On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a slow start to defeat the New England Patriots 32-16 at Wembley Stadium. The NFL London game was witnessed by a record-breaking crowd of 86,651. Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars' offensive prowess was the difference in the encounter. Let's get you in on all the action.
How It Happened
The Patriots, under rookie quarterback Drake Maye, burst out of the gates with a 10-0 lead. However, the Jaguars, coached by Doug Pederson, didn't waste time in turning the tables. Trevor Lawrence, the Jags' $275 million man, was responsible for orchestrating a comeback. He connected with Brian Thomas Jr. for a crucial touchdown, and this ignited the team's resurgence as the game went on.
Tank Bigsby was the game's unsung hero, rushing for an impressive 118 yards and two touchdowns. His ground game would help in wearing down the Patriots' defense and maintaining the Jaguars' momentum throughout the contest.
Turning Point
The game's turning point came just before halftime when Parker Washington electrified the crowd with a stunning 96-yard punt return for a touchdown. This play, the longest in international NFL game history, successfully shifted the momentum in Jacksonville's favor. It sent them into the break with a commanding 22-10 lead.
Coach Pederson, obviously elated by the performance, emphasized the importance of this victory. He said, "We needed to know what winning felt like again. We've worked hard these last 10 days, and it's a nice way to finish this trip."
Patriots' Struggles Continue
For the Patriots, this loss marks their sixth consecutive defeat. This also puts them on the wrong side of history, as the streak has not been seen since 1993.
Despite Maye's efforts, completing 26 of 37 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, New England's offense struggled to maintain consistency in the matchup. The team's inability to establish a ground game proved costly. They managed only 38 rushing yards compared to Jacksonville's 171.
According to Patriots' coach Jerod Mayo post-game, he felt his side was "soft" and acknowledged the need to return to the drawing board.
“They controlled the ball for most of the day,” he said. “Back to the drawing board. We can’t sit here and pout.”
Looking Ahead
This victory breathes new life into the Jaguars' season. It has improved their record to 2-5 and may have just potentially kickstarted a playoff push. Lawrence's performance, coupled with the team's overall contribution, offers hope for Jacksonville fans. For the Patriots, now 1-6, the road ahead looks challenging as they continue to adjust to their post-Tom Brady era.
As the NFL London series concludes for another year with this Jaguars vs Patriots matchup, both teams now head back across the Atlantic. The Jaguars will look to build on this momentum, while the Patriots face the daunting task of regrouping and salvaging their season.