Big Cat Country
The Jacksonville Jaguars left the deserts of Arizona with a wild 27-24 win over the 3-8 Arizona Cardinals added to their record. A tough day at the office by quarterback Trevor Lawrence was salvaged by his clutch performance when it mattered most. The Jacksonville defense swarmed Cardinal’s quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, with 6 sacks on the day. Additionally, the win moves Jacksonville up to the sixth seed in the AFC playoff standings. While not the win most expected, there are no style points for victories in the NFL.
Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 12 overtime road victory.
Live blog:
Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!
Pregame Notes:
The following Arizona players did not play in this one: WR Marvin Harrison Jr (appendix surgery), RB Emari Demercado (ankle), RB Trey Benson (meniscus), RT Jonah Williams (shoulder), and multiple others. Across the Cardinals’ roster, 15 players were listed on IR including QB Kyler Murray and Benson.
For Jacksonville, RT Anton Harrison (knee/ankle), WR Brian Thomas Jr (ankle), TE Hunter Long (hip/knee), DE Travon Walker (knee), and LB Yasir Abdullah (finger) were all inactive due to injuries throughout the week. Additionally WR/CB Travis Hunter, S Eric Murray, and S Caleb Ransaw are all on injured reserve, while TE Brenton Strange made his return from IR after a six week absence due to a hip injury.
Notably, the following Jacksonville players left Sunday’s game due to injury:
1st Quarter
Jacksonville kicked the matchup off on defense, missing DE Travon Walker. Nevertheless, the pressure on the quarterback remained, as Dennis Gardeck brought the Cardinals’ opening drive to a close with a Brissett sack on third-and-six.
The Jaguars offense proceeded to quickly drive 97-yards on just four plays in their opening drive. Brenton Strange immediately announced his presence, bringing in a 30-yard reception on Lawrence’s first pass, Travis Etienne then burst through the line for an explosive 45-yard run on the next snap, which he then followed up with a touchdown catch. (Jaguars 7, Cardinals 0)
Jacksonville’s defense again gave Brissett trouble on the next series, with the only Cardinals glimpses of life occuring when blitzing. The defense regularly produced when rushing only four, as Davon Hamilton secured a the sack on this drive to force third down, where Jacksonville eventually forced the punt on the following play. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the Jacksonville offense instead surrendered points just three plays later, as Brenton Strange chipped the blitzing Jalen Thompson, who Lawrence did not see. (Jaguars 7, Cardinals 7)
2nd Quarter
On the following drive, Lawrence pulled his own number, on consecutive third downs, rushing for 19 and 9-yard conversions. Yet, the Cardinals’ Nick Rallis defense continued to give the Jacksonville offense trouble identifying the blitz, with Lawrence being sacked on back to back drives – this one via...
