The 27-10 loss to the Bengals was far from Blaine Gabbert's fault, as the second-year quarterback actually completed a higher percentage of passes than he ever has since assuming the starting role for the team early in the 2011 season.
Rashean Mathis and the Jaguars defense struggled to stop A.J. Green and the Bengals running offense, and an offensive line that was supposed to be solved with the return of Eben Britton and Cameron Bradfield looked far from satisfactory. Yet, neither of those excuse the fact that Gabbert continued to show the same problems that caused him to have a truly horrific rookie season.
Is it time for Gabbert to get yanked from the starting lineup? No, that would solve nothing. But, it's clear that there are serious things wrong with the franchise and, unless things change dramatically before the season ends, that changes will have to be made.
Not minor changes like signing a wide receiver in free agency and trading up in the NFL draft to take another, but dramatic, sweeping changes like firing general manager Gene Smith and moving on without Gabbert.
Changes have to be made and those are the two changes that would most dramatically influence an offense that only managed 10 points against a Bengals offense that ranked No. 29 in the NFL entering Sunday. Neither will be made immediately and so Gabbert has a chance to show he should still be the Jaguars quarterback beginning with a game against the Bears in Week 5, but time is running out.
The simple reality is that an offensive performance like that against a defense like the Bengals is sure to warrant changes.