Jags return fumble for TD, beat Titans for AFC South title
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) With a scoop and score that will go down in franchise lore, Josh Allen may have put an end to the chaos and disappointment that has defined the Jacksonville Jaguars for the better part of the past decade.
Allen's 37-yard fumble return with 2:51 remaining helped the Jaguars beat rival Tennessee 20-16 on Saturday night and secure their first AFC South championship since 2017.
''I'm speechless,'' Jaguars owner Shad Khan said before crediting coach Doug Pederson, general manager Trent Baalke and players. ''I've always had confidence that we would be getting to where we needed to go.''
Khan easily could have singled out Allen and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who forced Josh Dobbs' fumble. Allen picked up the loose ball on a perfect bounce and ran, untouched, the other way for a lead that held up.
Dobbs fumbled again on the ensuing possession, and the Jaguars (9-8) started to celebrate their most significant regular-season victory in history.
''This was one of those games where our defense had to win it for us,'' Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. ''Us guys on offense, we're a little frustrated because we left a lot out there. But in these games, just win. Our defense picked us up today. They played great.''
Jacksonville earned the No. 4 seed in the conference playoffs and will host either the Los Angeles Chargers or Baltimore in the wild-card round next weekend.
It's the 18th time in the last 20 seasons that at least one NFL team won its division after finishing last or tied for last the previous year.
Jacksonville closed the regular season with its fifth consecutive victory and became the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a five-game losing streak and a five-game winning streak in the same season.
''We just kept believing,'' Lawrence said. ''Nobody ever lost faith. Everybody believed in one another. We never started pointing the finger. We lost five games straight and we just got tighter.''
Tennessee (7-10) lost its final seven games, a skid that had just about everyone writing them off before Saturday's finale.
''Nobody wants to finish how we did,'' Titans running back Derrick Henry said. ''That's never the plan, never the goal. Like I said, stuff happens, adversity happens.
''We wanted to win the division and have a great record, yeah, but it didn't happen this year. All you can do is go back to work and be thankful for the journey and everybody in their efforts and look forward.''
The Titans rested several starters last week and essentially created a 10-day break to get healthy. They returned to their bruising brand of football and looked like they would pull an improbable turnaround - until Dobbs' turnover changed the game.
''We just got on a (crappy) streak and couldn't get off it,'' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. ''Couldn't make the plays when we needed to. We couldn't be consistent enough when we needed to and it showed up again.''
The Jaguars were 6 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and a near-sellout crowd was on hand to witness what many thought would be more of a coronation than a scratch-and-claw nail-biter.
The Titans didn't do anything spectacular. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill (ankle) out for the season, they leaned on Dobbs - an aerospace engineer who has bounced around the league - to be smart with the ball and Henry to grind out tough yards. And they relied on a defense that's been stout against the run all year.
It worked for 57 minutes - and then it unraveled.
Henry finished with 109 yards on 30 carries. Dobbs completed 20 of 29 passes for 179 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and the fumble.
Lawrence completed 20 of 32 passes for 212 yards, with a touchdown and a fumble. Lawrence had two would-be touchdowns in the second half fall incomplete. He overthrew Zay Jones in the end zone and underthrew Christian Kirk.
Nearly all of the 70,000-plus on hand were waiting for Lawrence to do something down the stretch. Instead, the Jags became the first team since Carolina in 2000 to pull off a fourth-quarter comeback without gaining a first down in the quarter, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
STIFF ARM
Henry added another impressive stiff-arm to his highlight reel filled with them. He tossed Jenkins to the ground in the second quarter to cap a 14-yard gain, setting off a flurry of social media posts about the move.
Henry, who grew up outside Jacksonville in Yulee, finished the first half with 71 yards on the ground, but added just 38 after intermission.
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Both teams gathered at midfield together before the game to pray, some of them still wearing shirts to honor Buffalo's Demar Hamlin. Tennessee linebacker Rashad Weaver, college teammates with Hamlin at Pitt, wore Hamlin's No. 3 on his eye black.
Weaver later recovered Lawrence's fumble on a misguided trick play in the first half.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Dobbs
11 QB
12 FPTS
|
J. Dobbs | 20/29 | 179 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Henry
22 RB
12 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 30 | 109 | 0 | 14 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dobbs
11 QB
12 FPTS
|
J. Dobbs | 5 | 32 | 0 | 11 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. McMath
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
R. McMath | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Haskins
25 RB
3 FPTS
|
H. Haskins | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ward
33 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. Ward | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Okonkwo
85 TE
13 FPTS
|
C. Okonkwo | 4 | 3 | 42 | 1 | 21 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Woods
2 WR
8 FPTS
|
R. Woods | 5 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 13 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hooper
81 TE
7 FPTS
|
A. Hooper | 4 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 14 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Burks
16 WR
5 FPTS
|
T. Burks | 7 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Henry
22 RB
12 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Haskins
25 RB
3 FPTS
|
H. Haskins | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Swaim
87 TE
1 FPTS
|
G. Swaim | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ward
33 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. Ward | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Westbrook-Ikhine
15 WR
0 FPTS
|
N. Westbrook-Ikhine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
A. Hooker
37 SS
|
A. Hooker | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Fulton
26 CB
|
K. Fulton | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gibbens
50 LB
|
J. Gibbens | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Rice
56 LB
|
M. Rice | 4-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Byard
31 FS
|
K. Byard | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tart
93 DT
|
T. Tart | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Kalu
28 SS
|
J. Kalu | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. McCreary
21 CB
|
R. McCreary | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Smith
54 LB
|
A. Smith | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Levin
62 C
|
C. Levin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Avery
30 CB
|
T. Avery | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Simmons
98 DE
|
J. Simmons | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Cole
53 OLB
|
D. Cole | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
42 LB
|
J. Jones | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ward
33 RB
|
J. Ward | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Edwards
94 DT
|
M. Edwards | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. Bullock
14 K
10 FPTS
|
R. Bullock | 3/3 | 51 | 1/1 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
R. Stonehouse
4 P
|
R. Stonehouse | 3 | 55.3 | 0 | 60 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Chestnut
36 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Chestnut | 2 | 23.0 | 24 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ward
33 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. Ward | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Woods 2 WR
8 FPTS
|
R. Woods | 1 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
T. Lawrence
16 QB
12 FPTS
|
T. Lawrence | 20/32 | 212 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Etienne
1 RB
4 FPTS
|
T. Etienne | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Hasty
22 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Hasty | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lawrence
16 QB
12 FPTS
|
T. Lawrence | 4 | -3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Kirk
13 WR
21 FPTS
|
C. Kirk | 8 | 6 | 99 | 1 | 33 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jones
11 WR
4 FPTS
|
M. Jones | 6 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Engram
17 TE
6 FPTS
|
E. Engram | 4 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Jones
7 WR
6 FPTS
|
Z. Jones | 6 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Etienne
1 RB
4 FPTS
|
T. Etienne | 2 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Farrell
89 TE
2 FPTS
|
L. Farrell | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Agnew
39 WR
1 FPTS
|
J. Agnew | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Hasty
22 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Hasty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
F. Oluokun
23 ILB
|
F. Oluokun | 8-5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
31 CB
|
D. Williams | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Muma
48 LB
|
C. Muma | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Peters
98 DE
|
C. Peters | 4-3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Allen
41 OLB
|
J. Allen | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Jenkins
2 SS
|
R. Jenkins | 4-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hamilton
52 NT
|
D. Hamilton | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Campbell
32 CB
|
T. Campbell | 3-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Walker
44 OLB
|
T. Walker | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gotsis
96 DE
|
A. Gotsis | 2-1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Robertson-Harris
95 DE
|
R. Robertson-Harris | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Chaisson
45 LB
|
K. Chaisson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Quarterman
50 LB
|
S. Quarterman | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Cisco
5 FS
|
A. Cisco | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Herndon
37 CB
|
T. Herndon | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Wingard
42 DB
|
A. Wingard | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Johnson
57 LB
|
C. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Claybrooks
6 CB
|
C. Claybrooks | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Key
49 LB
|
A. Key | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lloyd
33 ILB
|
D. Lloyd | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Fatukasi
94 DE
|
F. Fatukasi | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. Patterson
10 K
8 FPTS
|
R. Patterson | 2/2 | 36 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
L. Cooke
9 P
|
L. Cooke | 4 | 51.0 | 4 | 56 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Agnew
39 WR
1 FPTS
|
J. Agnew | 4 | 31.3 | 54 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Agnew 39 WR
1 FPTS
|
J. Agnew | 2 | 16.5 | 22 | 0 |