GLENDALE, Ariz. – Four questions and answers from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 27-24 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium:
First Down
Question: The Jaguars made it look easy on their opening drive. What happened after that in the first half?
Answer: First let’s talk about that first drive. Travis Etienne rush for 2, Brenton Strange catch for 30, Etienne rush for 45 and Etienne catch 15 (touchdown). Just like that, the Jaguars’ 97-yard drive, their longest since Nov. 11, 2018.
The game was right there for the Jaguars to seize control. But then they mostly spun their wheels.
Drive 2: Under pressure from his front side, Trevor Lawrence was sacked and his fumble was returned for an Arizona touchdown.
Drive 3: The Jaguars reached the Arizona 28, but Lawrence was sacked by unblocked safety Budda Baker on third down. Field goal.
Drive 4: Three-and-out when rookie tailback LeQuint Allen blew his blocking assignment and Lawrence threw it away.
Drive 5: End of half.
Lawrence was 3 of 8 for 51 yards (no completions to a receiver) in the first half.
Second Down
Question: Why did the Cardinals’ passing game make it look so easy?
Answer: It was like watching an early-June organized team activity practice when press coverage and tackling aren’t permitted. Pitch and catch for the Cardinals.
Brissett, although under pressure often by the Jaguars’ pass rush, was 20 of 25 in the first half and three of those incompletions were throwaways.
Receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride would run simple routes against off or zone coverage. They combined for 13 catches for 121 yards in the first half.
But credit to the Jaguars defense in the second half. The Cardinals had only three second-half first downs until the two-minute warning.
Third Down
Question: Describe Lawrence’s second half?
Answer: The full Trevor Experience is the best I can do. I’m open to suggestions.
1. Lawrence came out of the second-half starting block firing with completions of 15, 12 and 24 yards to Parker Washington, Johnny Mundt and Strange to give the Jaguars first down from the Arizona 6. But out of a timeout, disaster. Lawrence looked to throw a quick slant to Jacobi Meyers, but the Cardinals’ Calais Campbell got a hand on it and it was intercepted in the end zone. Who was to blame? Lawrence had to be more aware of Campbell’s ability to deflect passes.
2. Lawrence responded to give the Jaguars a 17-14 lead with 8:10 left in the third quarter when, under pressure by two Arizona defenders, he threw a 10-yard touchdown to Meyers.
3. Late in the third quarter, another interception. Out of a timeout. With the play clock expired. The play was rushed and Lawrence was intercepted in Jaguars’ territory.
4. Early in the fourth quarter, Lawrence was intercepted by Baker. The Cardinals turned that takeaway into a go-ahead touchdown with 7:12 remaining.
5. Lawrence put the Jaguars back in the lead with 3:47 remaining on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Washington.
Fourth Down
Question: How big was this win for the Jaguars?
Answer: Critical. At 7-4, they jumped ahead of the Buffalo Bills and into the AFC’s No. 6 spot.
More important, the Jaguars are now just one game behind Indianapolis (8-3), which collapsed and lost at Kansas City in overtime.
The Jaguars and Colts still meet two times (Dec. 7 and 28).
But whew, do the Jaguars need to figure some things out, particularly on offense.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars get full Trevor Lawrence experience in OT victory
Reporting by Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
