Bortles OK with being 'scapegoat' for Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles says he's OK with the negative attention that often comes his way when the team performs poorly.

"I'm totally at peace with that," Bortles said last week, according to Michael Silver of NFL.com. "I totally understand that I'm like the scapegoat for this team. When we play good, 'The defense played well, the running back did good, the receivers made great plays.' And when we play bad, 'Blake Bortles is the worst quarterback on the face of the planet.'

"And I get it. Obviously, that's not what I would have chosen for myself. And I'm sure it'll never stop. But I couldn't care less. I just want to win football games with this team."

The interview with Bortles took place prior to his benching in Jacksonville's Week 7 loss to the Houston Texans, in which Bortles went just 6-for-12 passing for 61 yards and fumbled twice.

The oft-maligned No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 draft was replaced by backup Cody Kessler early in the second half against Houston, but he's been reinstated as the starter heading into Sunday's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in London, England.

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Bortles has led the Jaguars to a 3-4 record this season while completing a career-best 60.6 percent of his pass attempts. He's thrown nine touchdowns, but also eight interceptions.