The Jaguars had been a couple of performs away, and they need to be happy with their season
That the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 within the divisional spherical of the playoffs was not completely stunning.
The stunning factor was that the Jaguars had been within the playoffs in any respect. Only one 12 months after City Meyer turned the worst college-to-pro coach in professional soccer historical past, the Jags, now led by Coach of the Yr candidate Doug Pederson, received the AFC South after every thing Meyer did, after which managed to seek out the postseason after a 2-6 begin in 2022. Then, Pederson’s staff obtained this far by overcoming a 27-0 second-quarter deficit within the wild-card spherical towards the Los Angeles Chargers. Their eventual 31-30 win was the third-largest postseason comeback the NFL has ever seen.
Factor is, the Jaguars had their possibilities, and so they virtually pulled off the upset at Arrowhead Stadium. There have been just some performs that obtained in the best way. The Jaguars can have the whole offseason to think about the ramifications of those performs, however they need to additionally take into account what a exceptional comeback that they had — and the way effectively they’re arrange for the 2023 season and past.
That stated, listed below are the performs that turned the tide within the Chiefs’ favor.
Christian Kirk’s dropped cross.
(Photograph by Jason Hanna/Getty Pictures)
With 2:34 left within the first half, and the Jaguars down 17-7, Trevor Lawrence had receiver Christian Kirk nailed downfield with a fantastic deep throw over two Kansas Metropolis defenders. Sadly, Kirk couldn’t carry it in.
Eight performs later, kicker Riley Patterson booted a 41-yard subject purpose to make the rating 17-10, however that was plenty of meat left on the bone proper there.
Harrison Butker’s face masks deal with.
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The Jags had been down 17-7 midway by way of the fourth quarter, and so they wanted to answer Patrick Mahomes’ landing cross to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. On the following kickoff, return man Jamal Agnew almost did all by himself. Agnew, who returned three kickoffs within the sport for 131 yards and a preposterous 43.7-yard common per return, was one small however essential deal with from taking it 97 yards to the home.
Sadly for Agnew, he was one kicker’s face masks away from playoff immortality. Harrison Butker obtained simply sufficient in the best way on the final millisecond.
Sadly for Agnew, his day was about to get loads worse.
Jamal Agnew’s fumble.
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Eight performs after Agnew’s near-touchdown, he had one other shot at six factors that just about labored out, however didn’t. Agnew had an opportunity to make the top zone on a brief cross from Lawrence, however he fumbled the ball proper after gaining management of the ball and making a soccer transfer — so sure, even below the NFL’s nebulous guidelines concerning what’s and what it not a catch, this was a catch.
If Agnew will get to the top zone, we’re speaking a 27-24 sport with about 5 minutes left. Which could have made Lawrence a bit extra calm on Jacksonville’s ultimate drive.
Alas.
Trevor Lawrence’s interception.
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Jacksonville’s protection has been reeling all afternoon, however they made a large cease of Chiefs working again Isiah Pacheco with 4:37 left within the sport, and Kansas Metropolis with third-and-1 at their very own 12-yard line. Roy Robertson-Harris and Josh Allen stopped Pacheco for no acquire, and Tommy Townshend’s punt gave Jacksonville excellent subject place at their very own 46-yard line.
After a four-yard cross to Christian Kirk that put the ball at midfield, Lawrence tried to get somewhat too cute below strain, made a boundary throw to Zay Jones that he shouldn’t have, and cornerback Jaylen Watson was there for the dagger.
Patterson did kick a 48-yard subject purpose with 30 seconds left to carry the sport to inside a landing, however the Jags couldn’t catch their onside kick, and that was that.
Doug Pederson is happy with his staff, and he ought to be.
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities)
“I simply advised them I used to be happy with them for the season they put collectively,” Pederson stated of his staff after the loss. “No one anticipated us, the Jaguars, to be on this soccer sport. From the start of the season to in the present day. I simply advised them how proud I used to be of them for holding collectively all season lengthy — how they battled and fought by way of a ton of adversity. I’m happy with the best way they battled all season to get to this spot. They battled on this sport to get to an onside kick, after which, we’ll see what occurs.
“We’re going to study from this, we’re going to develop from this, and our expectation is to be in these video games yearly. However this was a superb first 12 months for all of us.”
It was simply that, although it didn’t finish as Pederson or his staff would have appreciated. It is best to anticipate to see these Jaguars again within the postseason subsequent 12 months, and possibly subsequent 12 months, all these performs that didn’t go their means will work of their favor.