The Jacksonville Jaguars are AFC South champions for the primary time in 5 years, a title secured when Josh Allen returned a fumble 37 yards for a landing that helped them seal a 20-16 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night time.
Rayshawn Jenkins compelled Josh Dobbs’ fumble, and Allen scooped up the bouncing ball and ran, untouched, the opposite approach for a lead that held up in opposition to the Titans in a win-and-in recreation within the regular-season finale for each.
Dobbs fumbled once more on the following possession, and the Jaguars (9-8) began to rejoice their most important regular-season victory in franchise historical past.
“This was one of those games where our defense had to win it for us,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence stated. “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 within the convention playoffs and can host both the Los Angeles Chargers or Baltimore within the wild-card spherical subsequent weekend.
It’s the 18th time within the final 20 seasons that no less than one NFL staff gained its division after ending final or tied for final the earlier 12 months.
Jacksonville closed the common season with its fifth consecutive victory and have become the fifth staff in NFL historical past to make the playoffs with a five-game shedding streak and a five-game profitable streak in the identical season.
“We just kept believing,” Lawrence stated. “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) misplaced its last seven video games, a skid that had nearly everybody writing them off earlier than Saturday’s finale.
The Titans rested a number of starters final week and primarily created a 10-day break to get wholesome. They returned to their bruising model of soccer and appeared like they might pull an inconceivable turnaround — till Dobbs’ turnover modified the sport.
The Jaguars had been 6 1/2-point favorites, in accordance with FanDuel Sportsbook, and a near-sellout crowd was available to witness what many thought could be extra of a coronation than a scratch-and-claw nail-biter.
The Titans didn’t do something spectacular. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill (ankle) out for the season, they leaned on Dobbs — an aerospace engineer who has bounced across the league — to be sensible with the ball and Derrick Henry to grind out robust yards. And they relied on a protection that’s been stout in opposition to the run all 12 months.
It labored for 37 minutes — after which it unraveled.
Henry completed with 109 yards on 30 carries. Dobbs accomplished 20 of 29 passes for 179 yards, with a landing, an interception and the fumble.
Lawrence accomplished 20 of 32 passes for 212 yards, with a landing and a fumble. Lawrence had two would-be touchdowns within the second half fall incomplete. He overthrew Zay Jones ultimately zone and underthrew Christian Kirk.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com