How the mighty have fallen. The New England Patriots, a name that once struck fear in the core of an opposition, now can only strike out as their gossamer defense allowed the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars to deliver a stunning 32-16 victory full of scorching runs from the impressive stand-in running back Tank Bigsby. He may now move up the depth chart permanently after punishing the Patriots with two touchdowns and 118 yards on the ground.
Stunning not in how brilliant the quarterback Trevor Lawrence performed, though the former No 1 overall pick played well enough with one touchdown, no interceptions and 193 yards passing, but in how easy it came after the Patriots had taken the lead. Jacksonville could do as they pleased while the Patriots defense waved the white flag in a defeat that has all but ended their season at 1-6. Conversely at 2-5 the Jags’ postseason chances remain paper-thin but not done just yet. Of the 163 instances of a club being 2-5 after seven games since 1990, 10 have made the playoffs.
Lawrence’s opposite number rookie QB Drake Maye, in only his second start, was solid avoiding turnovers while throwing risk-averse short passes that moved the chains while Jacksonville’s mauling from the Bears over in Tottenham last week appeared to still be smarting as the defense allowed Jamycal Hasty to shimmy for a score and a field goal.
The Patriots were cruising, the simple offensive scheme full of screen passes doing enough until the Jags figured out that was all New England had to offer. Jacksonville smartly adjusted to stack the line of scrimmage and break up any easy gains from Maye with stifling pass coverage. Over to you, Trevor.
Under scoreboard pressure and the shakes of a fast-sinking season, Lawrence shrugged. A 24-yard dart to Christian Kirk on Jacksonville’s second drive set the wheels in motion for a comeback the Patriots could not contain. Bigbsy and D’Ernest Johnson, filling in for the injured Travis Etienne, knifed through New England’s soft underbelly time and again as rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr finished the drive with the easiest of six-yard touchdown grabs.
A quick punt later and Lawrence sent a burning spear through New England’s heart with a huge 58-yard pass. An incredible catch from Thomas came under extreme pressure from the cornerback Christian Gonzalez and showcased exactly why the star receiver was so highly coveted by the Jaguars in the draft. “I knew I would be open,” Thomas said. Open he was as he burned through the backfield as his catch allowed Bigsby to barrel over for a one-yard score. A lead clawed back in only six plays.
Jacksonville’s brick wall held firm as the inevitable punt sailed into Parker Washington’s willing grasp. He gambled where others would call the fair catch to earn the longest punt return in Jaguars history. In a whirl of black and teal Washington sprinted by the entirety of the Patriots special teams defenders for a 96-yard score. The Patriots’ slackness summed up by Washington – “they don’t wanna tackle so I ran through them” – apparently so pervasive that unhappy with only giving one giant gift they felt it right to give another as a penalty allowed an easy two-point conversion from Lawrence to Thomas to end a quarter in which the Jags scored 23 points unanswered.
As the second half began the Jags marched on with an early field goal from Sly. The lead was extended but this represented significant improvement for New England after giving up three straight touchdowns before the break. The defense found a crucial stop at fourth down near their goal line to keep the considerable set of Patriots fans interested.
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The encounter might have been a notional home game for the Jags but the roar that erupted as Maye sent a 33-yard rainbow to Kayshon Boutte was the loudest of the day. That is until the guttural roar which greeted Maye’s second passing strike, this time to KJ Osborn. A one-score deficit was in sight, the comeback on, sort of, as a fluffed a two-point conversion put them in an irretrievable spot at nine points behind with eight minutes left.
Bigsby would put the full stop on a fine afternoon for Jacksonville’s offense with a four-yard touchdown run. If Lawrence and the Jaguars can keep this lightning trapped in the bottle then this season may just have a glimmer of hope left for the most unlikely of playoff runs.