Remember when the Jacksonville Jaguars were the laughing stock of the National Football League for, well, forever?
Well, they’re the ones getting the laughs now after Saturday night’s thrilling wild-card round victory.
Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half and three of them in the first quarter. They lost 27-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers at one point.
They won 31-30, completing the third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history.
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Riley Patterson #10 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates with teammates after kicking a field goal to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field on January 14, 2023 in Jacksonville , fl.
(Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
The Chargers turned all three of Lawrence’s first-quarter picks into scores: two Austin Ekeler touchdowns and a field goal. In fact, nothing went right for the Jaguars in the first half. Up 24-0 with just under six minutes left in the half, the Chargers punted the ball, but Jacksonville deflected it and it was recovered by Los Angeles, who converted it on a field goal and went up 27-0.
However, from that point on, the Jags outscored Los Angeles 31-3. When the Chargers led 30-20 in the fourth quarter, they went on a 14-play drive that killed a lot of time; however, Cameron Dicker missed the 40-yard field goal, sparking the Jags to life, and they seized the opportunity. chance.
They went 70 yards down the field and Lawrence found Christian Kirk to score. After the touchdown, the Chargers were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, which moved Jacksonville up in the PAT, so they went for two and Lawrence ran, making it a two-point game with 5:25 to go. The Jaguars forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 3:09 to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) celebrates as Los Angeles Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker (15) misses a field goal during the second NFL football game, Saturday January 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Jacksonville faced a 4th-and-1 with 1:28 to go in Los Angeles territory, and they passed it straight to Travis Etienne, who ran the ball 25 yards to put them in winning territory. After cutting time to three seconds, Riley Patterson knocked down the 36-yard pass as time expired, officially completing the comeback.
Oh, and with the win, Lawrence still hasn’t lost on a Saturday since 2014.
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Lawrence fully redeemed himself by throwing for four touchdowns after turning the ball over four times. He passed for 288 yards, with Evan Engram leading with 93 receiving yards on seven catches, one of them a touchdown. Kirk had eight receptions for 78 and a score, while Jones also had eight receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown.
The Jags’ defense kept Ekeler in check, as he only had 43 scrimmage yards, despite his two touchdowns (thanks to decent field position). Justin Herbert completed 25 of his 43 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. Gerald Everett caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Evan Engram (17) during the second NFL wild card game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, January 14, 2023. , in Jacksonville, Florida.
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
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The Jaguars await their AFC divisional round opponent, but after back-to-back comebacks to reach the playoffs and then advance, they sure have some momentum.