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          NFL Nation

          QB snapshot: Blake Bortles

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterNov 25, 2014, 01:00 PM ET
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              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
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          A quick observation of quarterback Blake Bortles and how he played in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 23-3 loss in Week 12:

          Bortles played the worst game of his career against the Colts (15-of-27 for 146 yards with an interception) and that continued a trend of poor play over the past five games. Bortles has completed 58.0 percent of his passes and has a Total QBR of 9.1, the worst in the league over that span. That performance has caused fans to start wondering if he's Blaine Gabbert 2.0.

          No way.

          Bortles has been better through his first eight starts. Gabbert did win one more game (2-6) and threw eight fewer interceptions (five), but Bortles has a better completion percentage (62.6 percent to 48 percent) and Total QBR (21.0 to 19.8) and has thrown for more yards (1,844 to 1,183). Both threw six touchdown passes.

          Gabbert also was playing on a better team and had the benefit of a running game. Maurice Jones-Drew led the league in rushing that season (1,606 yards). Gabbert also wasn't throwing to three rookie receivers, playing behind two rookie offensive linemen, and had a healthy Marcedes Lewis (a 2010 Pro Bowler) all season.