.

"I'm killing us," Bortles said after the Dolphins' 27-13 victory at EverBank Field. "I've got to try to eliminate different things and get better."

For the first time since he took the field for the second half of the team's loss against Indianapolis in Week 3, Bortles looked a bit rattled. Until he went 5-for-6 in a meaningless fourth quarter, Bortles had completed only 13 of 28 passes for 140 yards. He had air-mailed a pass over a wide-open Denard Robinson, threw a couple passes behind Allen Robinson, and short-armed another on what would have led to a first down.

While the Dolphins defense is nothing to sneeze at, the team will be on the road, facing Cincinnati this coming week with Dallas in two weeks at Wembley Stadium in London.

"It's going to happen. I think it's part of it [learning to be an NFL quarterback]," Bortles said. "Obviously you don't want to do it but it's going to happen and there's no reason to think about it or dwell on it or do anything. You can't do anything. It's over with. It's done. So try to move on and not let it happen again."

The problem is those are mistakes he has made before. Repeatedly, and as recently as last week against Cleveland. That's the most disturbing part of what happened Sunday. Bortles, who has thrown 12 interceptions in six games (five in the last two) and is on pace to tie Peyton Manning's rookie record of 28, doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes.

GAME NOTES:

Jaguars running back Denard Robinson finished with 108 yards on the ground, the first Jacksonville player to top the century mark in consecutive games since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. ... Dolphins left guard Daryn Colledge left the game with migraines. His replacement, Nate Garner, came in for one play before leaving with an ankle injury. ... Jaguars recorded three sacks and allowed four.

After Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took to the podium and did the right thing – he put the Jaguars 27-13 loss on his play behind center. The UCF product said he has to get better if this team is going to make progress.

The problem with accepting the team’s loss on his back is that these are the same issues he has faced week after week, especially when it comes to throwing interceptions at the most inopportune time.

According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, the Jaguars hadn't been losing games because of Bortles' mistakes -- there were far too many other reasons -- but that changed against the Miami Dolphins. Bortles committed three turnovers, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, and finally did keep the Jaguars from winning.

"I'm killing us," Bortles said after the Dolphins' 27-13 victory at EverBank Field. "I've got to try to eliminate different things and get better."

For the first time since he took the field for the second half of the team's loss against Indianapolis in Week 3, Bortles looked a bit rattled. Until he went 5-for-6 in a meaningless fourth quarter, Bortles had completed only 13 of 28 passes for 140 yards. He had air-mailed a pass over a wide-open Denard Robinson, threw a couple passes behind Allen Robinson, and short-armed another on what would have led to a first down.

While the Dolphins defense is nothing to sneeze at, the team will be on the road, facing Cincinnati this coming week with Dallas in two weeks at Wembley Stadium in London.

"It's going to happen. I think it's part of it [learning to be an NFL quarterback]," Bortles said. "Obviously you don't want to do it but it's going to happen and there's no reason to think about it or dwell on it or do anything. You can't do anything. It's over with. It's done. So try to move on and not let it happen again."

The problem is those are mistakes he has made before. Repeatedly, and as recently as last week against Cleveland. That's the most disturbing part of what happened Sunday. Bortles, who has thrown 12 interceptions in six games (five in the last two) and is on pace to tie Peyton Manning's rookie record of 28, doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes.

GAME NOTES:

Jaguars running back Denard Robinson finished with 108 yards on the ground, the first Jacksonville player to top the century mark in consecutive games since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. ... Dolphins left guard Daryn Colledge left the game with migraines. His replacement, Nate Garner, came in for one play before leaving with an ankle injury. ... Jaguars recorded three sacks and allowed four.

The Atlanta Falcons continue to tumble. A fifth straight loss – this time as time expires in London – to the Detroit Lions has open the door even wider about questions regarding an offense that looked like world beaters in the first half of the contest.

The second half was a totally different story.

Even with the issues and the losing streak that started after a 56-14 win over Tampa Bay, Falcons head coach Mike Smith is still not concerned with his job or job security.

Smith was asked Monday if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith was asked if he felt a little more pressure based on Blank's public comments about the loss.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said. "And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

Two seasons ago, Smith guided the Falcons to a 13-3 record and a NFC title game appearance. But in the past 24 games, the Falcons are 6-18.

Last season, injuries decimated the franchise, especially at wide receiver and on the offensive line. The Falcons have had to make many changes on the line again this season, including changes at tackle and the use of three centers so far this year.

The offensive line looked impressive against one of the NFL’s better and most improved defenses.

Here is what we learned from this weekend according to the team’s website.

• Wide Receiver Roddy White broke Terance Mathis’ (57) franchise record for career touchdown receptions with a four-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. White has caught 58 career touchdowns since being drafted by Atlanta in 2005. He also owns franchise records for receptions (713), receiving yards (9,789), 100-yard receiving games (38), and 10-catch games (11).
• White ranks second in team history with 58 total touchdowns, trailing RB Michael Turner who scored 61 times (60 rushing & one receiving) in five seasons with the Falcons. White converted the Falcons first third-down of the game on a 15-yard reception. The play was his 149th first down catch on third down since 2008. White has been the among the most reliable targets in crucial situations as no player in the NFL has posted more first down receptions on third down during that span.
• White finished the game with nine receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. He logged his first 100-yard game of the season and his first since posting 141 yards on 12 catches at San Francisco in Week 16 of 2013. White improved his franchise record for 100-yard games to 38 with his performance on Sunday.
• In his last two games against the Ravens, White has tallied 19 catches 238 yards and three touchdowns, including a 33-yard game winning score at the Georgia Dome in 2010.
• Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 29 of 44 passes for 228 yards with one touchdown and an 86.2 passer rating. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12 straight games dating back to 2013.
• Cornerback Robert Alford recorded his first interception of the season, picking off Ravens quarterback  Joe Flacco in the end zone and preventing the Ravens from scoring.
• Alford picked off Flacco in the end zone a second time in the second half. The second-year player out of Southeastern Louisiana is the first Falcon to post multiple interceptions in a game since safety William Moore picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees twice on November 29, 2012. Sunday marked the 63rd time in franchise history that a Falcons player has recorded two-or-more interceptions in a game.
• Three of Alford’s four interceptions have come in the end zone as he also picked off Panthers QB Cam Newton for a touchback in 2013 (11/3/13). Alford has posted 66 tackles (51 solo) with four interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 18 passes defensed in his career.
• Linebacker Paul Worrilow notched his first sack of the season, dragging down Flacco on a third-down play in the second quarter. Worrilow has posted three sacks in his career, including two in 2013. He was Atlanta’s leading tackler as a rookie last season, posting 137 tackles (92 solo). Worrilow joined Tommy Nobis (1966), Buddy Curry (1980), and Rick Bryan (1984) as the only rookies to lead the team in tackles and is the only undrafted rookie to lead the team in tackles.
• Worrilow finished the game with 10 tackles (three solo), one sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit. In his career, Worrilow has posted double-digit tackles in 11 games, including four games this season.
• Defensive End Jonathan Massaquoi had a strong game with six tackles (four solo), one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits.
• Linebacker Joplo Bartu set a career high with 15 total tackles (six solo). He topped his previous best of 13 stops set against Tampa Bay in 2013.
• Wide Receiver Julio Jones continues to lead all wide receivers with 49 catches and ranks third in the NFL with 676 receiving yards this season. Jones pulled down five passes for 56 yards in Sunday’s game.

After Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took to the podium and did the right thing – he put the Jaguars 27-13 loss on his play behind center. The UCF product said he has to get better if this team is going to make progress.

The problem with accepting the team’s loss on his back is that these are the same issues he has faced week after week, especially when it comes to throwing interceptions at the most inopportune time.

According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, the Jaguars hadn't been losing games because of Bortles' mistakes -- there were far too many other reasons -- but that changed against the Miami Dolphins. Bortles committed three turnovers, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, and finally did keep the Jaguars from winning.

"I'm killing us," Bortles said after the Dolphins' 27-13 victory at EverBank Field. "I've got to try to eliminate different things and get better."

For the first time since he took the field for the second half of the team's loss against Indianapolis in Week 3, Bortles looked a bit rattled. Until he went 5-for-6 in a meaningless fourth quarter, Bortles had completed only 13 of 28 passes for 140 yards. He had air-mailed a pass over a wide-open Denard Robinson, threw a couple passes behind Allen Robinson, and short-armed another on what would have led to a first down.

While the Dolphins defense is nothing to sneeze at, the team will be on the road, facing Cincinnati this coming week with Dallas in two weeks at Wembley Stadium in London.

"It's going to happen. I think it's part of it [learning to be an NFL quarterback]," Bortles said. "Obviously you don't want to do it but it's going to happen and there's no reason to think about it or dwell on it or do anything. You can't do anything. It's over with. It's done. So try to move on and not let it happen again."

The problem is those are mistakes he has made before. Repeatedly, and as recently as last week against Cleveland. That's the most disturbing part of what happened Sunday. Bortles, who has thrown 12 interceptions in six games (five in the last two) and is on pace to tie Peyton Manning's rookie record of 28, doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes.

GAME NOTES:

Jaguars running back Denard Robinson finished with 108 yards on the ground, the first Jacksonville player to top the century mark in consecutive games since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. ... Dolphins left guard Daryn Colledge left the game with migraines. His replacement, Nate Garner, came in for one play before leaving with an ankle injury. ... Jaguars recorded three sacks and allowed four.

The Atlanta Falcons continue to tumble. A fifth straight loss – this time as time expires in London – to the Detroit Lions has open the door even wider about questions regarding an offense that looked like world beaters in the first half of the contest.

The second half was a totally different story.

Even with the issues and the losing streak that started after a 56-14 win over Tampa Bay, Falcons head coach Mike Smith is still not concerned with his job or job security.

Smith was asked Monday if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith was asked if he felt a little more pressure based on Blank's public comments about the loss.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said. "And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

Two seasons ago, Smith guided the Falcons to a 13-3 record and a NFC title game appearance. But in the past 24 games, the Falcons are 6-18.

Last season, injuries decimated the franchise, especially at wide receiver and on the offensive line. The Falcons have had to make many changes on the line again this season, including changes at tackle and the use of three centers so far this year.

The offensive line looked impressive against one of the NFL’s better and most improved defenses.

Here is what we learned from this weekend according to the team’s website.

• Wide Receiver Roddy White broke Terance Mathis’ (57) franchise record for career touchdown receptions with a four-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. White has caught 58 career touchdowns since being drafted by Atlanta in 2005. He also owns franchise records for receptions (713), receiving yards (9,789), 100-yard receiving games (38), and 10-catch games (11).
• White ranks second in team history with 58 total touchdowns, trailing RB Michael Turner who scored 61 times (60 rushing & one receiving) in five seasons with the Falcons. White converted the Falcons first third-down of the game on a 15-yard reception. The play was his 149th first down catch on third down since 2008. White has been the among the most reliable targets in crucial situations as no player in the NFL has posted more first down receptions on third down during that span.
• White finished the game with nine receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. He logged his first 100-yard game of the season and his first since posting 141 yards on 12 catches at San Francisco in Week 16 of 2013. White improved his franchise record for 100-yard games to 38 with his performance on Sunday.
• In his last two games against the Ravens, White has tallied 19 catches 238 yards and three touchdowns, including a 33-yard game winning score at the Georgia Dome in 2010.
• Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 29 of 44 passes for 228 yards with one touchdown and an 86.2 passer rating. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12 straight games dating back to 2013.
• Cornerback Robert Alford recorded his first interception of the season, picking off Ravens quarterback  Joe Flacco in the end zone and preventing the Ravens from scoring.
• Alford picked off Flacco in the end zone a second time in the second half. The second-year player out of Southeastern Louisiana is the first Falcon to post multiple interceptions in a game since safety William Moore picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees twice on November 29, 2012. Sunday marked the 63rd time in franchise history that a Falcons player has recorded two-or-more interceptions in a game.
• Three of Alford’s four interceptions have come in the end zone as he also picked off Panthers QB Cam Newton for a touchback in 2013 (11/3/13). Alford has posted 66 tackles (51 solo) with four interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 18 passes defensed in his career.
• Linebacker Paul Worrilow notched his first sack of the season, dragging down Flacco on a third-down play in the second quarter. Worrilow has posted three sacks in his career, including two in 2013. He was Atlanta’s leading tackler as a rookie last season, posting 137 tackles (92 solo). Worrilow joined Tommy Nobis (1966), Buddy Curry (1980), and Rick Bryan (1984) as the only rookies to lead the team in tackles and is the only undrafted rookie to lead the team in tackles.
• Worrilow finished the game with 10 tackles (three solo), one sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit. In his career, Worrilow has posted double-digit tackles in 11 games, including four games this season.
• Defensive End Jonathan Massaquoi had a strong game with six tackles (four solo), one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits.
• Linebacker Joplo Bartu set a career high with 15 total tackles (six solo). He topped his previous best of 13 stops set against Tampa Bay in 2013.
• Wide Receiver Julio Jones continues to lead all wide receivers with 49 catches and ranks third in the NFL with 676 receiving yards this season. Jones pulled down five passes for 56 yards in Sunday’s game.

After Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles took to the podium and did the right thing – he put the Jaguars 27-13 loss on his play behind center. The UCF product said he has to get better if this team is going to make progress.

The problem with accepting the team’s loss on his back is that these are the same issues he has faced week after week, especially when it comes to throwing interceptions at the most inopportune time.

According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, the Jaguars hadn't been losing games because of Bortles' mistakes -- there were far too many other reasons -- but that changed against the Miami Dolphins. Bortles committed three turnovers, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, and finally did keep the Jaguars from winning.

"I'm killing us," Bortles said after the Dolphins' 27-13 victory at EverBank Field. "I've got to try to eliminate different things and get better."

For the first time since he took the field for the second half of the team's loss against Indianapolis in Week 3, Bortles looked a bit rattled. Until he went 5-for-6 in a meaningless fourth quarter, Bortles had completed only 13 of 28 passes for 140 yards. He had air-mailed a pass over a wide-open Denard Robinson, threw a couple passes behind Allen Robinson, and short-armed another on what would have led to a first down.

While the Dolphins defense is nothing to sneeze at, the team will be on the road, facing Cincinnati this coming week with Dallas in two weeks at Wembley Stadium in London.

"It's going to happen. I think it's part of it [learning to be an NFL quarterback]," Bortles said. "Obviously you don't want to do it but it's going to happen and there's no reason to think about it or dwell on it or do anything. You can't do anything. It's over with. It's done. So try to move on and not let it happen again."

The problem is those are mistakes he has made before. Repeatedly, and as recently as last week against Cleveland. That's the most disturbing part of what happened Sunday. Bortles, who has thrown 12 interceptions in six games (five in the last two) and is on pace to tie Peyton Manning's rookie record of 28, doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes.

GAME NOTES:

Jaguars running back Denard Robinson finished with 108 yards on the ground, the first Jacksonville player to top the century mark in consecutive games since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. ... Dolphins left guard Daryn Colledge left the game with migraines. His replacement, Nate Garner, came in for one play before leaving with an ankle injury. ... Jaguars recorded three sacks and allowed four.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrated their first win of the 2014 season on Sunday, the team lost two key players on defense – the same unit that helped key the Cleveland Browns to six points.

Paul Posluszny, the Jaguars’ starting middle linebacker and the team’s on-field defensive leader, will be placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. Announcing the situation on Monday, Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley left no doubt: This is an important player, who played a critical role on and off the field.

And he will be missed.

“It’s a big loss,” Bradley said on Jaguars.com Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field. “He’s been playing really well lately.

“He’s been playing well ever since I’ve been here, but I think he’s really coming into his own and really understands the defense. He really takes total command of the defense. That will be a difficult one.”

The news regarding Posluszny came the same day the Jaguars announced that defensive end Andre Branch will miss about six weeks with a torn groin muscle sustained against the Browns. Branch has three sacks this season.

While Posluszny is the heart and soul and definitive leader of the defense, there isn’t a belief that the team will got out and sign a veteran to play in the middle for the Jaguars defense. The team signed Dekota Watson in the offseason and will count more on the play of J.T. Thomas and rookie linebacker Telvin Smith.

Smith had a sack and interception in the 24-6 win on Sunday.

Watson or LaRoy Reynolds likely will play the Otto outside linebacker position. Watson was signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason to play the Otto, and when he missed the offseason and much of training camp with a groin injury, Reynolds started the first three games of the regular season.

Bradley said the position will be competitive this week, and that Watson has improved in recent weeks.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrated their first win of the 2014 season on Sunday, the team lost two key players on defense – the same unit that helped key the Cleveland Browns to six points.

Paul Posluszny, the Jaguars’ starting middle linebacker and the team’s on-field defensive leader, will be placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. Announcing the situation on Monday, Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley left no doubt: This is an important player, who played a critical role on and off the field.

And he will be missed.

“It’s a big loss,” Bradley said on Jaguars.com Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field. “He’s been playing really well lately.

“He’s been playing well ever since I’ve been here, but I think he’s really coming into his own and really understands the defense. He really takes total command of the defense. That will be a difficult one.”

The news regarding Posluszny came the same day the Jaguars announced that defensive end Andre Branch will miss about six weeks with a torn groin muscle sustained against the Browns. Branch has three sacks this season.

While Posluszny is the heart and soul and definitive leader of the defense, there isn’t a belief that the team will got out and sign a veteran to play in the middle for the Jaguars defense. The team signed Dekota Watson in the offseason and will count more on the play of J.T. Thomas and rookie linebacker Telvin Smith.

Smith had a sack and interception in the 24-6 win on Sunday.

Watson or LaRoy Reynolds likely will play the Otto outside linebacker position. Watson was signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason to play the Otto, and when he missed the offseason and much of training camp with a groin injury, Reynolds started the first three games of the regular season.

Bradley said the position will be competitive this week, and that Watson has improved in recent weeks.

Antone Smith did it again. Another huge play that resulted in a touchdown was one of the few shining moments for the Falcons on Sunday, but little else was positive in the 27-13 loss at home to the Bears.

Chicago’s passing game proved to be too much for the Atlanta secondary as Jay Cutler and his cast of receivers lit the secondary and defense up most of the game.

Last time I checked, the Falcons had an explosive passing attack that was supposed to do the same thing.

The Falcons have now lost three games in a row, causing some concern with the coaching staff and front office. The ship needs to be leveled off. The NFC South is not a juggernaut with each team having a chance to make some noise (including Tampa Bay) this year.

Here are some observances of the Falcons in the loss on Sunday, according to the team’s website.

• Runningback Antone Smith scored his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season on a 41-yard catch and run on Atlanta’s opening drive of the second half. He is averaging 51 yards per scoring play and 56.3 yards per touchdown reception this season.

• Smith has scored twice on the ground and three times through the air this season and has totaled 346 yards on 23 touches. The fifth-year player from Florida State is averaging 15 yards per touch and 57.6 yards per game.

• For his career, Smith has scored receiving touchdowns of 74, 54, and 41 yards while adding rushing scores of 50, 48, 38, and 38 yards. He is averaging 49 yards per scoring play during his career.

• Smith is the only player with six scrimmage touchdowns of 35-plus yards in his first 25 career touches since 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

• Smith and Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch are the only players in the NFL to record multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving this season. Smith’s five total touchdowns rank tied for the sixth most in the NFL.

• Quarterback Matt Ryan threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season when he connected with Smith. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown in 11 straight games dating back to 2013.

• Ryan’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Smith was the Falcons NFL leading sixth touchdown pass of 25-or-more yards this season. The score was Atlanta’s ninth overall big-play touchdown, a mark that also leads the NFL.

• Wide Receiver Julio Jones caught four passes for 68 yards in Sunday’s loss. His 44 receptions this season are the second-most in the NFL while his 620 yards rank third.

• Kicker Matt Bryant connected on a pair of 50-yard field goals, including a season-long 54 yarder in the third quarter. Sunday marked the second time this season and the second time in his career that Bryant has hit two field goals of 50 yards-or-longer.

• Bryant has hit 15 field goals of 50 yards or longer since joining the Falcons in 2009. Prior to arriving in Atlanta, Bryant had connected on just two kicks of 50-or-more yards. Bryant’s 78.9 field goal percentage on kicks of 50 yards-or-longer is the third best in the NFL since 2009.

• Bryant’s 54-yard field goal was his longest kick since booting a 55 yarder against New Orleans in 2012 (11/29/12).

• Atlanta’s defense notched its second game with multiple sacks as DE Jonathan Massaquoi and CB Robert McClain each registered one sack while DE Kroy Biermann and DT Paul Soliai combined for a third sack.

• Massaquoi dragged down Bears QB Jay Cutler for a five-yard loss on a second-down play in the first quarter. Massaquoi has posted two sacks this season and six sacks in his career. He notched a career-high four sacks last season.

• McClain logged his second career sack, hitting Cutler one-yard behind the line of scrimmage. Biermann and Soliai combined to sack Cutler for a seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

• The Falcons had four players with six tackles, including S Kemal Ishmael (six solo) and LB Paul Worrilow (five solo).

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he wanted the loss to Tennessee to hurt a little bit so the team could learn from it. The Jaguars, a team that has lost six straight games this season and have lost eight in a row over the course of two seasons, failed to capture an opportunity to earn their first win of the season on a missed field goal in the closing seconds of a 16-14 loss to the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense appears to be headed in the right direction and the play of rookie quarter Blake Bortles dazzled with his first 300-yard passing game of the season.

Questions about the running game and offensive line remain, however the steps are more toward the good, than towards the bad when three weeks ago, this was a team that was beaten by 31 points on the road.

Here is what we learned from the loss at Tennessee on Sunday, according to Jaguars.com senior writer, John Oesher.

1. Close hurts. The Jaguars’ post-game locker room was a quiet, disconsolate place Sunday. This is a team that feels like its close and it is indeed getting closer. The Jaguars have been competitive for a half in one of Blake Bortles’ starts and were competitive for the entire game in his other two starts. That’s better than before. But this is also fast becoming a team that knows close isn’t enough. On Sunday, it was again a team that came close and this time, close really hurt.

2. Blake Bortles is developing … It appears we’re going to keep learning this the rest of the year, and that’s a good thing for the Jaguars. Bortles led a productive opening drive Sunday and stayed poised late. He threw for 336 yards despite being sacked six times. He continues to look the part and is remarkably in control and comfortable for a player making his third NFL starts. Those are good things.

3. … and he’s not yet perfect. It was difficult to tell at first look what happened on Bortles’ lone interception Sunday, a third-quarter pass to wide receiver Allen Hurns. The rookie receiver either slipped or tripped on the play, but cornerback Blidi Wreh Wilson also appeared to have a read on the pass and made a pretty easy interception. That play tilted the game’s momentum, with the Titans turning the opportunity into a field goal and a 16-7 lead.

4. But the arrow is way, way up on the quarterback. We can analyze the interception all we want – and some absolutely want. But Bortles completed 32 of 46 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He looked in control in the pocket and was poised at the end of the game with the Jaguars trying to rally. Those are all very, very good signs.

5. Stats aren’t everything. The Jaguars had 27 first downs to 14 for the Titans and they outgained Tennessee 379-290, but they never led in the second half and needed an unlikely onside kick recovery to have a chance at a miracle at the end. A good sign for the Jaguars to dominate statistically; a better sign would be eliminating the mistakes that prevented them from taking advantage of the statistics.

6. The offensive line’s work in progress … remains in progress. The line allowed 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2. This game wasn’t that, but the line allowed six sacks and there were spurts in the middle of the game – particularly the second quarter – where the pressure put the Jaguars in too many difficult down-and-distance situations. The pass blocking took a step forward the last couple of weeks. This was not a step forward.

7. The work in progress isn’t just pass protection. The Jaguars wanted to establish the run Sunday. Early on, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch called plays to do so, but by game’s end the Jaguars had 82 yards on 23 carries with Bortles rushing for 38 yards on five carries. That’s not enough production from the backs, and too often Sunday, the holes just weren’t there.

8. It wasn’t all Gerhart’s fault after all. Jaguar’s running back Toby Gerhart had taken a lot of heat the last two weeks. Well, Storm Johnson started for an injury Gerhart on Sunday and rushed for 21 yards on 10 carries. In the NFL, the running game usually is line-centric and the Jaguars’ line is still searching for the experience and continuity needed for consistency.

Antone Smith did it again. Another huge play that resulted in a touchdown was one of the few shining moments for the Falcons on Sunday, but little else was positive in the 27-13 loss at home to the Bears.

Chicago’s passing game proved to be too much for the Atlanta secondary as Jay Cutler and his cast of receivers lit the secondary and defense up most of the game.

Last time I checked, the Falcons had an explosive passing attack that was supposed to do the same thing.

The Falcons have now lost three games in a row, causing some concern with the coaching staff and front office. The ship needs to be leveled off. The NFC South is not a juggernaut with each team having a chance to make some noise (including Tampa Bay) this year.

Here are some observances of the Falcons in the loss on Sunday, according to the team’s website.

• Runningback Antone Smith scored his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season on a 41-yard catch and run on Atlanta’s opening drive of the second half. He is averaging 51 yards per scoring play and 56.3 yards per touchdown reception this season.

• Smith has scored twice on the ground and three times through the air this season and has totaled 346 yards on 23 touches. The fifth-year player from Florida State is averaging 15 yards per touch and 57.6 yards per game.

• For his career, Smith has scored receiving touchdowns of 74, 54, and 41 yards while adding rushing scores of 50, 48, 38, and 38 yards. He is averaging 49 yards per scoring play during his career.

• Smith is the only player with six scrimmage touchdowns of 35-plus yards in his first 25 career touches since 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

• Smith and Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch are the only players in the NFL to record multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving this season. Smith’s five total touchdowns rank tied for the sixth most in the NFL.

• Quarterback Matt Ryan threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season when he connected with Smith. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown in 11 straight games dating back to 2013.

• Ryan’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Smith was the Falcons NFL leading sixth touchdown pass of 25-or-more yards this season. The score was Atlanta’s ninth overall big-play touchdown, a mark that also leads the NFL.

• Wide Receiver Julio Jones caught four passes for 68 yards in Sunday’s loss. His 44 receptions this season are the second-most in the NFL while his 620 yards rank third.

• Kicker Matt Bryant connected on a pair of 50-yard field goals, including a season-long 54 yarder in the third quarter. Sunday marked the second time this season and the second time in his career that Bryant has hit two field goals of 50 yards-or-longer.

• Bryant has hit 15 field goals of 50 yards or longer since joining the Falcons in 2009. Prior to arriving in Atlanta, Bryant had connected on just two kicks of 50-or-more yards. Bryant’s 78.9 field goal percentage on kicks of 50 yards-or-longer is the third best in the NFL since 2009.

• Bryant’s 54-yard field goal was his longest kick since booting a 55 yarder against New Orleans in 2012 (11/29/12).

• Atlanta’s defense notched its second game with multiple sacks as DE Jonathan Massaquoi and CB Robert McClain each registered one sack while DE Kroy Biermann and DT Paul Soliai combined for a third sack.

• Massaquoi dragged down Bears QB Jay Cutler for a five-yard loss on a second-down play in the first quarter. Massaquoi has posted two sacks this season and six sacks in his career. He notched a career-high four sacks last season.

• McClain logged his second career sack, hitting Cutler one-yard behind the line of scrimmage. Biermann and Soliai combined to sack Cutler for a seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

• The Falcons had four players with six tackles, including S Kemal Ishmael (six solo) and LB Paul Worrilow (five solo).

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he wanted the loss to Tennessee to hurt a little bit so the team could learn from it. The Jaguars, a team that has lost six straight games this season and have lost eight in a row over the course of two seasons, failed to capture an opportunity to earn their first win of the season on a missed field goal in the closing seconds of a 16-14 loss to the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense appears to be headed in the right direction and the play of rookie quarter Blake Bortles dazzled with his first 300-yard passing game of the season.

Questions about the running game and offensive line remain, however the steps are more toward the good, than towards the bad when three weeks ago, this was a team that was beaten by 31 points on the road.

Here is what we learned from the loss at Tennessee on Sunday, according to Jaguars.com senior writer, John Oesher.

1. Close hurts. The Jaguars’ post-game locker room was a quiet, disconsolate place Sunday. This is a team that feels like its close and it is indeed getting closer. The Jaguars have been competitive for a half in one of Blake Bortles’ starts and were competitive for the entire game in his other two starts. That’s better than before. But this is also fast becoming a team that knows close isn’t enough. On Sunday, it was again a team that came close and this time, close really hurt.

2. Blake Bortles is developing … It appears we’re going to keep learning this the rest of the year, and that’s a good thing for the Jaguars. Bortles led a productive opening drive Sunday and stayed poised late. He threw for 336 yards despite being sacked six times. He continues to look the part and is remarkably in control and comfortable for a player making his third NFL starts. Those are good things.

3. … and he’s not yet perfect. It was difficult to tell at first look what happened on Bortles’ lone interception Sunday, a third-quarter pass to wide receiver Allen Hurns. The rookie receiver either slipped or tripped on the play, but cornerback Blidi Wreh Wilson also appeared to have a read on the pass and made a pretty easy interception. That play tilted the game’s momentum, with the Titans turning the opportunity into a field goal and a 16-7 lead.

4. But the arrow is way, way up on the quarterback. We can analyze the interception all we want – and some absolutely want. But Bortles completed 32 of 46 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He looked in control in the pocket and was poised at the end of the game with the Jaguars trying to rally. Those are all very, very good signs.

5. Stats aren’t everything. The Jaguars had 27 first downs to 14 for the Titans and they outgained Tennessee 379-290, but they never led in the second half and needed an unlikely onside kick recovery to have a chance at a miracle at the end. A good sign for the Jaguars to dominate statistically; a better sign would be eliminating the mistakes that prevented them from taking advantage of the statistics.

6. The offensive line’s work in progress … remains in progress. The line allowed 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2. This game wasn’t that, but the line allowed six sacks and there were spurts in the middle of the game – particularly the second quarter – where the pressure put the Jaguars in too many difficult down-and-distance situations. The pass blocking took a step forward the last couple of weeks. This was not a step forward.

7. The work in progress isn’t just pass protection. The Jaguars wanted to establish the run Sunday. Early on, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch called plays to do so, but by game’s end the Jaguars had 82 yards on 23 carries with Bortles rushing for 38 yards on five carries. That’s not enough production from the backs, and too often Sunday, the holes just weren’t there.

8. It wasn’t all Gerhart’s fault after all. Jaguar’s running back Toby Gerhart had taken a lot of heat the last two weeks. Well, Storm Johnson started for an injury Gerhart on Sunday and rushed for 21 yards on 10 carries. In the NFL, the running game usually is line-centric and the Jaguars’ line is still searching for the experience and continuity needed for consistency.

Antone Smith did it again. Another huge play that resulted in a touchdown was one of the few shining moments for the Falcons on Sunday, but little else was positive in the 27-13 loss at home to the Bears.

Chicago’s passing game proved to be too much for the Atlanta secondary as Jay Cutler and his cast of receivers lit the secondary and defense up most of the game.

Last time I checked, the Falcons had an explosive passing attack that was supposed to do the same thing.

The Falcons have now lost three games in a row, causing some concern with the coaching staff and front office. The ship needs to be leveled off. The NFC South is not a juggernaut with each team having a chance to make some noise (including Tampa Bay) this year.

Here are some observances of the Falcons in the loss on Sunday, according to the team’s website.

• Runningback Antone Smith scored his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season on a 41-yard catch and run on Atlanta’s opening drive of the second half. He is averaging 51 yards per scoring play and 56.3 yards per touchdown reception this season.

• Smith has scored twice on the ground and three times through the air this season and has totaled 346 yards on 23 touches. The fifth-year player from Florida State is averaging 15 yards per touch and 57.6 yards per game.

• For his career, Smith has scored receiving touchdowns of 74, 54, and 41 yards while adding rushing scores of 50, 48, 38, and 38 yards. He is averaging 49 yards per scoring play during his career.

• Smith is the only player with six scrimmage touchdowns of 35-plus yards in his first 25 career touches since 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

• Smith and Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch are the only players in the NFL to record multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving this season. Smith’s five total touchdowns rank tied for the sixth most in the NFL.

• Quarterback Matt Ryan threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season when he connected with Smith. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown in 11 straight games dating back to 2013.

• Ryan’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Smith was the Falcons NFL leading sixth touchdown pass of 25-or-more yards this season. The score was Atlanta’s ninth overall big-play touchdown, a mark that also leads the NFL.

• Wide Receiver Julio Jones caught four passes for 68 yards in Sunday’s loss. His 44 receptions this season are the second-most in the NFL while his 620 yards rank third.

• Kicker Matt Bryant connected on a pair of 50-yard field goals, including a season-long 54 yarder in the third quarter. Sunday marked the second time this season and the second time in his career that Bryant has hit two field goals of 50 yards-or-longer.

• Bryant has hit 15 field goals of 50 yards or longer since joining the Falcons in 2009. Prior to arriving in Atlanta, Bryant had connected on just two kicks of 50-or-more yards. Bryant’s 78.9 field goal percentage on kicks of 50 yards-or-longer is the third best in the NFL since 2009.

• Bryant’s 54-yard field goal was his longest kick since booting a 55 yarder against New Orleans in 2012 (11/29/12).

• Atlanta’s defense notched its second game with multiple sacks as DE Jonathan Massaquoi and CB Robert McClain each registered one sack while DE Kroy Biermann and DT Paul Soliai combined for a third sack.

• Massaquoi dragged down Bears QB Jay Cutler for a five-yard loss on a second-down play in the first quarter. Massaquoi has posted two sacks this season and six sacks in his career. He notched a career-high four sacks last season.

• McClain logged his second career sack, hitting Cutler one-yard behind the line of scrimmage. Biermann and Soliai combined to sack Cutler for a seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

• The Falcons had four players with six tackles, including S Kemal Ishmael (six solo) and LB Paul Worrilow (five solo).

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he wanted the loss to Tennessee to hurt a little bit so the team could learn from it. The Jaguars, a team that has lost six straight games this season and have lost eight in a row over the course of two seasons, failed to capture an opportunity to earn their first win of the season on a missed field goal in the closing seconds of a 16-14 loss to the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense appears to be headed in the right direction and the play of rookie quarter Blake Bortles dazzled with his first 300-yard passing game of the season.

Questions about the running game and offensive line remain, however the steps are more toward the good, than towards the bad when three weeks ago, this was a team that was beaten by 31 points on the road.

Here is what we learned from the loss at Tennessee on Sunday, according to Jaguars.com senior writer, John Oesher.

1. Close hurts. The Jaguars’ post-game locker room was a quiet, disconsolate place Sunday. This is a team that feels like its close and it is indeed getting closer. The Jaguars have been competitive for a half in one of Blake Bortles’ starts and were competitive for the entire game in his other two starts. That’s better than before. But this is also fast becoming a team that knows close isn’t enough. On Sunday, it was again a team that came close and this time, close really hurt.

2. Blake Bortles is developing … It appears we’re going to keep learning this the rest of the year, and that’s a good thing for the Jaguars. Bortles led a productive opening drive Sunday and stayed poised late. He threw for 336 yards despite being sacked six times. He continues to look the part and is remarkably in control and comfortable for a player making his third NFL starts. Those are good things.

3. … and he’s not yet perfect. It was difficult to tell at first look what happened on Bortles’ lone interception Sunday, a third-quarter pass to wide receiver Allen Hurns. The rookie receiver either slipped or tripped on the play, but cornerback Blidi Wreh Wilson also appeared to have a read on the pass and made a pretty easy interception. That play tilted the game’s momentum, with the Titans turning the opportunity into a field goal and a 16-7 lead.

4. But the arrow is way, way up on the quarterback. We can analyze the interception all we want – and some absolutely want. But Bortles completed 32 of 46 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He looked in control in the pocket and was poised at the end of the game with the Jaguars trying to rally. Those are all very, very good signs.

5. Stats aren’t everything. The Jaguars had 27 first downs to 14 for the Titans and they outgained Tennessee 379-290, but they never led in the second half and needed an unlikely onside kick recovery to have a chance at a miracle at the end. A good sign for the Jaguars to dominate statistically; a better sign would be eliminating the mistakes that prevented them from taking advantage of the statistics.

6. The offensive line’s work in progress … remains in progress. The line allowed 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2. This game wasn’t that, but the line allowed six sacks and there were spurts in the middle of the game – particularly the second quarter – where the pressure put the Jaguars in too many difficult down-and-distance situations. The pass blocking took a step forward the last couple of weeks. This was not a step forward.

7. The work in progress isn’t just pass protection. The Jaguars wanted to establish the run Sunday. Early on, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch called plays to do so, but by game’s end the Jaguars had 82 yards on 23 carries with Bortles rushing for 38 yards on five carries. That’s not enough production from the backs, and too often Sunday, the holes just weren’t there.

8. It wasn’t all Gerhart’s fault after all. Jaguar’s running back Toby Gerhart had taken a lot of heat the last two weeks. Well, Storm Johnson started for an injury Gerhart on Sunday and rushed for 21 yards on 10 carries. In the NFL, the running game usually is line-centric and the Jaguars’ line is still searching for the experience and continuity needed for consistency.

Antone Smith did it again. Another huge play that resulted in a touchdown was one of the few shining moments for the Falcons on Sunday, but little else was positive in the 27-13 loss at home to the Bears.

Chicago’s passing game proved to be too much for the Atlanta secondary as Jay Cutler and his cast of receivers lit the secondary and defense up most of the game.

Last time I checked, the Falcons had an explosive passing attack that was supposed to do the same thing.

The Falcons have now lost three games in a row, causing some concern with the coaching staff and front office. The ship needs to be leveled off. The NFC South is not a juggernaut with each team having a chance to make some noise (including Tampa Bay) this year.

Here are some observances of the Falcons in the loss on Sunday, according to the team’s website.

• Runningback Antone Smith scored his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season on a 41-yard catch and run on Atlanta’s opening drive of the second half. He is averaging 51 yards per scoring play and 56.3 yards per touchdown reception this season.

• Smith has scored twice on the ground and three times through the air this season and has totaled 346 yards on 23 touches. The fifth-year player from Florida State is averaging 15 yards per touch and 57.6 yards per game.

• For his career, Smith has scored receiving touchdowns of 74, 54, and 41 yards while adding rushing scores of 50, 48, 38, and 38 yards. He is averaging 49 yards per scoring play during his career.

• Smith is the only player with six scrimmage touchdowns of 35-plus yards in his first 25 career touches since 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

• Smith and Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch are the only players in the NFL to record multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving this season. Smith’s five total touchdowns rank tied for the sixth most in the NFL.

• Quarterback Matt Ryan threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season when he connected with Smith. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown in 11 straight games dating back to 2013.

• Ryan’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Smith was the Falcons NFL leading sixth touchdown pass of 25-or-more yards this season. The score was Atlanta’s ninth overall big-play touchdown, a mark that also leads the NFL.

• Wide Receiver Julio Jones caught four passes for 68 yards in Sunday’s loss. His 44 receptions this season are the second-most in the NFL while his 620 yards rank third.

• Kicker Matt Bryant connected on a pair of 50-yard field goals, including a season-long 54 yarder in the third quarter. Sunday marked the second time this season and the second time in his career that Bryant has hit two field goals of 50 yards-or-longer.

• Bryant has hit 15 field goals of 50 yards or longer since joining the Falcons in 2009. Prior to arriving in Atlanta, Bryant had connected on just two kicks of 50-or-more yards. Bryant’s 78.9 field goal percentage on kicks of 50 yards-or-longer is the third best in the NFL since 2009.

• Bryant’s 54-yard field goal was his longest kick since booting a 55 yarder against New Orleans in 2012 (11/29/12).

• Atlanta’s defense notched its second game with multiple sacks as DE Jonathan Massaquoi and CB Robert McClain each registered one sack while DE Kroy Biermann and DT Paul Soliai combined for a third sack.

• Massaquoi dragged down Bears QB Jay Cutler for a five-yard loss on a second-down play in the first quarter. Massaquoi has posted two sacks this season and six sacks in his career. He notched a career-high four sacks last season.

• McClain logged his second career sack, hitting Cutler one-yard behind the line of scrimmage. Biermann and Soliai combined to sack Cutler for a seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

• The Falcons had four players with six tackles, including S Kemal Ishmael (six solo) and LB Paul Worrilow (five solo).

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he wanted the loss to Tennessee to hurt a little bit so the team could learn from it. The Jaguars, a team that has lost six straight games this season and have lost eight in a row over the course of two seasons, failed to capture an opportunity to earn their first win of the season on a missed field goal in the closing seconds of a 16-14 loss to the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense appears to be headed in the right direction and the play of rookie quarter Blake Bortles dazzled with his first 300-yard passing game of the season.

Questions about the running game and offensive line remain, however the steps are more toward the good, than towards the bad when three weeks ago, this was a team that was beaten by 31 points on the road.

Here is what we learned from the loss at Tennessee on Sunday, according to Jaguars.com senior writer, John Oesher.

1. Close hurts. The Jaguars’ post-game locker room was a quiet, disconsolate place Sunday. This is a team that feels like its close and it is indeed getting closer. The Jaguars have been competitive for a half in one of Blake Bortles’ starts and were competitive for the entire game in his other two starts. That’s better than before. But this is also fast becoming a team that knows close isn’t enough. On Sunday, it was again a team that came close and this time, close really hurt.

2. Blake Bortles is developing … It appears we’re going to keep learning this the rest of the year, and that’s a good thing for the Jaguars. Bortles led a productive opening drive Sunday and stayed poised late. He threw for 336 yards despite being sacked six times. He continues to look the part and is remarkably in control and comfortable for a player making his third NFL starts. Those are good things.

3. … and he’s not yet perfect. It was difficult to tell at first look what happened on Bortles’ lone interception Sunday, a third-quarter pass to wide receiver Allen Hurns. The rookie receiver either slipped or tripped on the play, but cornerback Blidi Wreh Wilson also appeared to have a read on the pass and made a pretty easy interception. That play tilted the game’s momentum, with the Titans turning the opportunity into a field goal and a 16-7 lead.

4. But the arrow is way, way up on the quarterback. We can analyze the interception all we want – and some absolutely want. But Bortles completed 32 of 46 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He looked in control in the pocket and was poised at the end of the game with the Jaguars trying to rally. Those are all very, very good signs.

5. Stats aren’t everything. The Jaguars had 27 first downs to 14 for the Titans and they outgained Tennessee 379-290, but they never led in the second half and needed an unlikely onside kick recovery to have a chance at a miracle at the end. A good sign for the Jaguars to dominate statistically; a better sign would be eliminating the mistakes that prevented them from taking advantage of the statistics.

6. The offensive line’s work in progress … remains in progress. The line allowed 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2. This game wasn’t that, but the line allowed six sacks and there were spurts in the middle of the game – particularly the second quarter – where the pressure put the Jaguars in too many difficult down-and-distance situations. The pass blocking took a step forward the last couple of weeks. This was not a step forward.

7. The work in progress isn’t just pass protection. The Jaguars wanted to establish the run Sunday. Early on, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch called plays to do so, but by game’s end the Jaguars had 82 yards on 23 carries with Bortles rushing for 38 yards on five carries. That’s not enough production from the backs, and too often Sunday, the holes just weren’t there.

8. It wasn’t all Gerhart’s fault after all. Jaguar’s running back Toby Gerhart had taken a lot of heat the last two weeks. Well, Storm Johnson started for an injury Gerhart on Sunday and rushed for 21 yards on 10 carries. In the NFL, the running game usually is line-centric and the Jaguars’ line is still searching for the experience and continuity needed for consistency.

Historically speaking, the University of Miami (Fl) has always prided itself with having its football team being a National Championship contender, or at the very least, involved in such discussions.  In most respects, a three loss season is considered a success, but in Miami, anything short of appearing in one of the four major bowl games is considered unacceptable.

Larry Coker led the Miami Hurricanes to a National Championship during his debut season as the team's head coach in 2001, taking over for  Butch Davis, who accepted a head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns prior to the season.

Coker led the Hurricanes back to the National Championship game during his sophomore season, in a losing effort against the Ohio State Buckeyes.  In 2003, the Hurricanes finished 11-2, but they did win the Big East Championship outright.

Miami would finish both 2004 and 2005 9-3, failing to finish within the top 10 final rankings.  Coker was on the hot seat entering the 2006 season, with anything short of a National Championship appearance being considered grounds for termination.  The Hurricanes finished the regular season 6-6, resulting in Coker's termination.

Randy Shanahan had the difficult responsibility of replacing Coker, while also dealing with the Nevin Shapiro scandal that proceeded the 2011 season.  Unfortunately, Shanahan's first season as head coach was a bust.  The Hurricanes lost six of their final seven games, and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time on over a decade.  Miami finished 7-6 in 2008, improved to 9-4 in 2009, before falling back to 7-6 in 2010.   Shanahan was fired following the Hurricanes' loss to South Florida to end the 2010 season.

Al Golden was hired as head coach for the 2011 season due to his success at Temple University.  During Golden's first two seasons as head coach, the Hurricanes finished 6-6 and 7-5.  Last season the Hurricanes improved to 9-4.

Golden and the Hurricanes both entered this season understanding the higher expectations in place, but with losses already to Louisville and Nebraska, the odds of Miami finishing this season in the top 25 have been diminished.

A loss to Georgia Tech this Saturday would put the Hurricanes on pace to finish this season (Golden's 4th with Miami) 6-6, and as a result could place Al Golden on the hot seat, pr perhaps out of a job.  This Saturday's contest is not only a huge must win game for Georgia Tech, but it's also a big game in deciding Al Golden's future as the head coach for the Miami Hurricanes.